A history of the priesthood from the beginning of the world to the present time written in defence of the doctrine and position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and also a brief treatise upon the fundamental sentiments, particularly tho

Front matter

Corporation of the Presiding Bishop, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints si

A /

HISTORY OP THE PRIESTHOOD

Preface

The subject of the ¥ Holy Priesthood," is one of magnitude and immense moment to every biblical student, especially those who belong to the society of which the author of the following work is a member, and one that diffuses new light over the whole face of the sacred volume. It enables the inquirer after truth to understand the manner in which God always has, and ever will, deal with the human family.

There is no important topic in the oracles of divine truth, that stands independant of this institution. To a certain extent it is the principle by which the Lord works among men, and is the channel through which all the spiritual gifts, such as miracles, revelations, visions, &c., flow or are obtained ; and is also, the authority by which individuals are legally inducted into the kingdom of God. This kingdom or church, is organized, and sustained by it : for it is the power of God confered upon His people; but when it ceases to exist on earth, the church falls into darkness, and ultimately degenerates into apostacy; hence, comes division, misrule countless tomes of controversy about doctrine, and all the mysticisms, that now characterizes the religious world.

W- PREFACE.

The subjects of the redemption of man, the mission and divinity of Christ, the precepts of the gospel, the true order of the kingdom of God, the gifts and blessings guaranteed to the citizens of this kingdom, the renewal of the gospel dispensation, the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the house of Israel to the lands of their fathers, Zion for the Millennium, the second advent of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and Millennium, are inseparably connected with the Priesthood, all of which are discoursed upon, and set forth in their true light, in the course of this work.

However the merits or demerits of the work, are not for the author to determine; but for the public, to whom it is now cheerfully submitted for perusal.

The earnest solicitation of numerous friends to publish a work of this description, and an arden t desire to propagate the truth, are the principal causes that induced the author to mature it into its present form ; therefore, it is hoped that it will produce the desired effect, which is, to be the means of doing much good ; or in other words, to effctually subserve the cause of Christ.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD TO THE

PRESENT TIME.

CHAPTER L

Condition of Man, and the Earth before the fall — State of things after the fall — The Lord made known to Adam the Plan of Salvation — Giving of the Priesthood to Him, and the. History of the same, in connection with the dealings of God with Mankind from Adam to Abraham.

A train of events having rendered my circumstances such, that I cannot at present be constantly engaged in the field of labour sounding the trumpet of the everlasting gospel, or of descanting upon the beauties of holiness, with the view of elucidating the riches and splendor of the kingdom of God ; but being inspired with feelings of respect, and ardent desire for the welfare of my fellow man : and knowing that I cannot employ my time in a more serviceable way, than when I engage myself in making plain to the understanding the matchless work of God, I have retired from the hum of business, and chatting of social society, to while away a few hours of solitude, in deep reflection upon the high-toned ■economy of God, or self-commending plan of Salvatwn, 1

O HISTORY OF THE PRIESTHOOD.

which I deem prudent to publish for the consideration of the honest inquirer after truth.

The subject that occupies its place as one of the departments of the economy of God, that I have made choice of, as will be seen from the « Title," to fit within the narrow limits of this little volume, is the " Holy Priesthood," the history of which I intend to give, with the view of the rise and establishment of the kingdom of God of the latter-days, and fulfilment of the numerous promises of God to his people.

Come Heav'nly Spirit, I invoke thy aid, O'respread me with thy cheering influence ; Touch the intellect, help the mind to soar Above the narrow works of boasting men. What is in me dark, illumine ; 0 guide The immortal part, sacred in the path Of truth, that things past, present, and to come, May be with great precision unfolded. 'Midst the labyrinth of the dark ages, Of times or trial of struggling mortals, Of which no history is conclusive, Assist the mind untrammel'd to traverse 'Midst monuments survived the wreck of time, Of truth unchang'd, unsullied, ever bright, Though like lonely stars that in chaos shine, While darkness, and confusion reigns around. High Heav'n lend thine influence, act the part 'Of the magic star of Bethlehem, that Guided the guard'an shepherds of the east, To the place where Immanuel was laid : *So inspire my mental pow'rs, direct my Mind, a wise and just selection to make, Of gems of 'lasting truth ; and thus to rear

The temple of argument, in defence

Of the cause, nay more th' rights of Israel's God.

