Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-09-19

comprising Bishops, Priests. Teachers
and Deacons, which was conferred by
John the Baptist upon Joseph Smith
and Oliver Cowdery May 10, 1929 and
the Melchizedek, comprising Apostles,
Patriarchs, High Priests, Seventies
and Elders, which was conferred Oh
Joseph Smith by the Apostles Peter,
James and John, short time after
wards.
The First Presidency of the churc h
consists OF President and two counsel
lors. who preside over the Melchizedek
priesthood and the whole church The
Twelve Apostles are next, whose
duties are to preach the Gospel, build
up the church and regulate it's affairs.
Upon the death of the President they
preside over the church until another
is elected The Seventies are various
councils of seventy members each,
called quorums, who constitute the
main missionary corps of the church.
Elders are organized in quorums of
SO members, Priests of 4S, Teachers of
"a, and Deacons of IL. The church
holds two conferences year, in April
and October, at which the general
authorities of the church are voted for
by the people. The branches of the
church are organized into Stakes of
Zion, each stake having its officers.
and, in Utah, each occupying county
in territory. Each Stake is divided
into Wards, over each of which Bis
hop presides, and each Ward has it's
own meeting house, so that it may be
seen the organization and its work is
systematized to the minutest degree.
| The Latter.day Saints believe in the
Bible as an inspired record of the deal.
ings of God with men in the eastern
hemisphere, and consequently believe
in the creation or organization of the
heav ens and earth by the word of God
They believe that God placed Adam
and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and
that they were cast out therefrom for
transgression, thereby bringing suffer
ing and death into the world, includ-
ing Punishment from the presence of
God.
That Jesus Christ was the son of
God, and that by His death He made
atonement for the sons of Adam and of
| the whole world, so that men, by in
dividual acceptance of the terms, can
have their own sins forgiven or remit
ted and be reconciled to God.
| That in order to obtain this for
giveness or remission aud reconcilia-
ton, men must have faith in God
and in Jesus Christ, repent of and for
sake their sins, be baptized for the re-
mission of them, have hands laid upon
them by authorized ministers for the
reception of tie Holy Ghost, and live
a pure life, keeping the commandments
of God and walking in holiness before
Him.
That members of the church should
partake of the sacrament of the Lords
Supper, at stated times, and assemble
frequently to worship God, and to be
instructed in regard to their duties
and privileges.
| That it is the duty of members
of the Church to pay first a tenth
part of their property, and afterward
a tenth of their increase or income
for the advancement of the work of
God.
That revelations from God and
miraculous manifestations of His
power were not confined to the apps.
tolistic and earlier ages, nor to the east
ern hemisphere, but may be enjoyed in
this age or in any dispensation or
country.
That the Book of Mormon and the
Doctrine and Covenants of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints
are revelations from God, the former
being an inspired record of His deal.
ings with the ancient Inhabitants of
this continent, and the latter con-
sisting of revelations from Him in this
dispensation.
That He gave revelations to Joseph
Smith and inspired him to translate
the Book of Mormon and to organize
the Church of Christ anew upon the
earth in our day.
That this is the dispensation of the
fitness of times, in which all things
will be gathered together in one, both
which are in heaven and which are on
the earth.
That the Gospel must be preached in
all the world for witness, and then
the end shall come.
| That those who believe in the
Gospel and receive the testimony of
the servants of God should gather
themselves together as one people upon
this continent, TO build up COM
munities, cities, and temples to the
name of the Lord, and TO establis h
Zion, that they may escape the judg-
ment which God is about TO send
upon the wicked and be prepared for
the coming of Jesus Christ to take
upon Him His power and reign on the
| earth rs KING of KINGS and Lords of