you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal." (Matthew 25:31-46.) This, then, is one of the moral standards by which men and nations will be judged: How have you treated my servants whom I sent unto you? Happy the man or the nation who can truthfully reply to the Just and Righteous One in that day : Lord, I rendered unto thy servants the same respect and obedience that I would have shown' unto thee, hadst thou been present in person. Warning and Exhortation.—The Savior's solemn warning to the world may well be supplemented by his servant Joseph's impressive exhortation to the Priesthood and the Church in general. He was addressing the apostles and some of the seventies, prior to their mission to Europe, in the summer of 1839: "O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important key-that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it, that you do not betray Heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren; that you do not betray the revelations of God, whether in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your skirts, and you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to the brethren."-(History of the Church," Vol. III, p. 385.) Such warnings give added weight to an ancient admonition that comes sounding through the centuries: "Touch not mine anointed; do my prophets no harm." Agents of the Almighty.-What it means to bear the Priesthood and to officiate therein, is made clear to the comprehension by considering men clothed upon with divine authority as agents of God, sent forth to transact business in his name and in his interest. What kind of men ought they to be, and what is required of them by Him who sent them forth? Such a question can have but one consistent answer: They should be men who will represent him truly and faithfully. They should reflect his intelligence, his goodness, his benevolence, and as diligent upright agents of the One who commissioned and empowered them to carry on his work, follow closely the instructions that he has given, doing conscientiously and thoroughly what they sincerely believe he would do were he present in his own proper person. Such men should live so near to the Lord, that when the letter-the revealed word— falls short, the Spirit that inspired it, resting pon them as a continual benediction, can readily give "line upon line” of revelation, flash upon flash of inspiration, to illumine and make plain the path they are to tread. This is what it means to be an agent of the Almighty, a representative of God. "And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." (D. and C. 68:4.) CHAPTER II. Divine Authority, Continued. A Twofold Power.-In an article on Priesthood, prepared by the Prophet Joseph Smith, and read at a conference of the Church in Nauvoo, Illinois, October, 1840, the following sen tences occur: "There are two Priesthoods spoken of in the scripture, viz., the Melchizedek and the Aaronic or Levitical. Although there are two Priesthoods, yet the Melchizedek Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood, and is the grand head, and holds the highest authority which pertains to the Priesthood, and the keys of the kingdom of God, in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth, and is the channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of salvation, and every important matter is revealed from heaven."-("History of the Church," Vol. IV, p. 207.) Spiritual and Temporal.-Why there are two priesthoods, or, more properly speaking, two grand divisions of the Priesthood, is because the Church of Christ has to do with temporal as well as with spiritual things. All things, however, are spiritual unto God. The laws and commandments that emanate from him are of that character. He gives no temporal commandment. All his laws are spiritual. As eternity includes time, so the spiritual includes the temporal. A Divided Jurisdiction.-The Melchizedek Priesthood has general authority and jurisdiction over all things, spiritual and temporal; while the Aaronic or lesser Priesthood, which is an appendage to the higher power, has a limited jurisdiction, its special calling being to administer in temporal things. "The Melchizedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things. "The second priesthood is called the priesthood of Aaron, because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations. "Why it is called the lesser priesthood, is because it is an appendage to the greater or the Melchizedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances. "The power and authority of the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church. * * * "The power and authority of the Lesser, or Aaronic Priesthood, is to hold the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances, the letter of the gospel-the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeable to the covenants and commandments."-(D. and C. 107:8, 13, 14, 18-20.) The Government of God.-The Government of God, with its two great wings of authority, corresponds to the duality of the soul; and the saving of souls, here and hereafter, is the grand purpose for which this government, the Church of Christ, was organized. The necessity for a church,--which some peo ple question, just as some question the necessity for a civil government, or a government of any sort, ought to be apparent at a glance. It is as plain as that twice two make four. Two men, united, are more capable than one man, the powers possessed by them being equal. Individuals, working separately, however good their intentions, can never accomplish as much as a community of men and women, imbued with a common purpose, and pushing forward the same enterprise. The difference between a single shot and a whole volley, between one rifleman and a regiment, may serve as a sufficient illustration. The Priesthood and the Soul.-As the spirit and the body constitute the soul, so the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods constitute the government of the Church. As through the medium of the mortal body, with its various members and organs, the tangible things of this life are grasped and utilized, while things pertaining to a higher state of existence are perceived, comprehended, and made practical, by means of the spiritual faculties; so, by this twain of powers, differing in their prerogatives, yet allied, interwoven, and harmonious in their mutual workings, is carried on, in this world and in all worlds, the great cause of truth and righteousness, for the salvation and never-ending progress of God's children. tion. Furthermore, to continue the analogy, it is the spirit, or higher part of man, that controls, directs, and supplies the motive power for the body, being the vital mainspring of that wondrous piece of machinery, whose functions are forwarded by the animation resulting from union and normal operaEven so is it the Melchizedek Priesthood, holding the right of presidency, which controls, influences, and directs the entire body of the Church, delegating, however, a portion of its authority to the Lesser Priesthood, that it likewise may possess and wield its legitimate powers, and execute fully the purposes for which it was designed. The Channel of Revelation.-Speaking of the eternity of the Priesthood, the Prophet Joseph says: "Its institution was prior to 'the foundation of this earth, or the morning stars sang together, or the Sons of God shouted for joy,' and is the highest and holiest Priesthood, and is after the order of the Son of God, and all other priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held, controlled, and directed by it. It is the channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth, and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which he will make known his purposes to the end of time."-("History of the Church," Vol. IV, p. 207.) Adam's Position. In another place, the Prophet thus continues: "The Priesthood was first given to Adam; he obtained the First Presidency, and held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the creation, before the world was formed [that is, in the spiritual creation, before the temporal world was formed]. He had dominion given him over every living creature. He is Michael the Archangel, spoken of in the scriptures."-("History of the Church," Vol. III, pp. 385, 386.) Noah Next to Adam.-"Then to Noah, who is Gabriel; he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office, and was the father of all living in his day, and to him was given the dominion. These men held keys first on earth, and then in heaven."-(Ibid, p. 386.) An Everlasting Principle.-"The Priesthood is an everlasting principle, and existed with God from eternity, and will to eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the gospel is sent. When they are revealed from heaven, it is by Adam's authority. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Succession and Descent.-"The Savior, Moses, and Elias gave the keys to Peter, James and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before Him. How have we come at the Priesthood in the last days? It came down, down, in regular succession. Peter, James and John had it given to them, and they gave it to others. Christ is the Great High Priest; Adam next."-(Ibid, 386-388.) Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.-Peter, James and John -not as mortal men, but as ministering angels, sent from |