NECESSITY OF FAITH IN THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD.
In every dispensation in which God has made known his will to man, it has been done through a living, inspired Priesthood. Passages from the sacred writings might be multiplied, indefinitely, on this subject. But this is not necessary, inasmuch as all the sacred records attest the necessity of an inspired Priesthood, and obedience to it on the part of the people, if they would understand the will of the Lord concerning them.
Fifteen centuries of the history of Israel, from the Exodus to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, is a record of adversity through disobedience to seers and prophets, and of prosperity, the result of listening to their teachings.
Mankind, with a wide range of religious tenets, are instinctively imbued with a sentiment of reverence and obedience to those who minister in the ordinances of religion. After the apostacy of the early apostolic church, it had a strong hold on the minds of the people during the supremacy of the Romish church.
We may consider that this doctrine began to lose its hold on the masses of the people, professing Christianity, after the Reformation and the splitting up of the Christian world into a great multiplicity of sects.
With the introduction of the Gospel and the Holy Priesthood, through Joseph Smith, Jun., the necessity of faith in a living Priesthood is daily being made more apparent to the Latter-day Saints.
Bible.
Exod. 4. 1 Moses answered, they will not believe. 8, 9, 30, 31.
14. 31 Israel believed the Lord and his servant Moses.
19. 9 that the people hear when I speak to thee, and believe thee for ever.
32. 19-34 the golden calf, and the intercession of Moses for the people.
Num. 12. 2 hath the Lord, indeed, spoken only by Moses?
Deut. 9. 19, 20 the Lord hearkened to me; I prayed for Aaron also.
Josh. 1. 5 as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
2 Chron. 20. 20 believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Amos 3. 7 but he revealeth his secrets to his servants the prophets.
Jonah, Chap. 3. the Ninevites saved by the preaching of Jonah.
Matt. 10. 14, 15 more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for those who will not hear your words.
40 he that receiveth you receiveth me.
Luke 1. 19 sent to speak to thee, and shew thee these glad tidings. 45.
10. 16 he that heareth you heareth me. 29.
24. 25 O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
John 5. 46 had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me.
13. 20 he that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth me.
17. 20 but for them, also, which shall believe on me through their word.
1 Thess. 2. 13 when ye received from us, ye received it as the word of God.
Heb. 2. 2 for if the word spoken by angels was steadfast?
Book of Mormon.
Jacob 1. 19 taking the responsibility of answering the sins of the people, if we did not teach them the word of the Lord with all diligence.
2. 2 responsibility of magnifying my office, to rid my garments of your sins.
Mos. 2. 28 to assemble together, that I might rid my garments of your blood.
3 Nephi 12. 1, 2 blessed are ye if ye give heed to the words of these twelve, whom I have chosen.
13. 25 ye are they whom I have chosen to minister to this people.
15. 12 ye are my disciples, and a light to this people.
Doctrine & Covenants.
Sec. 1. 4 voice of warning to all people, by the mouth of my disciples.
8, 9 to them is given power to seal, both on earth and in heaven.
14 they who will not hear prophets and apostles shall be cut off. 17, 30.
2. 1 I will reveal to you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah.
3. 9 thou art Joseph, and wast chosen to do the work of the Lord. Sec. 5. 2, 10, 11-18.
10. 33 Satan thinks to overpower your testimony.
19. 13 keep my commandments which you have received by J. Smith, Jun.
24. 4 if they receive them not, I will curse instead of blessing them.
28. 2 no one to receive revelations for the church but J. Smith, Jun. 3.
7 J. Smith, Jun., has the keys of the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint another in his stead.
29. 4 ye are chosen out of the world to declare my Gospel. 7, 10, 12.
42. 61 J. Smith. Jun., to receive revelation, and know the mysteries. 69.
43. 3-5 none but Joseph Smith, Jun., appointed to receive revelation. 12.
52. 9 saying none other things than those which the prophets and apostles have written.
58. 45 behold they shall push the people together from the ends of the earth.
64. 5 the keys of the mysteries shall not be taken from J. Smith, Jun.
65. 2 the keys of the kingdom are committed to man on the earth.
68. 4 whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture and the power of God unto salvation.
75. 20 and they receive you not, shake off the dust of your feet.
81. 2 to J. Smith, Jun., I have given the keys belonging to the Presidency.
84. 64 every soul that believes on your words shall receive the Holy Ghost. 74.
89 whoso receiveth you receiveth me. 90-95. Sec. 99. 2-4.
90. 3, 4 the keys of the kingdom never to be taken from J. Smith, Jun. Through him the oracles to be given to the church. 6, 14-16.
103. 25 whomsoever ye curse I will curse.
35 J. Smith, Jun., to organize the kingdom, and establish the children of Zion.
110. 16 the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands.
