| Courtesy Of |
Harold B. Lee Library |
| Collection Name | Millennial Star |
| Collection Description | No. 34 August 22, 1892 / Priesthood, and the Right of Succession |
| Collection Number | The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star |
| Collection Box | Volume 54 |
| Collection Folder | Number 34 |
| Collection Page | 1-5 |
| Source Link | Brigham Young University |
| Rights and Use | Copyright and Use Information |
| Transcript | View Full Transcript |
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First, I wish to say a few words regarding Priesthood. There is no mis- take about the Priesthood of God Almighty. The God of heaven Himself has created and redeemed this world by the power of that Priesthood; and no being that ever dwelt on this earth ever has or ever will be able to do or perform any work pertaining to salvation unless it is by that eternal and everlasting Priesthood.
I am a living witness to the testimony that Joseph gave to the Twelve Apostles when all of us received our endowments under his hands. I remember the last speech that he ever gave us before his death. It was before we started upon our mission to the East. He stood upon his feet some three hours. The room was filled as with con- suming fire, his face was as clear as amber, and he was clothed upon by the power of God. He laid before us our duty. He laid before us the fullness of this great work of God; and in his remarks to us he said: "I have had sealed upon my head every key, every power, every principle of life and salvation that God has ever given to any man who ever lived upon the face of the earth. And these principles and this Priesthood and power belong to this great and last dispensation which the God of heaven has set His hand to establish in the earth. Now," said he, addressing the Twelve, "I have sealed upon your heads every key, every power, and every principle which the Lord has sealed upon my head."
when Brigham Young arose and commenced speaking, as has been said, if my eyes had not been so I could see, if I had not seen him with my own eyes, there is no one that could have convinced me that it was not Joseph Smith speak- ing. It was as the voice and face of Jeseph Smith; and any one can tes- tify to this who was acquainted with these two men.
Several men have claimed authority to lead the Church, but the Prophet Joseph never conferred any such authority upon any man. The keys of the Presidency after his death were held by the Twelve Apostles, and by them only, until the Council of the First Presidency was reorganized.
A man cannot leave this Church without the power of God leaves him. It has been the power of the Priesthood that made men great; and no man can handle it only according to the order of God.
I wish to say to the Latter-day Saints, all that we have to do is to be faithful, to keep His commandments, to be humble, to seek Him in mighty prayer, and all will be well with us.
The Lord called this people here to the valleys of the mountains in fulfilment of prophecy. Old father Jacob, in blessing Joseph and Ephraim, told them what would take place to them and their posterity to the latest generation; that their blessings should extend to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. We are here as descendants of Joseph and Ephraim, and Abraham, who were patriarchs and holy men of God. They had the Priesthood, and it has been continued and handed down from generation to generation as long as God has had a people upon the earth. He has revealed it in this dispensation through the Prophet Joseph, and it is here to stay, and will remain until Christ comes.
I pray God my Heavenly Father to bless the Latter-day Saints, that we may all have faith in God and in the revelations and promises He has given, and in all the truths we have received, and if we do so, all will be well with us.
The Lord is with us, His hand is over us, and He is guiding this work and will continue to do so until Zion shall arise and be built up and shall stand in beauty and power, and become the glory of the whole earth, while the judgments of God shall extend throughout the nations.
