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Section 19 | Section 21
Section 20
1–16, The Book of Mormon proves the divinity of the latter-day work; 17–28, The doctrines of creation, fall, atonement, and baptism are affirmed; 29–37, Laws governing repentance, justification, sanctification, and baptism are set forth; 38–67, Duties of elders, priests, teachers, and deacons are summarized; 68–74, Duties of members, blessing of children, and the mode of baptism are revealed; 75–84, Sacramental prayers and regulations governing Church membership are given.
1. The
rise of the
Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the
coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the flesh, it being regularly
organized and established agreeable to the
laws of our country, by the will and commandments of God, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April—
1.
2. Which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jun., who was
called of God, and
ordained an
apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the
first
elder of this church;
2.
3. And to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the
second elder of this church, and ordained under his hand;
3.
4. And this according to the
grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom be all glory, both now and forever. Amen.
4.
5. After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a
remission of his sins, he was
entangled again in the
vanities of the world;
5.
6. But after
repenting, and humbling himself sincerely, through faith, God ministered unto him by an holy
angel, whose
countenance was as lightning, and whose garments were pure and white above all other whiteness;
6.
7. And gave unto him
commandments which inspired him;
7.
8. And
gave him power from on high, by the
means which were before prepared, to translate the Book of Mormon;
8.
9. Which contains a
record of a fallen people, and the
fulness of the
gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to the Jews also;
9.
10. Which was given by inspiration, and is confirmed to
others by the ministering of angels, and is
declared unto the world by them—
10.
11. Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are
true, and that God does
inspire men and call them to his
holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old;
11.
12. Thereby showing that he is the
same God yesterday, today, and
forever. Amen.
12.
13. Therefore, having so great witnesses, by
them shall the world be judged, even as many as shall hereafter come to a knowledge of this work.
13.
14. And those who receive it in faith, and work
righteousness, shall receive a
crown of eternal life;
14.
15. But those who
harden their hearts in
unbelief, and
reject it, it shall turn to their own
condemnation—
15.
16. For the Lord God has spoken it; and we, the elders of the church, have heard and bear
witness to the words of the glorious Majesty on high, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
16.
17. By these things we
know that there is a
God in heaven, who is infinite and
eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same
unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them;
17.
18. And that he
created man, male and female, after his own
image and in his own likeness, created he them;
18.
19. And gave unto them commandments that they should
love and
serve him, the only
living and true
God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship.
19.
20. But by the
transgression of these holy laws man became
sensual and
devilish, and became
fallen man.
20.
21. Wherefore, the Almighty God gave his
Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been given of him.
21.
22. He
suffered
temptations but gave no heed unto them.
22.
23. He was
crucified,
died, and
rose again the third day;
23.
24. And
ascended into heaven, to sit down on the right hand of the
Father, to
reign with almighty power according to the will of the Father;
24.
25. That as many as would
believe and be baptized in his holy name, and
endure in faith to the end, should be saved—
25.
26. Not only those who believed after he came in the
meridian of time, in the
flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who
spake as they were inspired by the
gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly
testified of him in all things, should have eternal life,
26.
27. As well as those who should come after, who should believe in the
gifts and callings of God by the Holy Ghost, which
beareth record of the Father and of the Son;
27.
28. Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are
one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen.
28.
29. And we know that all men must
repent and
believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and
endure in
faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be
saved in the kingdom of God.
29.
30. And we know that
justification through the
grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true;
30.
31. And we know also, that
sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who
love and serve God with all their
mights, minds, and strength.
31.
32. But there is a possibility that man may
fall from
grace and depart from the living God;
32.
33. Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into
temptation;
33.
34. Yea, and even let those who are
sanctified take heed also.
34.
35. And we know that these things are true and according to the revelations of John, neither
adding to, nor diminishing from the prophecy of his book, the holy scriptures, or the revelations of God which shall come hereafter by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, the
voice of God, or the ministering of angels.
35.
36. And the Lord God has
spoken it; and honor, power and glory be rendered to his holy
name, both now and ever. Amen.
36.
37. And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who
humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and
contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the
name of Jesus Christ, having a
determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their
works that they have received of the
Spirit of Christ unto the
remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.
37.
38. The
duty of the elders, priests, teachers, deacons, and members of the church of Christ—An
apostle is an
elder, and it is his calling to
baptize;
38.
39. And to
ordain other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons;
39.
