THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL (THE LAMANITE)

Samuel commanded to choose the 12 among the Nem of Corianton, 6 men and 6 women. The priesthood of the Father and the Mother explained. Husband and wife should be unified in all things. How

5Now, in three days time the people had meant to meet to worship together because of the signs that had been shown in the heavens. And now that Jesus had visited them and manifested Himself unto them, they were all the more anxious to meet and offer oblations unto Him. And it was while we were thus met and employed that we looked and behold, Jesus stood in our midst. And when we had seen Him, all the people bowed down to the earth before Him. And He sat with us and taught us upon the bench, saying:

6Samuel, you who have been my mouthpiece in times past, be so now even unto this people. And take twelve of your people, of both men and women, and behold, I shall touch them and place upon them the priesthood. And they shall listen to my words and take them to the people. For the multitude gathered is great and my voice shall reach them all through my anointed ones. And all those who are of the Nem of Corianton who are not present must also hear my words. Wherefore, these whom you appoint and upon whom I lay this great charge, shall take other twelve from each city and region, to begin the spreading of my gospel to all the people.

7Then, when all the people have received of my word, let them all strive to obtain for themselves the anointing. And if they do this with singleness of heart, seeking my face, behold, I shall manifest myself unto them upon the Way. For I am the Way, the Truth and the Light. If anyone seeks me in this spirit, they shall find me.

8And I did all that the Lord commanded me, choosing out six men and six women who were known to me to be upright people with good intentions. And He took them one by one and touched them

9Upon you, my servant, I lay a certain charge and commission. And I give you authority to act in all things that the Spirit does manifest that I would do were I present to do them. Wherefore, be diligent in study, and also in fasting and in prayer. In this shall you know my doctrine. Yea, in this shall you know of me, through the whisperings of the Spirit, that which is my will and that which is not. And I give unto you power to command the elements as often as the Spirit dictates. Wherefore, pray always that you be not deceived and carried away in pride.

10Then, casting His eyes about, He taught us concerning this priesthood, saying:

11Behold, I do perceive your thoughts. Marvel not that I have given mine authority to women and men alike. Yea, this thing has been of concern to some since the day that Sabel received word from me of the ordinance she should perform when I came. Behold, I do confer the priesthood upon those men who would follow me and do the things they see me do. And unto such is made an ordination, that they may speak and act in my name, and be justified in so doing. But I do not confer such upon the women, for they have of my Mother in Heaven that which I cannot give. Wherefore, I do ordain them. But the priesthood they have already cannot be given, nor taken away, but by that person who gave it. Wherefore, if there be any woman who desires to follow me and do the things they see me do, they are authorized from the foundation of the world, and I do justify them.

12For, the daughters of Eve do sacrifice of themselves freely for the sake of all living. For this cause did Adam call her name Eve. For she is the Mother of all Living. She does give of herself, even to the laying down of her life, in order that man might be, and in order that the purposes of heaven may go forward. She is a Priestess and Queen unto the Most High God forever.

13Wherefore, if by the Spirit she is moved upon to take up emblems of my life and death, and bless them, and administer them to the people, what is that to you? She does it unto me. Wherefore, restrain her not at all.

14But behold, men received not such power by their creation and come into the world without the natural inclination to do good. Wherefore have I said, the natural man is an enemy to God. By the sweat of his face shall Adam earn his bread all the days of his life. And through constancy in service and in sacrifice shall he learn, order by order, line upon line, even precept on precept, to become like me and do the things they see me do. Wherefore, I confer priesthood upon men who would be my servants, and I give them authority to minister. But women are ministers from the foundation of the world.

15And when a man wishes to engage in the work of my Father which is in Heaven, you unto whom I have given this authority may confer it unto him and ordain him to that stewardship that I shall provide for him. That he may also take up his cross and learn by the application of the Law of the Gospel to give freely of himself, breaking his heart and humbling his spirit. For, this is the sacrifice which I will accept of him. Yea, he shall bend his own will and tame it, and do whatsoever I shall command him. And this he shall learn to do without coercion or compulsion, but freely of his own accord. This is the sacrifice of the heart and the spirit which I require of all those who would call themselves my servants.

16And that man shall attend to do his duty unto the people, administering the sacraments unto them, keeping my Holy House, and teaching the people. This is the work that I shall require of him. And behold, he shall do all this freely and shall not be compelled to do it in any way. For, though the priesthood appears to be that by which service is rendered unto others, it is a service unto me and unto my Father. Wherefore, let him do it with an eye single to the glory of God and not to his own. And if he do this, he shall attain to that state of happiness of which the prophets have spoken, both in this life as also in the life to come.

17And when a woman wishes to engage in the work of my Father which is in Heaven, in addition to that great work which the Mother has given unto her by virtue of her very creation, you, unto whom I have given my authority, may ordain her unto that stewardship that I shall provide for her. And she shall apply that great gift, which my Mother which is in Heaven has given her, to the ministering unto the people as the man does. She shall also bend her own will and do whatsoever I shall command her. But remember, whereas the stewardship that I shall provide for every man is a necessary thing for most men, in order that they might overcome the natural man, that which has been provided women by the Mother does already accomplish this end for them. Wherefore, priesthood, though a woman may officiate in the sacraments and in every holy ordinance, is not requisite for her salvation. Whereas, men must have this device in order to truly come unto me. And where the priesthood is not available for them, surely I shall provide another means whereby men may overcome that which prevents them from the Way.

18And these are the sacraments which I command you to administer unto my children:

19You shall bless your little ones, calling upon my name. For, in the day that I began the work of atonement for them, they were given to me by the Father and the Mother. Wherefore, ye are my children, notwithstanding, I am also my Father’s son.

