The World (to the Latter-day Saints):—Do you claim to have received authority from the Lord to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof?
Latter-day Saints:—We do. The Lord has in these last days restored, through the ministering of angels, both the Aaronic and Melchisedek Priesthood, empowering His servants to preach the Gospel, baptize repentant believers for the remission of their sins, confirm them members in His Church, and by prayer and the imposition of hands call down upon them the Holy Ghost.
The World:—Must a man be called of God and divinely appointed before he can preach acceptably the Gospel of Jesus Christ and administer its ordinances?
Latter-day Saints:—He must, as the Apostle Paul and others will testify.
TESTIMONY OF PAUL.
The World:—Paul, do you consider it absolutely necessary in order for a man to preach the Gospel and administer in its ordinances, for him to be called of God and ordained by those holding Divine authority?
Paul:—I do. In every dispensation of the world the Lord has chosen certain men to represent Him among the people. These He called, either by His own voice or by the voice of His servants whom He had previously chosen.
The World:—Can you cite us a few examples of the calling of men to the ministry?
Paul:—I can. The Lord called Noah to be a preacher of righteousness to the people of his generation; and when they would not hearken to the testimony of His authorized servant, the Lord destroyed them from the earth. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were called in like manner for the work which the Lord had appointed them.
The World:—How were they called?