# Pearl Of Great Price (1851)/From the Doctrine and Covenants of the Church

From the doctrine and covenants of the church.
Commandment to the Church concerning Baptism.
“No one can be received into the church of Christ, unless he has arrived unto the years of accountability before God, and is capable of repentance.
All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins and are willing to, take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into His church.
The duties of the members after they are received by baptism.
"The Elders or Priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning the Church of Christ to their understanding, previous to their partaking of the sacrament, and being confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the Elders; so that all things may be done in order. And the members shall manifest before the Church and also before the Elders, by a godly walk and conversation, that they are worthy of it, that there may be works and faith agreeable to the holy scriptures,—walking in holiness before the Lord."
Method of administering the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
“It is expedient that the Church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus; and the Elder or Priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it: he shall kneel with the Church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying, O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember Him and keep his commandments which He has given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
The manner of administering the wine: He shall take the cup also, and say,—O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them, that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember Him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen."
The duties of the Elders, Priests, Teachers, Deacons, and Members of the Church of Christ.
"An Apostle is an Elder, and it is his calling to baptize, and to ordain other Elders, Priests, Teachers, and Deacons, and to administer bread and wine—the emblems of the flesh and blood of Christ—and to confirm those who are baptized into the Church, by the laying on of hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, according to the scriptures; and to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the Church; and to confirm the Church by the laying on of the hands, and the giving of the Holy Ghost; and to take the lead of all meetings."
"An Elder has a right to officiate in his stead, when the High Priest is not present." ​"The Elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God.
The Priest's duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the Sacrament, and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties: and he may also ordain other Priests, Teachers, and Deacons; and he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no Elder present, but when there is an Elder present he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties. In all these duties the Priest is to assist the Elder if occasion requires.
The Teacher s duty is to watch over the Church always, and be with, and strengthen them, and see that there is no iniquity in the Church, neither hardness with each other; neither lying, backbiting nor evil speaking; and see that the Church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty; and he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the Elder or Priest, and is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the Church, by the Deacons, if occasion requires: but neither Teachers nor Deacons have authority to baptize, administer the Sacrament, or lay on hands; they are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ."
"Every member of the Church of Christ having children, is to bring them unto the Elders before the Church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in His name."
"Any member of the Church of Christ transgressing, or being overtaken in a fault, shall be dealt with as the scriptures direct."
On Priesthood.
"There are, in the Church, two Priesthoods, namely: the Melchisedek, and the Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great High Priest: before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God; but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of His name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood.
All other authorities, or offices in the Church, are appendages to this Priesthood; but there are two divisions, or grand heads—one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic, or Levitical Priesthood.
The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of Melchisedek. The Melchisedek 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 Presidency of the High Priesthood, after the order of Melchisedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the Church.
High Priests, after the order of the Melchisedek Priesthood, have a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the Presidency, in administering spiritual things, and also in the office of an Elder, Priest, (of the Levitical order,) Teacher, Deacon and member."
"The High Priest, and Elder, are to administer in spiritual things, agreeably to the covenants and commandments of the Church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the Church when there are no higher authorities present.
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 Melchisedek Priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances. The Bishopric is the Presidency of this Priesthood, and holds the keys, or authority, of the same. No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this Priesthood, except he be a literal descendant of Aaron. But as a High Priest, of the Melchisedek Priesthood, has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of Bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found; provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power by the hands of the Presidency of the Melchisedek Priesthood.
The power and authority of the higher or Melchisedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the Church—to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven—to have the heavens opened unto them—to commune with the General Assembly and Church of the First-born, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new covenant.
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, agreeably to the covenants and commandments,"
The Calling and Duties of the Twelve Apostles.
“The Twelve travelling counsellors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or especial witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; thus differing from other officers in the Church in the duties of their calling.”
The Calling and Duties of the Seventy.
"The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve, or the Travelling High Council, in building up the Church and regulating all the affairs of the same, in all nations: first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews:—the Twelve being sent out, holding the keys, to open the door by the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews.
And it is according to the vision, showing the order of the Seventy, that they should have seven presidents to preside over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy, and the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six; and these seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy, to whom they belong, and are to preside over them; and also other seventy until seven time seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it. And these seventies are to be travelling ministers unto the Gentiles first, and also unto the Jews; whereas, other officers of the church who belong not unto the twelve, neither to the seventy, are not under the responsibility to travel among all nations, but are to travel as their circumstances shall allow , notwithstanding they may hold as high and responsible offices in the church.
Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved, shall not be counted worthy to stand; even so. Amen,"