Once more kind Heav'n, thine influence I ask,

That like a well instructed scribe, I may

In wisdom, bring forth things both old and new ;

That this work, the force of my exertion,

May prove a sure guide to eternal bliss.

Considering the foregoing a sufficient introduction, I now invite the reader to divest himself of all unfriendly prejudice, and participate with me in the investigation of our subject ; but before we begin our research, let us have a fair understanding with regard to the meaning of this " holy priesthood," a knowledge of which we are in search of.

When I speak of the holy priesthood, I mean to be understood as speaking of_a delegation from God, _ar-a ^Leffatinn_ from heaven, which is an authority conferred upon individuals authorizing them to act in the name ofthg. Lord. ,or tqjadminister ordinances and transact such business as appertains^

to the kingdnrp of God^ or in other words, the Lorddoes a.

part of His work by proxv,.or_employp righjeoiis men as His . agents, and the priesthood is the commission or power given to them ; however, the reader is not to understand from this, that this priesthood is wholly restricted to this world ; but to the contrary, it is a principle congenial with the works of God, and binds the hosts of heaven together, and authorizes the angels to act in the name of God throughout the boundless realms of light ; and (as will be seen hereafter,) no one has a legal right to administer in the name of the Lord without this authority.

The sacred writers have ascribed to this priesthood, two departments, or general heads ; the one they denominated the " Melchisedec" the other the " Aaronic" or " Levitical /" the latter seems only to have been an appendage to the former, as I shall endeavor to make appear in its proper place. Having now given my views with regard to the import and object of the priesthood, I renew the invitation to the reader, to join me in this research, which we will now commence.

(Moses says : « In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth," (and all things upon it.) " And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.'' Thus we are to infer, that as the earth rolled from the hands of its Maker, every thing was pure. Nothing molested the quiet of all the Lord's holy mountain ; all the beasts of the forest were docile or harmless. But the most noble of all i His works, was the formation of man in His own image and likeness, whom He located in the " beautiful garden of Eden or earthly paradise ; and gave him puwer to have dominion over all things upon the earth. Thus Adam was made governor over all the works of God upon this planet, which then formed a province in the vast kingdom of worlds, or boundless creation of God. In this condition, he not only occupied the place of a ruler, but he formed a connection between the heavenly intelligences, and other animate creatures that dwell upon the earth.

But let us for one moment, further contemplate the state of things at this period: — The earth was (and is yet) the Lord's, and ail things upon it : for he created them. — Adam, accompanied by his companion, was located in the capital of it, to all appearance, with a prospect of enjoying a world of pleasure. The earth was the extent of his dominion, yet all were under the jurisdiction of the Lord.

Under these circumstances, Adam having authority to sway his sceptre over the whole province of the earth, it was only necessary that he should be restricted under certain rules or a law, for the well-being of the whole of the lower creation. This being the case, the welfare of all things upon earth, to a certain extent, depended upon the it: .

conduct of man. The relationship that Adam sustained with the Lord, was that of a son, if we credit the testimony of St. Luke.* But alas ! man only held this blissful station while in obedience to the Supreme Head of all things; and in disobedience the whole scenery was changed, and tinged with a crimsoned woe, sorrow, and perplexity. — Satan, who in all probability is a fallen angel, employed the serpent or disguised himself, and thus beguiled Eve, who took and gave to Adam, and thus they both partook of the fatal fruit, which was peremptorily forbidden. The penalty of the law was inflicted, which was banishment from the beautiful garden and from the presence of God, also temporal death. Thus satan took the character of an invader, and invaded the earth : the earthly paradise became lost to man, and his relationship with God was broken ; hence, since the fall, all mankind, before obedience to the law of redemption, are foreigners, aliens, and strangers to God. Under these circumstances, Adam, before having a knowledge of the plan of salvation, must have been in an awful condition : — A veil of obscurity now intervened between him, and his God ; the angels, who were formerly his companions, did not so frequently visit him ; the ground was cursed, and became parched and obdurate, so that it required much manuel labor to obtain vegetation sufficient for his sustenance. The beasts of the forest began to tear each other in pieces ; the more harmless birds of the wood, hastened to some place to screen themselves from the more ravenous kind. Alas ! the harmony that once existed, was broken up, and a woeful confusion reigned in its stead, and a horror and awful dread of death pervaded the mind of Adam, and racked his soul with fearful anxiety | respecting bis future fate. Thus with a prospect of lingering out a wretched existence, in a state of banishment from the presence of God, and with awful feelings, as though they * See Luke, iv. 33.

were the horrible forebodings of perpetual despair, he no doubt, bewailed his condition.