112. 15 the keys which I have given unto him, and also to youward, shall not be taken from him till I come. 16-21, 30-32.
121. 36 the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven.
124. 58 my servant, Joseph, in thee shall the kingdoms of the earth be blessed.
128 the Twelve hold the keys of the kingdom upon the four corners of the earth.
133. 26 the prophets of the north countries shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves.
136. 37 ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words, from the days of Adam to Joseph Smith, Jun., whom I called on by my angels.
Miscellaneous Passages.
Hab. 2. 4 the just shall live by faith. Rom. 1. 17. Gal. 3. 11. Heb. 10. 38.
Matt. 6. 30 shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Luke 12. 28.
8. 10 not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Luke 7. 9.
17. 20 if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed.
21. 21 if ye have faith, not only do this, but say to this mountain.
Mark 4. 40 how is it that ye have no faith?
Luke 18. 8 when the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?
Acts 15. 9 purifying their hearts by faith.
26. 18 inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith.
Rom. 3. 3 shall unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 27.
4. 5 his faith is counted to him for righteousness. 9-16.
10. 17 so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
14. 22 hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. 23.
1 Cor. 2. 5 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men.
16. 13 watch ye, stand fast in the faith, be strong.
2 Cor. 4. 13 we having the same spirit of faith.
5. 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
Gal. 3. 2 received ye the spirit by works of the law, or by faith? 5-25.
5. 5 we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6, 22.
Eph. 6. 16 above all taking the shield of faith. 23.
Phil. 3. 9 the faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith.
1 Thess. 1. 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith.
5. 8 putting on the breastplate of faith and love.
2 Thess. 1. 4 we glory for your patience and faith in your persecutions. 11.
1 Tim. 1. 5 of a good conscience and faith unfeigned. 14, 19. Chap. 3. 9.
2 Tim. 3. 8 men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith. 10.
4. 7 I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Titus 1. 13 rebuke sharply that they may be sound in the faith.
Heb. 4. 2 the word did not profit, not being mixed with faith.
6. 1 not laying again the foundation of repentance and faith.
Chap. 11. by faith the worlds were created, the violence of fire quenched, the armies of the aliens put to flight, kingdoms subdued, &c.
12. 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
James 1. 6 let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
2. 5 hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith.
5. 15 the prayer of faith shall save the sick.
1 Peter 1. 5 kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. 7, 9, 21.
5. 9 whom resist steadfast in the faith.
2 Peter 1. 5 add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge.
1 John 5. 4 this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Jude 3. Earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints.
Rev. 13. 10 here is the patience and faith of the Saints. Chap. 14. 12.
Book of Mormon.
1 Nephi 7. 12 the Lord can do all things for men through their faith.
16. 28 the pointers on the ball worked according to their faith. 29.
2 Nephi 1. 10 having power given them to do all things by faith.
27. 23 God works not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.
Jacob 1. 5 manifest to us by faith, what should happen to our people.
Enos 1. 12-18 through faith Enos obtained a promise that the records should be preserved to come forth to the Lamanites.
Mos. 4. 6 that salvation might come to him who continues in faith to the end. 21, 30.
Alma 7. 6 look forward for the remission of sins, with an everlasting faith.
12. 30 plan of salvation made known according to men's faith. 33, 34, 37.
13. 2, 3, 4 men called to the Holy Priesthood according to their faith.
18. 35 the Spirit gives knowledge and power according to faith.
32. 18 I ask, Is this faith? if a man knoweth a thing, he has no cause to believe. 21, 26, 27.
28-43 faith illustrated by a parable of a seed.
57. 21-27 through faith the young Ammonites were preserved in battle.
Hel. 5. 20-52 deliverance of Nephi and Lehi from prison through their great faith.
6. 1 the Lamanites exceeded the Nephites in righteousness on account of their great faith.
Mormon 3. 12 it was without faith because of the hardness of their hearts.
8. 24 he knoweth their faith, for in his name could they remove mountains.
Ether 3. This chapter gives an account of great manifestations to the brother of Jared, on account of his great faith.
12. 4-33 many examples given of the power of faith.
Moroni 7. 21-44 instructions on faith.
8. 3 will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name.
10. 4 if ye ask, having faith, he will manifest the truth to you. 7, 11.
Doctrine & Covenants.
Sec. 1. 21 that faith might also increase in the earth.
4. 5 faith, hope, charity, love, &c., qualify him for the work Sec. 6. 19, and 12. 8.
8. 10 without faith you can do nothing; ask in faith. 11.
26. 2 all things to be done by common consent, by much prayer and faith.
27. 17 taking the shield of faith, wherewith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked.
41. 3 by prayer of faith ye shall receive my law.
52. 20 the days have come when according to men's faith it shall be done unto them.
103. 36 all victory is brought to pass through your diligence and prayers of faith.