Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-04
ONLY ONE WAY.


copied into these columns that II may
have a still wider circulation than is
enjoyed by that excellent magazine. We
commend II to the attention of the Lat
ter-day Saints and particularly to our
young people, as II contains sugges-
tions OF moment TO them, as well as to
older members OF the Church. The sub
ject touched upon IL one OF paramount
Importance. IL, az all Latter-day Saints
believe and testify, that God has re-
stored TO earth the authority OF the
holy Apostleship and Priesthood by
which men on earth are empowered 10
act in the name of Deity, so that what
they seal on earth is sealed In heaven
and what they loose on earth Is loosed
in heaven" (of course when performed
according TO divine dlrecton) then II
must be OF the utmost Importance that
the authority so revealed should be
respected and obeyed. In this Church
there Is nothing required that sayors OF
priestcraft. That is as different from
the exercise OF the authority of the holy
priesthood, as counterfeit coin u
from the genuine. We hope the article
we here append from the pen of Presl-
dent Joseph i. Smith VIII be read ana
comprehended throughout the Church
cs Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints;
There Is an inclination with some OF
the young men Of Zion TO count OF IT.
lie Importance the value of the most
precious boon that has been given to
the Latter-day Saints as q people; VIZ,
the authority from God TO act In His
name snd to be the Church of Christ.
The Lord called upon Joseph Smith
the Prophet, and spake unto him from
heaven, and gave him command
ments, ard also unto the world, that
faith might Increase, and that the
everlasting covenant might be estab-
lished, and the fulness of the Gospel
proclaimed to the ends Of the earth.
The Lord then declared:
"And also those to whom these COM
mandments were given, might have
|power to lay the foundation OF this
Church, and to bring forth out OF OBJ
[scurity and out Of darkness the only
strue ana living Church upon the face
|Of the whole earth, with which |, the
lord, am well pleased, speaking unto
1.-THE Church collectively and not In
Individuality. and Covenants,
EHec. Il 3o).
Thus We see how this people were
|eeparated from the world, and made
peculiar. The Prophet Joseph was
|appointed TO receive commandments
and revelations in the Church (see
rs: %, and none other was TO hold this
position until he should be taken; (i3'
~, and none other was to be appointed
unto this gift except through him. that
Is, through the power and authority Of
the Priesthood which he possessed
It is we'll known that, prior TO his
heath, he called the Twelve, upon whom
BIS body were bestowed the full
bowers of the Priesthood. who In turn
bestowed It upon President Brigham
Young according to the spirit Of inspire
AtIon, and the Church covenants. which
provide that "all things must be done
b order, and by common consent IN the
Church, by the prayer OF faith" (Sec
y: 49,. From him II was bestowed
b turn upon President John Taylor
Ind then upon those who have sues
eeded him as presiding High Priests
u the Church unto and including tho
present day. SO that this is the Church
d Jesus Christ, "the only true and liy-
be- Church upon the face Of the whole
birth"
The point Is, therefore. that every
erson who wishes TO belong 10 the
yhurch OF Christ must submit himself
its constituted authority, and must
pw TO its ordinances and obey the
Commandments. In the words Of the
ord; "Iie that Is ordained Of me shall
bme In at the gate" There can be no
bmpromise. Every man must enter
at the gate of baptism who desires
become member Of the Church OF
hrsst, and in entering therein he
bycnants TO keep the commandments,
hi accepts the authority Of the Priest.
bod.
No organization OF people calling
emselyes church, however they
light believe In the doctrine Of the
hurch OF Christ. could be united as n
>dy thereto. except in the appointed
~. The members OF such organiga-
IN individually would have to sab
20 the ordinance OF baptism, which
the gateway OF entrance into the
Iurch. And that ordinance would
Ne to be performed by persons hold
authority. II would not suffice that
In persons had once been baptized
o some other church, for baptism
be effective must be performed by
rson holding authority, The same
ttrine applies 10 individuals.
Sow when any person affects 10 be-
ye that such baptism Is not neces-
~. or makes light Of the authority
which such baptism IL performed,
i person Is In danger OF condemnins
hsef or In other words, excluding
bself from the blessings, by thus
kenlng his mind by vanity and un-
lef.
he Lord has commanded his SER