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MAN-MADE MANIFESTOS, Part 1 of Chapter 6 of The Church and The Priesthood 

Page 66 to 79

In 1890 the LDS Church, its members and the Priesthood experienced perhaps their greatest trials and testing. But in this life good and evil are continually pitted against each other. The world appears to be a great theatrical stage where universal powers are reaching out for the souls of men. It is not just a battle of armies and navies, but a contest of simple principles. The battle reaches from the throne of kings down to the secret and sacred chambers of the heart. It is an eternal conflict drawing men towards celestial light or the depths of darkness.

If God has apostles, missionaries and a priesthood, so does the devil. Once again they were to meet in a clash–not of arms but of principles. Once again these were “the times that tried men’s souls.” Some of the faithful were sent to prison, [67] while others compromised. A few even turned against their beliefs and became informants and persecutors. It was a time of decision on all levels–a time when the Church leaders felt they had to make some official declaration in an effort to bring temporal relief.

A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE SAINTS, Part 2 of Chapter 5 of The Church and The Gospel 

Pages 58 to 65

 President Taylor’s statement that “many of the Saints would apostatize because of this principle” came to pass just a year later. On June 30, 1887, a convention was held for the purpose of creating a constitution in the event Utah became a state. Although not the first effort in this direction, it was significant because of the willingness of the Mormons themselves to forbid polygamy and punish those who lived it.

Orson F. Whitney said that “The movement was especially notable from the fact that it was proposed by the Mormons—the Gentiles refusing to take any part in the proceedings.” (History of Utah 3:583) The convention continued for a week, until July 7th. As a result, a constitution was framed and adopted, including the following provision:

Section 12 (of Article XV). Bigamy and polygamy being considered incompatible with a republican form of government, each of them is hereby forbidden and declared a misdemeanor. Any person who shall violate this section shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, and by imprisonment for a term of not less than six months, nor more than three years, in the discretion of the court. (History of Utah, Whitney, 3:584)

The election occurred on Monday, the 1st of August [1887]. The count of the votes cast showed the following result:

For the Constitution..  13,195

Against the Constitution..   502

(Ibid., p. 585)

The Saints had spoken! John Taylor’s prophecy was already being fulfilled. The vote demonstrated a ratio of 27 to 1 against plural marriage. The Saints had reversed their position in 35 years.

A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE SAINTS, Part 1 of Chapter 5 of The Church and The Gospel 

 

Pages 47 to 57

 

1886 to 1889

 

Leading up to 1886

 

Since the time of Joseph Smith’s first vision in 1820, the powers of the adversary have intensified against the restored Gospel. Ministers have spewed out their religious poison against it; members of the media have written lies in order to sell more publications; and the government has passed laws and more laws to “exterminate the Mormons.”

 

The most controversial doctrine and practice that has caused the greatest furor has been plural marriage. The LDS Church officially accepted plural marriage as a tenet of their faith in 1852. On that occasion Orson Pratt delivered the first public sermon on the subject, appropriately entitled “Celestial Marriage.” He began by saying:

 

It is quite unexpected to me, brethren and sisters, to be called upon to address you this forenoon; and still more so, to address you upon the principle which has been named, namely, a plurality of wives. (JD 1:53)

 

However, he was up to the job, and his powerful sermon covered over 12 written pages in the Journal of Discourses. It stands today as one of the finest speeches upon that subject. Two excerpts are included here:

DETECTING TRUE AND FALSE PROPHETS, Part 3 of Chapter 4 of The Church and The Priesthood 

 

Pages 39 to 46

 

They support false doctrines and ordinances.

 

“There are different churches because there are different doctrines. No two churches espouse and expound the same plan of salvation. If all men believed the same doctrines, all would belong to the same church. The mere existence of a false church of itself requires the support of false doctrines, false ordinances, false teachers, false prophets. In the very nature of things, a false church, in an attempt to survive, must oppose the truth as it is found in the true Church, and this includes opposition to true doctrine, true ordinances, true teachers, and true prophets.” (The Promised Messiah, p. 34)

DETECTING TRUE AND FALSE PROPHETS, Part 2 of Chapter 4 of The Church and The Priesthood 

 

Pages 34 to 39

 

They set up pseudo prophets.

