Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21

frain from contracting any marriages
contrary TO the laws, and announcing
his intention to observe them himself
This was ratified by the Church In gem
cral conference october 6, 1890 and Is
still strictly observed, Men who had
previously married more than one wo-
man continue to regard them as wives,
because the marriages were solemnlzed
for all eternity under sacred sealing
ordinance and contract Their NUM-
bers, however are rapidly decreasing,
as they are chiefly aged persons ana
comparatively little Is left Of the prac-
tioe. When the State constitution
was framed II was provided that Po-
lygamous or plural marriages are for
ever prohibited" This was the lam
guage Of the requirement In the Enab-
ling Act Of Congress, and was fortified
in the state constitution and statutes
by the addition Of heavy penalties for
IT'S infraction That question may.
therefore be regarded as practically
settled. Polygamous marriages have
ceased being barred both by civil and
ecclesiastical law.
CELESTIAL MARRIAGE.
The doctrine of celestial. that Is eter-
nal marriage however. Is SIN a feat
ure of the Mormon faith, BY the auth
GRITTY vested IN the head Of the Church,
that which Is sealed on earth is sealed
In heaven, and the man and woman
united under that authority In an ever
lasting covenant are Joined forever.
Such was the marriage Of Adam and
Eve before death came by sin, The
redemption by Christ restored them to
their primeyal state, and they stand at
the head OF their poSterity immortal,
perfected ana eternal BY obedience
and fidelity to the laws Of God men
and women may attain 20 a similar
estate and enjoy amending bliss, the
man being not without the woman nor
the woman without the man In the
Lord" The family. the home. the re-
lation Of parents and children are thus
the basis Of present and future hapni-
ness, and the increase thereof helng
perpetual therein Is the glory Of the
redeemed who dwell in the presence Of
God and the Holy Ones, continued for
ever
CHURCH GOVERNMENT
The government of the Church OF
Christ devolyes upon those who have
been divlnely appointed and have been
accepted by the body Of the Church,
in which ali things are to be done by
common consent
At the head Is the Prophet, Seer and
Revelator with two counselors. These
three presiding High Priests thus Sc
lected are Apostles and form the First
Presidency, having Jurisdiction over the
Church In all the world
Next are the Twelve Apostles. form
ing a body equal In authority 20 the
Presidency and constituting that Pre-
sldency az the death or removal Of
the head They set in order the affairs
Of the Church In all the world under
the direction o. the First Presidency
The Seventy are a body Of Elders
forming an appendage TO the Apostle
ship and travelling under their dlrec-
ton Seven Of the number preside ov-
or that body. There are a hundred and
fifty Of these "quorums" as they are
called each presided over by seven Of
their number and all under direction
Of the First Seven Presidents. They
form the chief missionary corps of the
Church.
High Priests, and Elders not belong
Ing to the councils above mentioned,
are local officers for local mlnlstrations
but may be called into the missionary
field II necessary. Ninety-six Elders
form a quorum. presided over by
three OF their number. There arc a
great many Of these organizations. All
these officers hold the Priesthood after
the order OF Mclchisedek
The Bishops stand at the head Of
the Aaronic or lesser Priesthood. an
appendage 10 the higher or Melchlsedek
Priesthood. There are three who form
the Presiding BiSh0pric OF the Church,
Other Bishops have charge Of wards Of
the Church, and the function OF the
Bishopric Is to minister in the tempor-
alitles OF the Church Priests forty
eight OF whom form a quorum" pre-
sided over by a Bishop and two coun-
selors: Teachers, twenty-four Of whom
form a quorum" presided over by
three Of their number; and Deacons.
twelve Of whom form Quorum" pre-
sided over by three Of their number,
constitute the rest OF the organization.
OF the lesser Priesthood,
Apostles. Seventies. High Pfiesta and
Elders may preach, baptize and lay
on hands for the gift OF the Holy
Ghost. and perform any duty OF the
Aaronlc Priesthood, as the greater in
cludes the less Bishops and Priests
NAV preach. teach and baptize for the
remission Of sins, but cannot confer