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

the keNealef IL pears WltneSS OF lhe
Father and the Son, and brings morials
into communion with them and into
union with one another. 1t Is the
true light given to every one In COM
ing into the world, but Is bestowed
and manifested IN higher and fuller
degree when conferred as q gift to the
baptized, repentant believer
No person has the right to haptise
or lay on hands or administer any or
dinance Of the Church, unless he is
called of God and ordained TO act In
the name OF the Deity The commits
sion given TO the Apostles of old does
not confer any authority upon men
in this age. II was for them alone
upon whom II was bestowed, and those
whom they were inspired and directed
to ordain unto the same power. Without
divine communication now there can
be no divine authority today. With
out that authority all religious or
dinances are null and void, Only that
which is sealed on earth by men thus
authorized Is sealed and recognized In
heaven.
THE APOSTACY.
When the Apostles Of Christ were
killed and their immediate successors
departed, the disciples were tortured
and slain, and gradually darkness
came over the world and pagan in
stitutlons were mingled with the rites
and order OF the Church, until the
apostolic authority and the true Chris
tian spirit and doctrine were entirely
subverted Reforms that were subse-
quently introduced merely Topped on
some evils and made some improve
ments but did not and could not res
tore the authority and power OF the
primitive Christian Church ana Priest
hood. Sects have multiplied and rell-
gious forms have been brought forth
according to the notions of men, until
all Christendom Is divided against IT.
self. and the wisdom OF the learned is
substituted for the spirit Of revelation.
Instead Of the living word Of God for
q guide, there are the conflicting opin-
ions Of mortals as to the meaning OF
the dead letter Of ancient Scriptures.
THE RESTORATION,
In these latter days the Father and
the Son have appeared ana revealed
anew the Gospel. Angels have minis
tered to man. John the baptlst
brought to earth the authority OF the
lesser or Aaronio Priesthood when ne
held when in mortality, Peter, James
and John have conferred their Keys OF
Apostleship received under the hands
OF Jesus of Nazareth, and the power
ana authority of the higher or Mel
chlsedek Priesthood. EiJah the FRO
phet and others Of the ancients nave
bestowed the keys they held, ana they
are all In the Church Of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, Under that
authority the Church has been Dul!t
up after the original pattern and with
the same spirit, ordinances, gilts ana
blessings.
Joseph Smith was the instrument In
the hands of the Lord TO commence
the work of restitution, and open the
last dispensation, that Of the fullness
of times" He received that divine au-
thorlty under the hands Of those heaV-
emily messengers. He, by revelation
and commandment. ordained others
Today there are on earth Apostles,
Prophets, Evangelists, Elders, bishops,
Priests, Teachers and Deacons divine
ly called and authorized to teach ana
administer the things Of the kingdom
OF heaven. and the power OF God at
tends their ministrations
Faith, repentance and baptism OF
water and Of the Spirit administered
by divine authority, are essential to
salvation. There is only one way
There IL some good In all religions,
but there Is and can be but one divine
religion. that is, the Gospel OF Jesus
Christ 1t Is TO be preached to every
creature Persons who have died ar
ter reaching years of accountability
without an opportunity OF receiving II,
will hear It In the spirit world, and
may there obey or reject II. Heath
ems, Jews and all races, creeds and
tongues will thus have the door of
redemption opened to them. Infants
who die before they become account
ABLE need no baptism but are all re-
deemed by the blood Of Christ.
The spirit Of man Is the intelligent,
responsible being. an entity both be-
fore and after dwelling IN the body.
II was in the beginning with the Faith
er. The sons and daughters Of God
after probati n in the flesh, return TO
Him and then, until the resurrection
associate in such sphere as they have
fitted themselves 20 occupy; the good
with the spirits OF the Just, the eva
with the spirits of the unjust. dis
embodied spirit can learn. believe, re-
pent and yield obedience. but cannot