Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-13

misunderstanding on the subject with
others az well rs our correspondent
Certainly Both a Deacon and
Teacher hold an office In the Aaronlc
Priesthood. The revelation on Priest
hood given TO the Church In 1892 says,
"And again. the Offices Of Teacher and
Deacon are necessary appendages be-
longing 10 the lesser Priesthood, which
Priesthood was conferred upon Aaron
and his sons" Doc. ana Gov. Sec. 81. v.
80.
The misunderstanding which some-
times arises over this paragraph Is be-
cause Of the word "appendages" and II
is thought that this signifies something
different to that 10 which the Offices are
appended. II Is true that the term the
Priesthood Of Aaron" is used In the
revelations to signify the Office Of
Priest to which Joseph Smith and
Oliver cowdery were first ordained by
John the Baptist, who held the keys Of
that Priesthood. But II will be OBJ
served that tine Offices Of Teacher and
Deacon are pronounced necessary ap-
pendages belonging to the lesser
Priesthood.
The same language Is used In refer.
ence to the Offices ofElder and Bishop as
necessary appendages belonging unto
the High Priesthood" w. 29) We
might as well say that an Elder does
not have the Melchlsedek Priesthood
because his Office is an "appendageo
to that Priesthood, as TO say that
Deacon Is not In the Aaronlc Priesthood
because the word appendage Is used In
relation 10 his Office, The revelations
that define the duties Of these several
officers in the Church are divine COM
municatons on the subject Of Priest
hood. These are all Offices In the Priest
hood:
From Deacon TO Teacher, and from
Teacher 20 Priest. and from Priest TO
Elder, seyerally as they are appointed.
according TO the covenants and COM
mandments OF the Church; then comes
the High Priesthood which Is the great
est Of all. (Sec. l0I, V. 63.)
In ordaining a person TO the PRIEST
hood in this Church It is essential TO
state the office to which he is ordained
and appointed. II TO be an Elder, or
dain him an Elder II to be a Deacon.
ordain him Deacon, Read the manner
in which Priests and Teachers were or
daIned under the instructions OF the sa-
vior to the Nephites, in the Book Of
Mormon, (Moroni, 81
If man is ordained an Elder in the |
Church OF Jesus Christ OF Latter-day
Saints by proper authority, he becomes
one whose Office is In the Mechisedek |
Priesthood, or II ordained Deacon in !
that Church by proper authority he has
an office in the Aaronic Priesthood. 1t |
is usual in ordinations TO confer and |
seal upon the person appointed. all the
powers, and keys and rights belonging |
to that calling in the Aaronic or Mel
chlsedek Priesthood, as the case may |
be.
A quorum Of twelve Deacons properly |
organized is q body in the Aaronic
Priesthood SO with a quorum OF twenty
four Teachers or quorum Of forty
eight Priests over which a Bishop and |
preside. And though the
Deacons' and the Teachers quorums
each have a presidency OF three of their
number yet they are all under the SUI
pervision OF the Bishopric which pre-
sides over the whole lesser Priesthood
within its jurisdiction
These are simple matters, that can be
readily understood by careful reading
Of sections 20 81 and 1917 Of the Doc
trine and Covenants. which should be
familiar TO all persons holding the
so that every man may
learn his duty and to act In the office
IN which he is appointed in all dill
gence," otherwise the Lord has said he
shall not be counted worthy to stand"