20And you shall teach them my gospel and my commandments all the days of their youth, that they may not go up into my Holy House unprepared. Indeed, it is a great wrong that is done daily to little children, that they are expected to live by my law without instruction. Wherefore, let all your children be instructed in all the points of my gospel and of every ordinance before they enter into any of them, that their commitments and covenants be made of their own free will and clear understanding.

21And when a child reaches that age wherein they begin to understand my gospel, they shall be held accountable for that understanding. Wherefore, you shall take them and cleanse them every whit with water. And this may be done after the manner of Alma when he baptized the people in the Waters of Mormon, or it may be done after the manner of the purification of the Ammonites. For I will accept such baptism or such purification, and sanctify it unto you. And behold, if they do this, accepting this ordinance with understanding, then I shall baptize them with Fire and with the Holy Ghost.

22When a youth reaches that age of agency, wherein they may also beget children, let them be taken aside and blessed especially with that which the Spirit instructs. For they will need added guidance from the Spirit at that time. But let not this ordinance be trifled with and let only those of venerable age and experience administer this ordinance unto the people. For, in giving a blessing of guidance upon life experience, the Spirit speaks in language that only one with great experience may discern. Wherefore, let not the young undertake to give such blessings, for they shall be frustrated.

23And you shall administer the sacrament of my last supper, as you have seen administered unto me. And when you administer this sacrament, it shall be unto the people as an emblem that they do accept my commandments. And if they do this often and of their own free will, they shall be admitted into that covenant which I made with the Father and the Holy Ghost. Yea, they shall have place in that New and Everlasting Covenant of Heaven. But, if they do not accept my commandments, and strive to keep them, behold, they shall have no part in this covenant, but must return unto that covenant they had before and suffer eternal deaths. Nevertheless, they shall be saved in the end, for God does save all the works of His hands. But they shall not receive the all which God might have given them through this New and Everlasting Covenant, worlds without end, only that which they may receive of and through their own atonement.

24And when you bless the bread, take it up and break it. Do not cut the bread, but break it into pieces, for thus did my own people break my body. And when you bless the bread address the Father in my name and beseech Him to bless the bread as food unto your souls. Because it is my body and it was broken by my own. Declare to the Father that you do take upon yourselves my name, for this is the way in which you shall be admitted into Our covenant. Do this, that you may receive of me my spirit, that you may think and act as you see me think and act.

25And when you bless the wine, take it up in the vessel and pour it out into the chalice. For, the blood of my body did flow out of every pore when I did make an atonement for you. As also the blood and water of my body did flow out when I was lifted up on the cross. Wherefore, administer not the wine in the vessel but pour it out into the chalice.

26And when you take up the chalice, address the Father in my name and beseech Him to bless the wine as drink unto your souls. Declare unto the Father that you do verily take upon you my name and accept my portion of the covenant which I made with Him and also the Holy Ghost. Do this and you shall surely have my spirit to be with you, for you shall have taken upon yourselves that which I took upon myself by the power of the Holy Ghost.

27And when a man and a woman wish to be joined together, you shall do it in my name by that authority which I have given you. And let it be done in a solemn and holy manner, in a place made sacred. And let not any man or woman bind themselves together in my name, except they have individually gone up to my Holy House and received of me there the ordinances of the High Place. Then, having understanding, let them make covenants unto each other. Yea, they shall not make eternal covenants unto each other until they have made them unto their God. Then let them be sealed together in my name.

28And when they have received of the ordinances of the High Place, yea, the ordinances of my Holy House, then they shall administer unto each other the ordinance of the washing of the feet, which you have seen administered unto me in a manner most holy. Yea, the woman shall wash and anoint the feet, the hands and the crown of the head of her husband. And the man shall also do likewise unto his wife. Then shall they wear the robes of the priesthood together. Then shall they become Kings and Queens, Priests and Priestesses unto the Lord God forever. But until they do this, they shall be priests and priestesses and servants, but shall have no sovereignty. Wherefore, let them make this covenant together, that they may receive all that my Father has, worlds without end.

29And if they do this, receiving the ordinances and principles of the High Place, then shall the Holy Spirit of Promise seal them up unto me and I shall make of their covenant even an eternal covenant. And behold, though heaven and earth pass away, their covenant shall remain in full force and they shall be added upon in the eternities of heaven, even worlds without end.

30But behold, this is not all. Let those who have received my commission direct the teaching of my gospel. Yea, feed my sheep. And when my little ones have received all my word, then shall they be prepared to make covenants in the High Place. Let not anyone go up to my Holy House that has not learned my word and applied my doctrine.

31In your homes also ought you to learn and study my word. Yea, search the scriptures and find application of them in your daily walk. Do not as the priests of the Jews nor of the Nephites. For, many of them did set to memory my words and elaborate them in speech most pleasing. But behold, they did not find place in their hearts to exercise my word. It is not enough to sit at the feet of the prophets and hear my law. If you would please me, and my Father which is in Heaven, you must be doers of the word, not hearers only.

32And behold, if you do this, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, my word shall become a feast unto you, and you shall be filled, even to the overflowing of the cup. And the Holy Ghost shall be unto you as a constant companion. Wherefore, you cannot be deceived. Nay, even should some evil overtake this seat, you shall not be gainsaid because my word has filled your souls. And I say unto you, even if the prophets become as sounding brass, and even should my very elect become lost in a sea of confusion, yet shall you be filled with my Spirit and you shall see clearly by the power of the Holy Ghost.