Show HIS historical DATA OF L D S CHURCH by J wesley norton continued from last week are several officer in thi priesthood the first is the elder who is a standing sending minister t the church tha elder is appointed to render spiritual servi cz under proper direction he may confirm those who are baptized by the laying on of hands for the baptism of fire and L nd the holy ghost he may ordain ohr eders ders arr ess ese teachers and deacons Daa cons A complete quorum of elders comprises 96 mern members hers of which three form the presidency the order of the seventy is a special call ling of elders for the preaching of the gospel in all the world under the direction of the i twelve apostles A quorum consists of 70 members of which seven are chosen as presidents the difference between the seventies and the elders is that the former are traveling ministers and the latter are standing ministers to the church seventies are to travel if need be in the pr preaching caching of the gospel whereas elders are to take care of the church at home high priests havie have the particular responsibility of presiding all bishoprick bishoprics bish high counselors stake presidents and the first presidency are high priests Priest 3 there is one high priests quorum for each stake of zion including all high priests in the stake patriarchs evangelical ministers or evangelists as they are sometimes called have hake a special calling in the church it is that of declaring the lineage of the church members and of pronouncing blessings upon them the office of presiding patriarch may descend from father to son upon the call of the first presidency the twelve apostles hold the keys to open up the authority of gods kingdom upon the earth it is their duty also to ordain and set in order all other officers of the church the twelve are a traveling presiding high council and they form a quorum equal in authority and power to the first presidency the twelve apostles have full authority to perform any and all ordinances of the church under the direction of the first presidency three presiding high priests the president of the church and his two counselors form the quorum of the first presidency the president of the church holds all the keys of the priesthood and of the church upon the earth he acts as the earthly head of the church of which the lord jesus is the eternal head there is only one man at a time upon the earth who holds all these keys he is the prophet seer and revelator of the church the only one authorized zed to receive revelation for the church these are the divisions of the priesthood or authority of god delegated to man all worthy male members have a claim upon the priesthood candidates for the priesthood are selected by the presiding officers of the church and its divisions those selected are then presented to the church for approval after which the ceremony or act of ordination takes place by authorized holders of the priesthood under the direction of the presiding officers by the laying on of hands those who receive the priesthood should be able in this dispensation to trace it in an unbroken line tr joseph smith or oliver Cow deiA who received it from heavens he heavenly aveni 0 in messengers e s s e f g e r s excommunication from the church removes the priesthood from the sinful man the priesthood can only be exercised by appointment and upon the principles of righteousness again we are indebted to john P r 0 9 r a in of the church to be continued |