 

Hugh Nibley: “The scriptural term “pseudo-prophet” designates one who is not a prophet, but who occupies the place that rightly belongs to a prophet, regardless of whether he has been put there by himself or by his followers. Fool’s gold, the glittering yellow pyrites that one finds sometimes on the beach, is so called not because it pretends to be gold, but because fools take it for gold. A pseudo-prophet is one to whom foolish people accord the obedience and attention due only a true prophet, whether he or they actually take him for a prophet or not.” (The World and the Prophets, p. 254)

* * *

 

Items No. 11 to 22 come from Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who explained some of the most numerous and critical attacks against false prophets and their doctrines. For example:

 

False prophets–the curse and scourge of the world! How awful and awesome and evil it is when one [35] pretends and professes to speak for God in leading men to salvation, but in fact has a message that is false, a doctrine that is not true, and a prophecy that will not come to pass. (The Mortal Messiah, Bk. 2, p. 168)

DETECTING TRUE AND FALSE PROPHETS, Part 1 of Chapter 4 of The Church and The Priesthood 

 

 Pages 28 to 34

 

The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets, . . . (TPJS, p. 206)

 

The Old Testament records that the Lord has frequently sent prophets to help guide the people back into His presence. But unfortunately, many prophets came that the Lord did not send, and utter confusion about true and false prophets has continued ever since. The Prophet Joseph clearly explained that, “The world always mistook false prophets for true ones, and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets.” (TPJS, p. 206) So it is critical for us to learn to determine the difference. This chapter will discuss the distinguishing characteristics of both false and true prophets.

PRIESTHOOD OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, Chapter 3 of The Church and The Priesthood 

 

 Pages 15 to 27

 

Wherefore, I will that all men shall repent, for all are under sin, except those which I have reserved unto myself, holy men that ye know not of. (D & C 49:8)

 

Today there are many dangers and threats against the Holy Priesthood involving both men and the Church. Both can make seemingly insignificant yet serious mistakes which, as a result, can lead them into darkness.

 

The Lord has frequently found it necessary to take special means to protect His Priesthood. One of these has been to have the Priesthood function outside of and separate from the general body of the Church. Even though today some claim that this is not possible, this chapter will discuss seven examples where Priesthood authority was evident and operated outside the body of the Church:

 

MoroniJohn, the Baptist/Joseph Smith and Oliver CowderyPeter, James and JohnJohn, the RevelatorThe Three NephitesThe “Other Sheep”More “Other Sheep”

PRIESTHOOD IN THE PAST, Chapter 2 of The Church and The Priesthood 

 

 Pages 11 to 14

 

And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. and I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. (Lev. 26:11-12)

 

To better understand the nature and power of the Priesthood, let us go back to the beginning of time when great prophets possessed and demonstrated the attributes of this High and Holy Priesthood.

 

It is the Melchizedek Priesthood that holds the keys of the mysteries of the revelations of God; that unlocks and unfolds the secret purposes of Jehovah, and through which the children of men are enabled to come into the presence of the Most High; and without it no man can see the face of God and live. (Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, 4:25)

 

All the great prophets were blessed with that same Priesthood:

 

Enoch, in possession of this Priesthood “walked with God” and was translated by faith: for “it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; . . .” (P of GP, Moses 7:69)

 

Noah had the same Priesthood, and hence God spoke to him, and told him to build an ark, revealed unto him the pattern and dimensions, and made known unto him the destruction that was coming on the earth.

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Priesthood could be considered a theological enigma–a subject of many definitions and interpretations. Catholic and Protestant churches say it existed anciently but admit they do not have it now. Even the Latter-day Saints have tendered a variety of interpretations and explanations.

Questions continue to arise on how it is given, who has it and how it functions. Can a man who is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold the Priesthood? Is it possible for members of the Church to lose the Priesthood and still be a member of the Church? Can a man be excommunicated and still hold Priesthood? Can Priesthood exist outside the jurisdiction of the LDS Church? These questions continue to plague Church members and non-members alike.

Paul the Apostle said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (I Cor. 15:19) Similarly, in our dispensation if Fundamentalist Mormons learn that Priesthood cannot operate outside the bounds of the Church, they will be “of all men most miserable.” Approximately 30,000 Fundamentalist Mormons, with thousands already dead, and many thousands more being born, all believe in a Priesthood that can function both in and out of the LDS Church. It is a very critical issue, for both members and non-members, especially if Church leaders claim they have the power to cause someone to lose their power in the Priesthood.

In a day when church seems to hold more importance than Priesthood and leaders declare they are more to be followed than are Gospel principles, much more clarification is needed. Thus, it is hoped that this publication will help answer more questions than it will create.

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CONTEND FOR THE FAITH, Chapter 15 of The Church and The Gospel 

Pages 229 to 234

CONCLUSION:

Throughout the world there are well over a thousand different Christian churches-most of them claiming to have the true gospel. Yet, there was originally only one Church of Jesus Christ and only one book which was claimed as holy scripture.

Such diversity and confusion are the results of private interpretations and personal weaknesses among church leaders and members. Brigham Young recognized this problem:

The principles of the gospel are perfect, but are the Apostles who teach it perfect? No, they are not. Now, bringing the two together, what they taught is not for me to say, but it is enough to say this, that through the weaknesses in the lives of the Apostles many were caused to err. Our historians and ministers tell us that the church went into the wilderness, but they were in the wilderness all the time. They had the way marked out to get out of the wilderness and go straight forward into the Kingdom of God, but they took various paths, and the two substantial churches that remain-a remnant from the apostles, that divided, are now called the Holy Catholic Church and the Greek Church. (JD 12:66)

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