40. And to administer
bread and wine—the
emblems of the flesh and blood of Christ—
40.
41. And to
confirm those who are baptized into the church, by the laying on of
hands for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, according to the scriptures;
41.
42. And to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the church;
42.
43. And to confirm the church by the laying on of the hands, and the giving of the Holy Ghost;
43.
44. And to take the
lead of all meetings.
44.
45. The elders are to
conduct the
meetings as they are
led by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God.
45.
46. The
priest’s duty is to preach,
teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament,
46.
47. And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to
pray
vocally and in secret and attend to all
family duties.
47.
48. And he may also
ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons.
48.
49. And he is to take the
lead of meetings when there is no elder present;
49.
50. But when there is an elder present, he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize,
50.
51. And visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties.
51.
52. In all these duties the priest is to
assist the elder if occasion requires.
52.
53. The
teacher’s duty is to
watch over the
church always, and be with and strengthen them;
53.
54. And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither
hardness with each other, neither lying,
backbiting, nor
evil
speaking;
54.
55. And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.
55.
56. And he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest—
56.
57. And is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the church, by the
deacons, if occasion requires.
57.
58. But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the
sacrament, or lay on
hands;
58.
59. They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.
59.
60. Every
elder,
priest, teacher, or deacon is to be
ordained
according to the gifts and callings of God unto him; and he is to be
ordained by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains him.
60.
61. The several elders composing this church of Christ are to
meet in conference once in three months, or from time to time as said conferences shall direct or appoint;
61.
62. And said conferences are to do whatever church business is necessary to be done at the time.
62.
63. The elders are to receive their licenses from other elders, by
vote of the church to which they belong, or from the conferences.
63.
64. Each priest, teacher, or deacon, who is ordained by a priest, may take a certificate from him at the time, which
certificate, when presented to an elder, shall entitle him to a license, which shall authorize him to perform the duties of his calling, or he may receive it from a conference.
64.
65. No person is to be
ordained to any office in this church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the
vote of that church;
65.
66. But the presiding elders, traveling bishops, high councilors, high priests, and elders, may have the privilege of ordaining, where there is no branch of the church that a vote may be called.
66.
67. Every president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder),
bishop, high councilor, and
high priest, is to be ordained by the direction of a
high council or general conference.
67.
68. The
duty of the members after they are received by
baptism—The elders or priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning the church of Christ to their
understanding, previous to their partaking of the
sacrament and being confirmed by the laying on of the
hands of the elders, so that all things may be done in
order.
68.
69. And the members shall manifest before the church, and also before the elders, by a
godly walk and conversation, that they are worthy of it, that there may be works and
faith agreeable to the holy scriptures—walking in
holiness before the Lord.
69.
70. Every member of the church of Christ having
children is to bring them unto the elders before the church, who are to lay their
hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in his name.
70.
71. No one can be received into the church of Christ unless he has arrived unto the years of
accountability before God, and is capable of
repentance.
71.
72.
Baptism is to be administered in the following manner unto all those who repent—
72.
73. The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
73.
74. Then shall he
immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water.
74.
75. It is expedient that the church
meet together often to
partake of
bread and wine in the
remembrance of the Lord Jesus;
75.
76. And the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this
manner shall he administer it—he shall kneel with the church and call upon the Father in solemn prayer, saying:
76.
77. O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this
bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and
witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his
commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his
Spirit to be with them. Amen.
77.
78. The
manner of administering the wine—he shall take the
cup also, and say:
78.
79. O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this
wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
79.
80. Any member of the church of Christ
transgressing, or being
overtaken in a fault, shall be dealt with as the scriptures direct.
80.
81. It shall be the duty of the several churches, composing the church of Christ, to send one or more of their teachers to attend the several conferences held by the elders of the church,
81.
82. With a list of the
names of the several members uniting themselves with the church since the last conference; or send by the hand of some priest; so that a regular list of all the names of the whole church may be kept in a book by one of the elders, whomsoever the other elders shall appoint from time to time;
82.
83. And also, if any have been
expelled from the church, so that their names may be blotted out of the general church
record of names.
83.
84. All members removing from the church where they reside, if going to a church where they are not known, may take a letter
certifying that they are regular members and in good standing, which certificate may be signed by any elder or priest if the member receiving the letter is personally acquainted with the elder or priest, or it may be signed by the teachers or deacons of the church.
84.
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