Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith

Section Six (1843-1844) | Excerpts from a Sermon by President Joseph Smith

1July 23rd, 1843. Last Monday morning certain men came to me and said: "Brother Joseph, Hyrum is no prophet--he can't lead the church; you must lead the church.

2If you resign, all things will go wrong; you must not resign; if you do the church will be scattered." I felt curious and said: "Have we not learned the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, which includes both Prophets, Priests and Kings: see Rev. 1 Chap., 6th v., and I will advance your Prophet to a Priest, and then to a King--not to the Kingdoms of this earth, but of the Most High God.

3See Rev. 5 Chap., 10th v.--'Thou hast made us unto our God, Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth.'" If I should be exalted would there not be a great many of my enemies disappointed in Missouri, when they wake up and find themselves in hell, see what they might have obtained, and realize what they have lost by not listening to my voice, and obeying my instructions?

4Matth. 5 Chap., 17 and 18 v.--"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled." And again, Matth. 11 Chap., 12 and 13 v.--"And from the days of John the Baptist, until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

5For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." John held the Aaronic Priesthood and was a legal administrator, and the forerunner of Christ, and came to prepare the way before him. Christ was the head of the Church, the chief corner stone, the spiritual rock upon which the church was built, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

6He built up the Kingdom, chose Apostles, and ordained them to the Melchizedek Priesthood, giving them power to administer in the ordinances of the Gospel. John was a priest after the order of Aaron before Christ. See Exodus 30 Chap. 30 and 31 v.--"And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

7And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations." Also Exodus 40 Chap., 15 v.--"And thou shalt anoint them as thou didst anoint their father (Aaron) that they may minister unto me in the priest's office; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting Priesthood throughout their generations." Here is a little of law which must be fulfilled.

8The Levitical Priesthood is forever hereditary--fixed on the head of Aaron and his sons forever, and was in active operation down to Zacharias the father of John. Zacharias would have had no child had not God given him a son. He sent his angel to declare unto Zacharias that his wife Elizabeth should bear him a son, whose name was to be called John.

9The keys of the Aaronic Priesthood were committed unto him, and he was as the voice of one crying in the wilderness saying: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord and make his paths straight." The Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, etc. The kingdom of heaven continueth in authority until John. The authority taketh it by absolute power. John having the power took the Kingdom by authority. How have you obtained all this great knowledge? By the gift of the Holy Ghost. Wrested the Kingdom from the Jews.

10Of these stony Gentiles--these dogs--to raise up children unto Abraham. The Savior said unto John, I must be baptized by you. Why so? To fulfil all righteousness. John refuses at first, but afterwards obeyed by administering the ordinance of baptism unto him, Jesus having no other legal administrator to apply to. There is no salvation between the two lids of the Bible without a legal administrator. Jesus was then the legal administrator, and ordained His Apostles.--MSS. Historian's Office.