tered into his exaltation, and sitteth upon his throne.

Abraham received concubines, and they bare him children, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also, and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded, and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded: they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones; and are not angels, but are Gods.[See also Seer, Vol. I, Numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9.]

THE PRIESTHOOD, ITS NATURE, POWER, DUTIES, AND AUTHORITY.

THE MELCHISEDEC PRIESTHOOD.

Bible.

Gen. xiv. 18 And Melchisedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the Priest of the Most High God.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram, of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Heb. v. 1 For every High Priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high Priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

10 Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.

vii. 1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace.

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a Priest continually.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning Priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.

21 (For those Priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec :)

26 For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily, as those High Priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law maketh men High Priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

viii. 1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

3 For every High Priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a Priest, seeing that there are Priests that offer gifts according to the law:

5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the

mount.

6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Gen. xlvii. 22 Only the land of the Priests bought he not. -1.7 All the Elders of his house, and all the Elders of the land of Egypt went with him.-Exod. iii. 16 Go and gather all the Elders of Israel.-iv. 29 And Moses and Aaron went

and gathered all the Elders of Israel.-xii. 21 Then Moses called for all the Elders of Israel.-xviii. 1 Jethro the Priest of Midian.-25 And Moses chose able men out of Israel, and made them rulers over the people.-12 And Jethro, Moses's father-in-law, offered a burnt offering. And all the Elders of Israel came to eat bread with him.-xix. 7 And Moses called for the Elders.-xvii. 5 The Lord said unto Moses, take the Elders of Israel.-Lev. iv. 15 And the Elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the bullock.-Num. xi. 25 The Lord gave His Spirit unto the seventy Elders of Israel.

Deut. xxxiv. 9 Joshua was full of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him.-xxv. 8 Then the Elders of his city shall call him.-xxxi. 28 Go gather unto me all the Elders of your tribes.-xxxii. 7 Thy Elders will tell thee.-Josh. xxiv. 31 And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and of the Elders.-1 Sam. x. 1 Then Samuel anointed Saul.-Psal. cx. 4 Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.-cvii. 32 Praise him in the assembly of the Elders.Ezek. viii 1 I sat in mine house, and the Elders of Judah sat before me.-Joel i. 14 Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the Elders.-ii. 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the Elders.-1 Kings xvii. 1 Elijah the Tishbite by the power of the Priesthood, commanded that there should be no rain.-2 Kings vi. 32 Elisha, and a council of Elders, sat in the house.-Matt. xvi. 19; xviii. 18 Whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.Mark iii. 14 And he ordained twelve.-John xv. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen and ordained you.xvii. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, so have I sent them.-xx. 23 Whosesoever sins you remit they are remitted, whosesoever sins you retain they are retained.

Acts i. 24, 25 Thou, Lord, that knoweth the secret of all hearts, show which of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part in this ministry and Apostleship.-xiv. 23 And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church.-xv. 2 Paul and Barnabas went up to the Apostles and Elders, at Jerusalem.-4 They were received of the Apostles and Elders.-6 And the Apostles and Elders came together to consider the matter.-xvi. 4 The decrees that were ordained of the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem.-xx. 17 He sent to Ephesus, and called the Elders of the Church.-Eph. iv. 11 He gave some Apostles, some Prophets, some Pastors and Teachers.

ii. 20 And built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets.-2 Cor. v. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ. -1 Cor. v.5 Paul exhorts the Corinthians to deliver offenders unto Satan, by the power of the Priesthood.-Titus i. 5 And ordain Elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.-Luke vi. 13 And when it was day, he called twelve of his disciples, which he named Apostles.-1 Tim. iii. 1 to 16 The duties of Bishops and Deacons.-v. 17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour.-Phil. i. 1 The Bishops and Deacons at Phillippi.-Titus i. 7 For a Bishop must be blameless.-1 Pet. ii. 25 Jesus Christ, the Bishop of our souls.

Matt. x. 1 And when he had called the Twelve, he gave them power over all manner of sickness; also to cast out devils, and to heal all manner of diseases.-xxviii. 19 Go and teach all nations, baptizing them.-Mark xvi. 18 They shall take up serpents, they shall heal the sick.-2 Cor. viii. 23 They are the messengers of the Churches.-Acts xiv. 22, 23 To confirm the souls of disciples, and ordain officers as necessity requires.-1 Cor. iii. 6 To sow the word of God.-5 Paul and Appollos were ministers.-2 Cor. iii. 6 The Apostles were ministers of the new testament. iv. 1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry.—Acts vi. 4 The Apostles gave themselves to the ministry.-1 Tim. i. 12 Timothy called to the ministry by the revelations of Jesus Christ.-Matt. x. 8; Luke ix. 2; x. 9 To heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, to cast out devils.-1 Cor. xii. 28 God hath set in the Church Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, gifts, governments, helps, &c.-Heb. ii. 17 It behoved Jesus to become an High Priest.-iii. 1 Jesus Christ, the High Priest of our profession.-iv. 14 Jesus, our great High Priest.-vii. 28 The Son consecrated a Priest for evermore.-ix. 11 Christ has become an High Priest of our profession.

Book of Mormon.

Alma ix. 6 And again: my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto His children; and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained Priests, after His holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people; and those Priests were ordained after the order of His Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to His Son for redemption. And this is the manner after which