[page torn] [gr]ace for grace. when Brother Joseph received the Priesthood
[page torn] [h]e did not recived all at once, but He was A prophet seer & revela[tor] [page torn]
before He recieved the fulness of the Priesthood & keys of the kingd[om] [page torn]
He first recieved the Aronick Priesthood & Keys from under the hand
of John the Baptisk. He then had not power to lay on hands to confirm
the Church but afterwards He recieved the Patriarchal or Melchisidick
Priesthood from under the Hands of PeterJames & John who were
of the Twelve Apostles & were the Presidency when the other Apostl[es] [page covered]
were Absent, from those Apostles Joseph Smith recieved every key
power, Blessing, & Privilege of the Highest Authority of the Melchezedick
Priesthood ever committed to man on the earth which they held
some have had fears that we had not power to get revelations since
the death of Joseph, But I want this subject from this time forth
to be forever set at rest And I want this Church to understand
from this day henceforth & forever that an apostle is the Highest
office & Authority that there is in the Church & kingdom of God
on the earth. from whom did Joseph recieve his authority from
just such men as sit around me here (pointing to the Twelve
Apostles that sat with him) Peter James & John were Apostles &
there was no noise about their being seers & revelators though those
gifts were among them. Joseph Smith gave unto me & my brethr[en] [page covered]
the Twelve all the Priesthood keys Power & Authority which he ha[d] [page covered]
And those are powers which belong to the Apostleship. In Joseph[s] [page covered]
day we had to ordain Patriarchs could we ordain men to Author[ity] [page covered]
greater than we held ourselves^?^ No. But it is necessary to have Patria[rchs] [page covered]
to Bless the People that they may have Blessings by the spirit of prop[hecy] [page covered]
& revelation sealed upon their heads & their posterity & know what
awaits their posterity Father Smith was the seignor Patriarch in the
Church & first Patriarche in our day & Afterwards Hiyram was th[e] [page covered]
seignor Patriarch for his father sealed it upon his head But was
there Power & Authority different from all Patriarchs in the
church No they were all alike in their authority in Blessing. Elijah is
spoken of in the Bible that He should come in the last days to sta
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children & the children to their
fathers [Malachi 4:6], the fulfillment of this scripture is manifest in esstablishing
the kingdom of God & Priesthood on the earth in the last days & those
who hold the keys of the priesthood & sealing power have the spirit
& power of Elijah & it is necessary in order to redeem our dead &
save our children there is much more importance attached to this than
Parents are aware of. In the loss of this child of Brother Crows that was
drowned I felt that I could weep in sorrow if I gave way to my feelings
for I realize it is A loss to the parents to loose little children. it is true al[l] [page covered]
children are saved there names are written in the Lambs book of li[fe] [page covered]
which was the case with every spirit that takes A tabernacle on
this earth. their names were written there before the world was
made, & will there ever remain untill they sin against the Holy Gho[st] [page covered]
it will then be blotted out no more to be recorded forever. But not
withstanding this can brother Crow get that child again or any oth[er] [page covered]
person their children except their is sumthing done for them on the
earth by their Parents, No they would not, they would go to God who
gave them but the parents on the earth would not have them, the
[page covered] P[a]rents framed the Body to be sure But the Lord gave the spirit
what is the Body good for without the spirit. what then can [be] [page covered]
[page covered] d[o]ne, I will tell you A man that has embraced the gospel must [be] [page covered]
[page covered] [s]ome one who has the Priesthood & keys & power of Elijah, & mu[st] [page covered]
[page covered] [att]end to ordinances for that child, even must be baptized fo[r it] [page covered]
[page torn] illegible as to have it sealed to him & through illegible [page torn]
grace page torn for grace. when Brother Joseph received the Priesthood
he did not recived all at once, but he was a prophet Seer & Revelator page torn
before he recieved the fulness of the Priesthood & keys of the kingdom page torn
he first recieved the Aronick Priesthood & Keys from under the hand
of John the Baptisk. He then had not power to lay on hands to confirm
the Church but afterwards he recieved the Patriarchal or Melchisidick
Priesthood from under the hands of Peter James & John who were
of the Twelve Apostles & were the Presidency when the other Apostles
were absent, from those Apostles Joseph Smith recieved every key [FIGURE]
power, blessing, & Privilege of the highest authority of the Melchezedick
Priesthood ever committed to man on the earth which they held
some have had fears that we had not power to get revelations since
the death of Joseph, but I want this subject from this time forth
to be forever set at rest and I want this Church to understand
from this day henceforth & forever that an apostle is the highest
office & authority that there is in the Church & kingdom of God
on the earth. from whom did Joseph recieve his authority from
just such men as sit around me here (pointing to the Twelve
Apostles that sat with him) Peter James & John were Apostles &
there was no noise about their being seers & Revelators though those
gifts were among them. Joseph Smith gave unto me & my brethren
the Twelve all the Priesthood keys Power & Authority which he had
And those are powers which belong to the Apostleship. In Josephs
day we had to ordain Patriarchs could we ordain men to Authority
greater than we held ourselves No. But it is necessary to have Patriarchs
to bless the People that they may have blessings by the spirit of prophecy
& Revelation sealed upon their heads & their posterity & know what
awaits their posterity Father Smith was the Seignor Patriarch in the
Church & first Patriarch in our day & afterwards Hyram was the
seignor Patriarch for his father sealed it upon his head but was
there Power & Authority different from all Patriarchs in the
church No they were all alike in their authority in blessing. Elijah is
spoken of in the Bible that he should come in the last days to
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children & the children to their
fathers, the fulfillment of this scripture is manifest in esstablishing
the kingdom of God & Priesthood on the earth in the last days & those
who hold the keys of the priesthood & sealing power have the spirit
& power of Elijah & it is necessary in order to redeem our dead &
save our children there is much more importance attached to this than
Parents are aware of. In the loss of this child of Brother Crows that was
drowned I felt that I could weep in sorrow if I gave way to my feelings
for I realize it is a loss to the parents to loose little children. it is true all
children are saved there names are written in the Lambs book of life
which was the case with every spirit that takes a tabernacle on
this earth. their names were written there before the world was
made, & will there ever remain untill they sin against the Holy Ghost
it will then be blotted out no more to be recorded forever. But not
withstanding this can brother Crow get that child again or any other
person their children except their is sumthing done for them on the
earth by their Parents, No they would not, they would go to God who
gave them but the parents on the earth would not have them, the
Parents framed the body to be sure but the Lord gave the spirit
what is the body good for without the spirit. what then can be
done, I will tell you a man that has embraced the gospel must be
some one who has the Priesthood & keys & power of Elijah, & must
attend to ordinances for that child, even must be baptized for it
as well as to have it sealed to him & through the 2 illegible words
"Journal (January 1, 1847 – December 31, 1853)," August 11, 1847, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed December 4, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/gJWk