The Prophet Joseph clearly taught the Saints that all the ordinances of the Gospel were “instituted in heaven before the foundation of this world in the Priesthood for the salvation of man,” that they were “not to be altered or changed,” and that “all must be saved upon the same principles.” He added that they “must be kept in the very way God has appointed; otherwise their Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing.”5
Even Joseph Smith’s Priesthood authority was dependent upon him receiving all of the ordinances in the manner that God restored them, as we can see from the Lord’s promise to him that “the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from” him “while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.”6
If this was a condition upon which Joseph’s authority rested then it would also be a test by which we can judge anyone who claims to be his successor and hold the keys he did. Have they received all the ordinances, and kept them “in the very way God has appointed,” or are there ordinances they have not received or changes they have tried to make to those they have? Could any man ever have the right to perform an ordinances he had not received? Brigham Young posed this same question to the Saints of his day:
“Can any man or set of men officiate in dispensing the laws and administering the ordinances of the Kingdom of God or of the kingdoms and governments of the world legally, without first obeying those laws and submitting to those ordinances themselves? … do not forget that no man has authority to officiate in the ordinances of heavenly or earthly governments only so far as he has obeyed them himself.”7
That keeping alive such ordinances is necessary to hold and exercise the keys of the Priesthood is something Joseph Smith explained very plainly in his day:
“The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelation, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God”8
He was also by the Lord that if he did not introduce a principle he would lose any authority he already had:
“An angel of God … told him that, unless he moved forward and establish plural marriage, his Priesthood would be taken from him.”9
Likewise Heber C. Kimball was told by the Prophet that if he did not take another wife “he would lose his Apostleship.”10This was not just a condition placed upon Brothers Joseph and Heber, but upon all the Apostles:
“When this commandment was given, it was so far religious, and so far binding upon the Elders of this Church, that it was told them if they were not prepared to enter into it, and to stem the torrent of opposition that would come in consequence of it, the keys of the kingdom would be taken from them and given to others.”11
The necessity of living this high and holy law to be able to preside over the Priesthood was repeated again by the Lord to his servant John Taylor in 1882, in which He said:
“Thus saith the Lord to the Twelve, and to the Priesthood and people of my Church: … You may appoint Seymour B. Young to fill up the vacancy in the presiding quorum of Seventies, if he will conform to My law: For it is not meet that men who will not abide My law shall preside over My Priesthood; … For my Priesthood, whom I have called and whom I have sustained and honored, shall honor one and obey my laws, and the laws of my Holy Priesthood, or they shall not be considered worthy to hold my Priesthood, saith the Lord.”12
Some might ask, as undoubtedly some of the Saints did during President Taylor’s tenure, “apart from the exalting purpose of this divine law, why was it so essential to the issue of Priesthood authority?” To this he plainly answered that “a man obeying a lesser law is not qualified to preside over those who keep a higher law.”13
… When assessing the claims of those who would call themselves Joseph Smith’s successor as head of the Priesthood and holder of its keys, we have a right and responsibility to ask ourselves if they meet the criteria given in the scriptures and teachings of the prophets. Can they show:
A continuation of administering all the same ordinances unchanged
A continuation of maintaining the same laws, and living them
A continuation of living and keeping alive Celestial Plural Marriage
5Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 168-9, see Heb 7:12
Holding the Keys Requires a Continuation of Laws
Filed under: Thoughts & Commentary |
From “Who Holds The Keys” -
The Prophet Joseph clearly taught the Saints that all the ordinances of the Gospel were “instituted in heaven before the foundation of this world in the Priesthood for the salvation of man,” that they were “not to be altered or changed,” and that “all must be saved upon the same principles.” He added that they “must be kept in the very way God has appointed; otherwise their Priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing.”5
Even Joseph Smith’s Priesthood authority was dependent upon him receiving all of the ordinances in the manner that God restored them, as we can see from the Lord’s promise to him that “the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from” him “while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.”6
If this was a condition upon which Joseph’s authority rested then it would also be a test by which we can judge anyone who claims to be his successor and hold the keys he did. Have they received all the ordinances, and kept them “in the very way God has appointed,” or are there ordinances they have not received or changes they have tried to make to those they have? Could any man ever have the right to perform an ordinances he had not received? Brigham Young posed this same question to the Saints of his day:
That keeping alive such ordinances is necessary to hold and exercise the keys of the Priesthood is something Joseph Smith explained very plainly in his day:
He was also by the Lord that if he did not introduce a principle he would lose any authority he already had:
Likewise Heber C. Kimball was told by the Prophet that if he did not take another wife “he would lose his Apostleship.”10 This was not just a condition placed upon Brothers Joseph and Heber, but upon all the Apostles:
The necessity of living this high and holy law to be able to preside over the Priesthood was repeated again by the Lord to his servant John Taylor in 1882, in which He said:
Some might ask, as undoubtedly some of the Saints did during President Taylor’s tenure, “apart from the exalting purpose of this divine law, why was it so essential to the issue of Priesthood authority?” To this he plainly answered that “a man obeying a lesser law is not qualified to preside over those who keep a higher law.”13
… When assessing the claims of those who would call themselves Joseph Smith’s successor as head of the Priesthood and holder of its keys, we have a right and responsibility to ask ourselves if they meet the criteria given in the scriptures and teachings of the prophets. Can they show:
5Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 168-9, see Heb 7:12
7Manuscript Addresses of Brigham Young, October 8th, 1854
8History of the Church 6:251
9Eliza R. Snow, Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow, p. 69-70
10Life of Heber C. Kimball, Orson F. Whitney, p. 336 (1888 edition)
11John Taylor, 7 June 1866, Journal of Discourses 11:221-222
12Revelation to John Taylor, 13 October 1882, Unpublished Revelations 83:4-5,15
13John Taylor, Life of Wilford Woodruff, Matthias F. Cowley, p. 542