The Washington herald., 1917-12-16
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN!
Authority of the Holy Priesthood Again
Operative Upon Earth
BY DIR. JAMES E TALMAGE
ouncil of the Twelve Church of Christ
Salt Lake City. Utah.

WE BELIEVE THAT A MAN MUST
BE CALLED OF GOD, BY PROPH-
ECY, AND BY THE LAYING ON
or HANDS. BY THOSE WRO
ARE IN AUTHORITY, TO PREACH
THE GOSPEL AND ADMINISTER
IN THE ORDINANCES THEREOF.
articles of Faith No. 81
We have seen that certain ordin-
ances. prescribed by the Lord Jesus
Christ. are indispensable to saliva
ton. Without baptism by water. and
the conferment of the Holy Ghost by
the laying on of hands, no man can
enter the kingdom OF God. for so
the Lord hath affirmed and so the
Scriptures attest.
The outward form. mode. or opera
ton in each of these sacred and far
reaching rites, is notable simple. So
far as the physical procedure Is con-
cerncd. any man of ordinary ability
may learn to PERFORM THE CERE-
MONY. and that with a few minutes
oral instruction or reading. The same
may be said of many ordinances pre-
scribed in human institutions. One
may readily commit to memory and
learn to speak with due impressive
ness the words by which a college
degree is conferred upon the success
full student, the formula by which
man and woman are united in the
bonds of wedlock, or the judicial pro-
nounCement by which one prisoner is
restored to liberty and another con-
Gcmned.
Eut. as everybody knows, to make
he utterance effective, he who speaks
'ust be invested with specific au-
Hority. without which his presump-
on to offlciate would be a punish
Sc offense under the secular law
-lrc consistency and reason less to
he considered in matters of Divine
administration than in the affairs of
mOrtals?
Healing ministry to the afflicted In
the name of Jesus Christ is one of
the gifts of the Spirit implanted in
the Church. The Apostles Of old so
administered, and with such effect
that disease was stayed and evil
spirits were rebuked. Certain aga-
bond Jews once attempted to initiate
Paul in his authoritative functions,
and among them were the seven sons
of SCeva, chief of the priests. (See
MAC these evil and presumptuous
men. void of authority and power,
undertook to minister, solemnly pro-
nouncing the words: 1--WE ADJURE
YOU BY JESUS" and then. as If, to
put beyond question the Name in
which they blasphemously essayed to
speak, added "W II NJ PAUL
PREACHETH." But the demon in
the man laughed them to scorn, and
cried aloud in derision: JESUS I
KNOW. AND PAUL l KNOW; BUT
WHO ARE YEP"
The Apostles who were with the
Lord in the flesh had been ordained
by Him to the Holy Priesthood: and
Paul who was later called into the
ministry was ordained BY the laying
on of hands of those in authority.
(Acts 1924. Even the evil spirits ac-
knowledged their authority, as earlier
the demons had acclaimed the Christ
Jesus, thou Son of the Most High
God" (See Mark SD. But for the
vagabopd pretenders there was con-
tempt and humiliation.
And what of the impressive lesson
taught by the experience of Simon the
sorcerer? (See Acts S:1S-2D. He mar
veled at the power demonstrated
through the Apostles; for to the bap-
tized believers upon whom they laid
their hands came the Holy Ghost with
manifestations of spiritual endow-
ment. His mind, heart and motive
darkened by sin. Simon sought to buy
with money the power that only the
r-ll of God could impart: BUT
TER SAID UNTO HIM, THY
DNEY PERISH WITH THEE, BE-
NUSE THOU HAST THOUGHT
1T THE GIFT OF GOD MAY BE
ECHAsEp WITH MONEY. THOU
rNST NEITHER PART NOR LOT
IN THIS MATTER: FOR THY
HEART IS NOT RIGHT IN THE
SIGHT OF GOD. REPENT THERE
FORE OF THIS THY WICKED
NESS. AND PRAY GOD, IF PER-
HAPs THE THOUGHT OF THINE
HEART MAY BE FORG GIVE N
THEE. FOR I PERCEIVE THAT
THOU ARTsIN THE GALL OF BIT
TERNESS. AND IN THE BOND OF
NIQuITY." lActs s:2o-zQ.