May 15
Boy I sure hate to put the Mother's Day Talk on page two, but you can always scroll down to see it.
"Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the priesthood of Aaron which holds the keys to the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." D&C 13
It was on this date in 1829, when Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were praying in regards to baptism. The verse counts the visit of the resurrected John the Baptist, who conferred upon Joseph and Oliver the keys of the Priesthood. After millennia, the Priesthood of God was again on the earth.
Wow, 190 years. And to think that next year, 2020 will be the bicentennial of the First Vision, when God the Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph Smith. No date known for that.
The restoration of the Priesthood is significant. For those that are not aware of the role that the priesthood plays in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, let me explain.
In what is known as the Articles of Faith, Joseph Smith laid out thirteen articles explaining much of the theology of the church. Article of Faith 5 states:
We believe that man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof.
There are numerous times in the Bible where God's chosen minsters were chosen and set apart by the authority at the time. Jesus laid his hands on his apostles, to ordain them. After Christ's death and resurrection, the Apostles cast lots to replace Judas in the quorum. Paul claimed that ordination, and we have record of many others.
There are several ordinances in the restored Church. Most are familiar with baptism, less so of the laying on of hands to confirm the baptism and to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, or the right to constant companionship of they Holy Ghost, based on worthiness. Beyond those ordinances are others, such as the Sacrament (referred to as Communion in other faiths) Temple ordinances, which includes proxy work for the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15:29) and marriage, or sealing, not just for time on earth but for eternity.
God's house is an house of order. His ordinances need to be done in His prescribed manner, by those in authority. The authority to baptize had been restored to the earth. God's saving ordinances could once again be accomplished.
"Upon you, my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the priesthood of Aaron which holds the keys to the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness." D&C 13
It was on this date in 1829, when Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were praying in regards to baptism. The verse counts the visit of the resurrected John the Baptist, who conferred upon Joseph and Oliver the keys of the Priesthood. After millennia, the Priesthood of God was again on the earth.
Wow, 190 years. And to think that next year, 2020 will be the bicentennial of the First Vision, when God the Father and His son Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Joseph Smith. No date known for that.
The restoration of the Priesthood is significant. For those that are not aware of the role that the priesthood plays in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, let me explain.
In what is known as the Articles of Faith, Joseph Smith laid out thirteen articles explaining much of the theology of the church. Article of Faith 5 states:
We believe that man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel, and administer in the ordinances thereof.
There are numerous times in the Bible where God's chosen minsters were chosen and set apart by the authority at the time. Jesus laid his hands on his apostles, to ordain them. After Christ's death and resurrection, the Apostles cast lots to replace Judas in the quorum. Paul claimed that ordination, and we have record of many others.
There are several ordinances in the restored Church. Most are familiar with baptism, less so of the laying on of hands to confirm the baptism and to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, or the right to constant companionship of they Holy Ghost, based on worthiness. Beyond those ordinances are others, such as the Sacrament (referred to as Communion in other faiths) Temple ordinances, which includes proxy work for the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15:29) and marriage, or sealing, not just for time on earth but for eternity.
God's house is an house of order. His ordinances need to be done in His prescribed manner, by those in authority. The authority to baptize had been restored to the earth. God's saving ordinances could once again be accomplished.
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