Now under consideration that these were the circumstances of man at this period, and that satan had invaded the earth ; I ask, what was there to be done 1 Man had lost this earthly paradise or pleasant estate ; the infliction of the penalty of the law, which he had broken, rendered him an alien from God — and this curse was to be entailed upon his posterity. Could he without any permission from heaven, establish a law or order of things, by which he could regain that which he had lost 1 I answer in the negative. Again, would it have been consistant with the character and mercy of the Deity, to have forever abandoned him to wretchedness and woe, without offering him a chance to return ] I opine not. Still, I interrogate, would it be consistent with the rules of propriety, for an alien to assume the authority to administer the forms of the law, and thus adopt himself as a citizen of a distant kingdom, or for two foreigners to commission each other to do a thing of the kind? Every intelligent person will respond in the negative. Again I repeat, what should be done ? I will answer this by referring to what has been done.

After the Great God, condescended to alleviate the painful condition of man, by promising that in His own due time He would send his Son who should be offered as a sacrifice for the original sin, and redeem all mankind from the consequences of the same. He also profferrd to him the law of redempton ; or in other words the plan of Salvation, through obedience to which, all the human family can farm and sustain an allegiance with God. It would seem from the scriptures, that this law of redemption is the law of the kingdom of God, given to the faithful for their special benefit ; but it is absolutely necessary for all to be obedient to it, in order for them to become citizens of this kingdom. But the point now at issue is, how the human family were to come in possession of this kingdom : they certainly could not usurp it, neither could they form this allegiance with God without a permit from heaven authorizing them so to do.

Again, there was no way for God to establish his kingdom among foreigners, unless he appeared in person and done it, or sent an embassy for that purpose. An assumption on the part of the foreigners, would not answer. Thus it appears, that there was no way for mankind to return and form a relationship with God, only by a permit or grant from Him, accompanied with the specified conditions. I have now traced the subject, to the place where I can with propriety introduce the holy priesthood.

I have already shown, that it was possible for man to receive information concerning the plan of salvation, but at the same time be destitute of the proper authority to reap the benefits of it. Therefore, the thing lacking, which was absolutely necessary, was the permit from heaven ; or in other words, the priesthood — which was given to Adam.

This priesthood, as I have before observed, is the principle that binds the hosts of heaven together, is the commission given to angels, and is the necessary authority in the kingdom of God ; and indeed, virtually speaking, when this priesthood was given, the kingdom was given: for it is the authority by which all the officers are consecrated, or the kingdom organized, and the ordinances administered. When I speak of the kingdom of God on earth, I mean to be understood as speaking of it, as being synonymous with the church militant.

Now the reader is to understand, that this kingdom was organized on earth expressly for the benefit of the fallen race of mankind, and all those who are legally adopted into it, and are faithful to God duriug the short period of their existence in time, will not only be under the immediate protection of God ; but will heir an inheritance in heaven, and fully regain all that was lost by the fall ; so that our painful course through time, and the serious afflictions that flesh is heir to, in the end will be no detriment to us, but rather, as the apostle says : « They will turn to our good." Again, it is incompatible with the Lord's mode of dealing with the human family, to be present himself and act the part of a priest on earth to administer the ordinances that appertain to His kingdom, or to station His angels here for that purpose ; hence, He elected good men and conferred the priesthood upon them, that they might administer the ordinances and adopt souls into this kingdom. Thus the Lord deputized righteous men to do his work in his name. The following declaration of the apostle, abundantly sustains this idea. " Now then we are ambassadors for Christ: as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."*

Moses and the prophet Malachi, connect the priesthood and a covenant together ; speaking of the priesthood conferred upon Aaron and his Sons, they call it a " covenant of priesthood."f -Pau^ savs» tne priesthood after the order of Melchisedec was made or given with an oath. This oath alludes to the covenant made at the time this authority is transferred to the people of God ; therefore, when men transgress and fail on their part to perform what the stipulations of the covenant binds them to, they break it ; and thus, forfeit all the privileges of the priesthood.

Again, the priesthood is evidently what the apostle alludes to, where he says, a " dispensation was given to him to preach the gospel." A dispensation, and a covenant are inseparably connected, (I mean a general dispensation that is given for the purpose of building up the kingdom.) Therefore, if the

*See 2 Co. v, 20. tSee No. xxv, 13 , Mai. ii, 4-7.

priesthood was given to Aaron, a covenant was made, and a dispensation given to him.

