There is a misconception that has occupied the minds of many restorationists, in the belief that it is only the organized church that has the mandate to authorize priesthood which perpetuates the idea that the priesthood cannot exist outside the organized church. If this were the case, Joseph Smith Jr., who was ordained well before the formal organization of the church on April 6th 1830, could not have legitimately held priesthood, for there was not an organized church to ordain him.
Joseph Smith Jr., and Oliver Cowdery were delivered the keys of the kingdom by Peter, James, and John, to open up the kingdom of God in this dispensation of the fullness of time. See Page.2
“. . .And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry; and of the same things which I revealed unto them; unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; D&C 26: 3a, b
We believe [and church law bears us out] that members of the Priesthood who have an unbroken line of ordination back to Joseph Smith Jr. , or to Oliver Cowdery, who have not broken their priesthood covenant, continue as valid priesthood members of the Most High God.
The church of Jesus Christ Restored 1830 affirms and history bears out that no man or set of men within or without the restoration movement has any authority whatsoever to take it upon themselves to organize or set into order any part of the church of Christ without a direct commandment through the revelation of God.
History bears this out that when there is an authorized priesthood and when that priesthood is given direction from God that priesthood not only may, but are required to restore, reorganize and set the church into administrative order.
Without that God given authority of the priesthood and revelatory direction of God to set the church into administrative order, Joseph and others could not have organized the Church of Christ on April 6th 1830.
Also scriptures tell us that since the Nauvoo Temple was not completed on time that the church at Nauvoo was rejected as a church organization.
“But I command you, all ye my Saints, to build a house unto me; and I grant unto you a sufficient time to build a house unto me, and during this time your baptisms shall be acceptable unto me. But, behold, at the end of this appointment, your baptisms for your dead shall not be acceptable unto me; and if you do not these things at the end of the appointment, ye shall be rejected as a church with your dead, saith the Lord your God.” D&C 107: 10f-11a
I know there is a lot of controversy concerning baptism for the dead and I will not attempt to address that subject at this time, but if Restorationist truly believe that Joseph Smith III had authority or a commandment to reorganize the church, they must first consider that the original church organization was rejected and admit that the rejection of the church was a prophetic and actual reality.
The rejection of the church of Christ at Nauvoo ended that organization which was first brought about through Joseph Smith Jr., however the purposes of God cannot ever be frustrated or stopped, he has always provided a way to restore that which is lost, a way to re-establish the administrative order of the failed or rejected church.
Joseph Smith III received the following:
“Should the church fall into disorder, or any portion of it, it is the duty of the several quorums of the church, or any one of them to take measures to correct such disorder; through the advice and direction of the Presidency, the Twelve, the Seventy, or a council of high priests, in case of emergency;” D&C 122:10a
In the absence of a church, a group of faithful members of the priesthood under the direction of inspired commandment of God brought about the reorganization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Elder Jason W. Briggs was instrumental in the re-organization of the church after its rejection at Nauvoo.
. . .Briggs despaired that the Latter Day Saint movement had irrevocably fallen into iniquity. He later reported that November 18, 1851, on the prairie near Beloit, he was pondering this concern when the "Spirit of the Lord" came upon him and spoke, saying:
“Verily, verily, saith the Lord, even Jesus Christ unto his servant, Jason W. Briggs, concerning the church: Behold I have not cast off my people; neither have I changed in regard to Zion. Yea, verily, my people shall be redeemed, and my law shall be kept which I revealed unto my servant Joseph Smith Jr. . .”
“According to Briggs, the Lord further explained that "in mine own due time will I call upon the seed of Joseph Smith, "and will bring one forth, and he shall be mighty and strong, and he shall preside over the high priesthood of my Church..." And finally, Briggs said the Lord assured him "that which ye received as my celestial law," (i.e., plural marriage), "is not of me, but is the doctrine of Balaam." R.L.D.S. History
Years later when many of the saints had forgotten their first love, they allowed administrative authorities to make changes in the RLDS church that were contrary to the established laws. These changes drove many thousands of fundamental saints out of the church they had loved.
These disaffected saints in despair would have lost all hope if they believed that the church makes priesthood instead of the priesthood’s authority to set the church into order. But thanks to God, certain existing priesthood members understood that when the church administration goes into apostasy, the faithful saints and priesthood have a right and obligation when under the direct commandment and direction of God to set the administrative offices of the church back into order.
We also of the Church of Jesus Christ Restored 1830 hold the belief that all members who have been properly baptized and confirmed by those having authority of God, are members of the Church of Jesus Christ Restored 1830, even though they may not, at this time know of or recognize this church.
This church has and will continue to invite ordained priesthood members to speak within our church. It will also continue to share the communion table of the Lord’s Supper with those who are baptized and confirmed by authority.
If the scattered saints have not lost their faith in the power of God to perform all of his promises to his church concerning the gathering of his people and his Zion, then they must accept that prophetically directed church which was brought out of the wilderness through the first President of the High Priesthood, Joseph Smith Jr., and which is continued today as the Church Of Jesus Christ Restored 1830.
Joseph Smith Jr. finished what was given to him of God for the continuation of the Gospel and the building up of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The problems which the Saints had to endure when the church organization became involved in error was not due to errors of the founding prophet, but to the negligence of those who rebelled against the word of God that was received and which was published through him for the salvation of man and the glory of God.
There are laws of the church which were either ignored, overlooked or not given credence especially by the Brigham Young faction but also as time went on, by the Reorganization.
