The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-14


the idea that it was done in the au-
thority of the priesthood. To attempt
to exercise the authority of priesthood
which they do not possess would I'M
doubtedly be wrong"
The substance of President Cannon S
statement is that an unofficial member
Gor what deacon may do without his
priesthood any unofficial may) may lay
on hands and rebuke disease in the
name of Jesus, but that a deacon with
the authority of his priesthood added
has no authority to do so by virtue of
his priesthood.
In the discussion of the question: 1
shall assume two propositions as need
ing no argument, viz: that priesthood,
as understood and applied in the
church means authority from Jesus,
and that no person has right to act
or do anything in the name of another
without his or her authority to do so.
1t is true that in former times, as in
this dispensation, the promise was
that the healing of the sick should
follow those who believed, and this
promise. standing alone and unquali-
fled, would seem to authorize any per-
son who believes to cast out devils
heal the sick. etc, but this promise was
evidently qualified by the provision
that these things should be done by
We have not all that Christ said, but
that such was the understanding seems
to be sufficiently attested by the fact
that the recorded instances of healing
were by those holding the priesthood
and not by unofficial members and
that James when giving the saints in
structions upon the subject told them
if any We're sick to send for the elders.
and let the elders lay their hands upon
han Io6 f1,- oil
levers to lay on hands and rebuke dis
ease, James would not have said send
for the elders. but would have told the
saints to lay their hands upon each
other. So in this disponsation. with the
same promise that that sign shall fol-
low the believer, the Lord himself tells
the saints to send for the elders to lay
hands on the sick. and he tells them
also that the officers below an elder
have no such authority. (Doc and Gov.
113, 126.
God did not say that teachers and
deacons may lay on hands and rebuke
disease lin the name OF Jesus. but not
in the authority of the priesthood"
which is a contradiction. because one
who rightfully acts in the name of Je-
sus exercises priesthood: but he said
the teachers and deacons cannot lay
hands on the sick at all. with or with
out the priesthood, and that excludes
all who do not hold the priesthood
higher than a teacher or deacon. (Ser-
mon by President Young, Millenial
Star, vol. Is. $50.
Cannon Doctrine Harmful.
The PRONUNCIATION of these dogmat-
zeal heresies by President George Q.
Cannon is very harmful. Coming from
one so high in authority in the church.
and contradictinS, as they do. the tes-
timonies OF Joseph Smith, the twelve
apostles, and even the Savior, shakes
the faith Of the people to the founda-
ton. Confusing the minds of the
saints with respect to whether the
kingdom of God is or is not set up. is
not the worst or most baneful feature
Shaking their faith in the testimony
of Joseph Smith is infinitely worse. be-
cause it goes to the foundation of the
divinity of the church itself The
thought occurs to them. IF Josephs
testimony that the kingdom of God is
set up is it not true. then. what is?
Is it true that the father and the son
to him? Did Moroni appear
to him? Did he have the plates? and
what of the testimony of himself and
the holy men who stood with him. re-
specting all the sacred things that are
said to have transpired and been wit
messed in the establishment of the
church," Your brother
NATHAN TANNER. JR.
Ogden, Utah, May TO- 1899