Now when we consider that God is the same unchangeable being in all ages of the world, and that He has but one mode of saving men, we cannot dispute that His kingdom was established on earth in as early an age of the world, as that in which Adam lived. Yet I admit, there is no positive evidence that Adam had this priesthood ; but there is an abundance of circumstantial, as will be seen from the following.

The first evidence, that the priesthood was given to men in this age, I shall examine, is the circumstance of Cain and Abel, offering a sacrifice as a type, no doubt, alluding to, and conveying an idea of the great sacrifice of the Son of God. Moses gives the following account of this offering : "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had no respect."*

This not only shows, that Adam and his sons had a knowledge of the promised Saviour and of the atonement ; but that some one was in possession of the priesthood at this period. But it is very evident, that it was given to Adam, and he conferred it upon his sons ; and even if Cain and Abel did not have it, I am certain the person who administered at the alter did ; for it is an established principle in the economy of God, that no one has a legal right to administer the ordinances of his kingdom, except he be qualified with the priesthood ; not even a sacrifice-offring excepted. To establish this, I refer the reader to the circumstance of Saul, king of Israel, offering a sacrifice at Gilgal, when h« had no authority to do it.* This was a grievous offence in the sight of God, so much so, that he rent the kingdom from him and his posterity, and gave it to David. The apostle f ays : « No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron. "j- Moses strictly forbade any one of the Israelites to administer at the altar, but those who had the priesthood.

The foregoing sufficiently establishes the idea, that the priesthood was given to man almost from the beginning ; but it will be remembered, that he retained it only by obedience to the commandments of God : for it is His kingdom, and He will not keep in office those who disobey Him ; hence, when Cain and others transgressed, He took it from them. But I will now bring forward another train of evidence ; therefore, I solicit the reader to divest himself of all prejudice, and critically examine it with me.

I have before remarked, that the fall of man produced an entire change in his estate, and that all mankind, before obedience to the principles of righteousness, are foreigners from God ; and that His kingdom was established on earth, in order that they might return and form an allegience with Him ; hence, as soon as the priesthood was given, and the kingdom established, and men began to increase upon the earth, those who belonged to the kingdom of God, were distinguished from those who rejected it, by the appellation of the " chosen seed" or " Elect people of God." And it is possible, that Eve gave birth to children before this priesthood was conferred upon Adam, (although, we have nothing definite to establish such an idea ;) but as soon as he received it, he formed this allegiance with God, and become the head officer of the church or kingdom on earth ; hence, said *he, when Cain was born, " I have gotten a man from the Lord ;"$ thinking, no doubt, that he would succeed his father ♦See 1 Sa. xiii. +He. v. 4. JGs. iv, 1.

in the right of presiding over the church : moreover, that he would be numbered with the " chosen seed," because he was born after they had renewed their relationship with God. Cain however, murdered his brother Abel, in consequence of which he was cursed, and excluded from the privileges of the priesthood ; therefore, Seth succeeded his father. And it appears, that the principal object Moses had in view, in his very brief history of the world from the creation down to Abraham, was to give the regular lineal descent and succession of priests or patriarchs, who by virtue of the holy priesthood, reigned as kings and priests, or presided in their day over the church.

Again, when we consider the frailty of the human mind, and the character of satan, who invaded the earth, it is no more than reasonable for us to suppose, that at a very early period there became two parties, which indeed was the case. The " chosen seed," who reaped the benefits of the priesthood, and were made the adopted children of God, in contradistinction to the wicked, (who were called the " sons and daughters of men,") were termed the " Sons and Daughters of God," This is certainly, a most excellent explanation of this mysterious passage of scripture : " And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."* This has been a difficult text for the learned to comment upon. And some have indulged themselves in strange fights of imagination, and enthusiastical speculations about the meaning of it, and have supposed that the angels of heaven, had some mysterious commerce with the fair sex of that age — which is a great absurdity. All of this, is the effect of the ignorance that exists in this our day with regard to the holy priesthood. *Ge. vi, 1, 2.