We of Christ’s church contend that when God speaks, his voice is the voice of all authority and should not be ignored or the content of his message be changed. There is a price to be paid when mankind sins and when we do not live by the word that was sent forth for our salvation and glorification we pay that price.
The First Quorum of Restoration Seventy, who were brought out of troubled waters, have been given the task of restoring the laws, structure and organization of that Church of Jesus Christ that was brought out of the wilderness by Joseph Smith Jr.
In the Doctrine and Covenants Section 5:3d we read, “this, the beginning of the rising up, and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness; clear as the moon and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.”
God did not mean for his church to fail in its efforts to spread his Gospel and establish his kingdom, so the keys of the Kingdom of God were committed to man. First to Peter James and John, then to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. These keys are necessary to firmly establish the church of Christ and to pursue the task of building his kingdom.
These keys to set the church into order have now been committed by the Lord to the First Quorum of Restoration Seventy:
Received 3 October 2000- “Come near unto me saith the Lord and I will reveal unto you my will; it is my will that you of my Seventy begin the process of reconciliation with those who have been estranged from my fold. Approach them with meekness and I will go before you and prepare them to receive you. I have given you the keys to continue my work that must go forward; the keys that will open the doors of salvation to mine Elect who hear my voice.”
Received 29 may 2001—“It is my will that you build up the Quorum of Seventy. I will guide you to those who I have chosen to serve me. I have given you authority over my people and when I reveal to my Presidents of Seventy those whom I have called to serve, you are authorized to ordain those whom I call as Seventies, and all other officers in my church. You are called to act in the place of the First Presidency until the church is set in order. It is my will that you build up the Quorum of Seventy and strive to be of one mind, teaching each other that all may be in unity. The task before you is great and I will reward the faithful with the crown of everlasting life in my Kingdom.”
Received 17 July 2001— “My Kingdom shall flourish upon my mountain tops and every nation shall flow into it under the sun. You who are among the last of those laborers whom I have called into my vineyard as my stewards must be faithful to carry out all my desires to build up My Kingdom in this part of my vineyard. If ye will turn to with all your might, I will reward you with success and great joy. Seek to bring forth My Kingdom and ye are one with me. For it is my will that My Kingdom be established. You have the keys given you of Me. You must open the way for my people to return unto Me.”
received 30 may 2007—“would desire that you glorify me, but I do not force you to do so. I have called forth prophets from time to time to bring commandments to my church. When these commandments are received by the voice of the church, they become a law unto my people. I will not give commandments to my people only through him whom I call to preside over the High Priesthood of my church, but when my church is scattered in the wilderness, I shall give counsel to those authorities I have set up temporarily to bring about a more complete organization. If those authorities whom I have called follow my counsel, I shall give them the light and the ability to set my church in order. Full order will be when all of the priesthood quorums are filled with chosen presidents and all offices are filled according to that word that has been accepted by the body.”
The invitation is given to all those who would share in the continued work of the restoration. We have no other choice than to follow the path the Lord has given, no matter how great or how small the beginnings are. The work of the Lord shall ultimately result in victory and his kingdom shall be triumphant over all principalities, and powers throughout the earth.
Revelation received by
President of Seventy Nolan W. Glauner
3 November 2007
I was awakened at an early hour November 3, 2007, by the Lord and was given the following message directed to the Independent Branches.
“All who believe that they are laboring in my cause, but yet refuse those who I send to you with my counsel are in danger of my judgment at the last day. I cannot justify you if you disobey my commandment to be of one heart and one mind.
Woe unto those who have received of my Spirit when you first came into my new and everlasting covenant and now refuse my commandment to unite and be one for my kingdom’s sake. You are following the mind of man and you cannot come to unity but by my Holy Spirit saith your God.
It is my will that all who have entered into the new covenant seek understanding by coming unto me in prayer and fasting. I will hear your petitions if you will heed my commandments and counsel of those I send to deliver unto you my will. Zion awaits your response and if you refuse me, saith the Lord, I shall withdraw even that portion of Spirit I gave you when you entered into my covenant.
You have referred to yourselves as independent branches and I say unto you that you are independent of me when you rely upon the minds of men to guide you. I have given my words to my prophets who went before you saying that in the last days man shall not say; I was taught of this man or that man, for every man shall be taught of God.
You have said we cannot organize as we have no prophet. I say unto you as I said to my peoples through time, you have rejected those whom I have sent to you and have told my prophets to not speak in the name of the Lord.
You deny my power and reject my laws that I gave unto my servant Joseph. I delivered unto him my law to be a law unto my people and to establish my church and kingdom for the return of my scattered children.
Search my words which contain my law in that which I delivered unto him and you will understand that my ability to bring you to unity and organization cannot be destroyed by the failure of man to keep my law. Return to my law and say not a prophet a prophet, for prophets many I have sent and you have rejected them.
I have provided my church with all things required to re-establish those priesthood offices that are ordained to bring about my kingdom upon the earth. Seek them out and pray in the spirit for light and I will bring you to a knowledge of how my organization is to be set into order.
You who seek to re-establish that which is lost, even the organization that after receiving guidance through my Holy Spirit turned away from me; they have been rejected as a church; though my holy priesthood remains among the faithful. You cannot put new wine in old bottles nor can you put a new patch on an old garment, as I have warned you in my scriptures.
Think not that my kingdom shall not go forth upon the earth and if you, when I have called, continue to refuse my counsel to organize my kingdom, I will refuse you and raise up another people to accomplish my words and fulfill all I have given to my prophets concerning Zion. You have been invited to the wedding feast. Amen” □