Even after the Antideluvian age, the people of the Lord, were called " Sons of God'" although, the term ; " Saints" was frequently used. The appellation of " Sons of God," is often used in the Book of Job ; for instance : " Now there was a day, when the Sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and satan came also among them."* The idea is, the people of God met together and satan protruded himself into their midst. The apostles also, frequently make use of the term " Sons of God"

But before I leave the history of the priesthood in this age, I will again introduce as positive evidence, to sustain the idea of the existence of the priesthood on earth at this period, the following logical conclusions. First, the Lord is the same in all ages of the world, and indeed from and to all eternity. Secondly, his law, or the gospel, is the same invariable rule or plan of salvation ; therefore, it requires in all ages, the same principle of authority to administer it. Thirdly, by the gospel life and immortality were brought to light ; and I am certain, if the bible is true, the Antideluvian patriarchs understood these important principles. Fourthly, the precious blessings, such as communing with God, as Enoch and others did, revelations, administration of angels, faith, &c, &c, are enjoyed by those, who by virtue of the priesthood are adopted into the family of God. Fifthly, there is but one general order of priesthood, and that has existed from all eternity; for the idea is held forth by the sacred writers, that Christ has been in possession of it from before the foundation of the world, and as the kingdom of God could not have been organized on earth without it; therefore, as the Lord's people of the age of which I now write, were in possession of the kingdom and of the above mentioned blessings, it is established beyond successful contradiction, that the Lord consecrated men to the office of the priesthood soon after the fall. Being ♦Job ii, 6.

assured, in my own mind, that the foregoing is sufficient to establish the position I have taken, I now continue my history.

As I have before mentioned, there was a regular succession of kings, priests or patriarchs, from Adam to Abraham, and it appears that during this age, while the chosen or elect people of God, formed a separate or distinct people by themselves, that it was highly displeasing to God, for them to in. termix or marry with the wicked : for it seems, that a violation of this rule, was one reason why the Lord brought the flood upon the world, and destroyed all with the exception of Noah and his family.

It is said that Noah was a preacher of righteousness, not of the ceremonial law of Moses, for it was not then in existence ; but the righteousness which is of faith, or in other words, the gospel of Christ ; and any evidence that the gospel was preached in this early age, is proof that the priesthood existed on earth at the same time. _,

In the pieservation of Noah from destruction by the flood, the regular succession of presiding priests was continued after it. He is a very prominent man, in the history of these early times, and the bible gives him the character of a prophet, and it also records the circumstance of his administering at the alter, which certainly gives him the character of a priest.

There is nothing in the history, of the elapse of time from Noah to Abraham, that particularly attracts attention, only an exhibition of the fraility of man ; for it appears, there was a great falling away, or apostacy from God, and a substitution of an idolatrous, in the place of the true worship. Also, the building of the tower of Babel, which was very offensive to God : for which He confounded the language that the human family then spoke, and scattered them upon all the face of the earth.

I have now concluded the first division of my history ;

therefore, I close this chapter, not however, without first assuring the reader, that the following one contains matter of a very interesting character, and of importance to all mankind.

Chapter II

The object the Lord had in vieic in raising up the Israelite Nation. — The Gospel ivas preached in the days of Abraham. — The form of Government that the Lord approbates — And the History of the priesthood from Abraham to Moses.

It appears from what is left on record of the age in which Abraham lived, that the foundation of the heathen mythology was laid, and that a large porlion of the world digressed from the path of rectitude and righteousness, and were fast tending forward to that disgraceful confusion and idolatry, that they afterward were thrust into; however, I admit that some few strictly adhered to the principles of righteousness, and that the majority of the nations retained some few vestiges of the pure religion of heaven ; as is evident from many things that are recorded in connection with the history of Abraham, and those immediately connected with him. The Lord therefore, foreseeing the result of this apostacy, called Abraham and commanded him to leave the land of his nativity, and go into the land of Canaan.

It seems, that the object the Lord had in view in doing this, was to cause a knowledge of him to be retained on earth., which was likely to be lost among those who had turned to idolatry. In order to acomplish this, the Lord resolved to raise up from Abraham, a choice nation, and peculiar people; — hence, the Israelites were to be the repositories of hi* knowledge.

As soon as Abraham reached the land of Canaan, the Lord appeared to him and made known in full his intentions,, which were as above, and ceded to him and his posterity after him forever and ever, all the land that he could see from an eminent place on which he stood ; He also promised him that his progeny should be, comparatively speaking, as numerous as the stars of heaven, and that in and through his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed- All these considerations were included in the covenant the Lord made with him.