Notes

EDITOR'S TABLE. 229

and spoken of. 2. That the words have reference to this earth, over which he had already been appointed Redeemer, Mediator, and the fully accredited representative of the Godhead. These points make it clear that Abinadi is fully justified in referring to Jesus as the Father and the Son, because so far as this earth is concerned, he possesses the full authority of the two. For the same reason, Jesus, in speaking to Joseph Smith could refer to himself as the Father and the Son. This assignment of authority to Jesus will be further explained by reference to his own words, as recorded in Matthew 28: 18. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." To us it is unessential over how much of the universe this power extends: — it is sufficient for us to know

that it includes the full power of God so far as the earth is con-

cerned, and that, therefore, Jesus can speak of himself to us as the Father and the Son, and we do not need to interpret his words as meaning that he is the same person as the Father. A homely illustration may make this clearer: Imagine the firm of John Smith and Son, consisting of the man whose name is

given, and his son James Smith. Suppose that so far as a certain John Smith has entrusted all his business district is concerned, that disand given all his power to his son. That son in visiting himself, sign checks, trict officially would of necessity refer to but the make contracts, etc., not under the name of James Smith, In that district, he would be firm name "John Smith and Son." fully empowered representative. But the firm official, because its it would be absurd to say that for this reason he is the same person Christendom as his father. Yet into a similar absurdity modern has been led the Father Now taking Abinadi's words, "He shall be called of the flesh," we say, because of the Spirit, and the Son because Christ, because certainly. The Father bestowed his authority upon purpose, goodness, he was of the same spirit, feeling, intention, would not have given him as his Father. Otherwise, the Father "full power in heaven and in earth." Because of this spint, there- be- fore, a perfect union of character and feeling is established of personality. iHe tween the Father and the Son, but not a unity swallowed up by the other. individuality of one will not-can not-he this being was the Son of God not only them Then, because

230 IMPROVEMENT ERA.

spirit but also in the flesh, his distinctive title is the Son, "because

of the flesh." Therein is where his sonship is different from ours.

Distinction Between Keys of the Priesthood and Priesthood.

What is the distinction between Priesthood in general, and the keys of the Priesthood?

The Priesthood in general is the authority given to man to act for God. Every man that has been ordained to any degree of the Priesthood, has this authority dedicated to him. But it is necessary that every act performed under this au-

thority, shall be done at the proper time and place, in the proper way, and after the proper order. The power of directing these labors constitute the keys of the Priesthood. In their fullness, these keys are held by only one person at a time, the prophet and president of The Church. He may delegate any portion of this power to another, in which case that person holds the keys of that particular labor. Thus, the president of a temple, the president of a stake, the bishop of a ward, the president of a mission, the president of a quorum, each holds the keys of the labors performed in that particular body or locality. His Priesthood is not increased by this special appointment, for a seventy who presides over a mission has no more Priesthood than a seventy who labors under his direction; and the president of an elders' quorum, for example, has no more Priesthood than any member of that quorum. But he holds the power of directing the oflicial labors performed in the mission or the quorum, or in other words, the keys of that division of that work. So it is throughout all the ramifications of the Priesthood —a distinction must be carefully made between the general authority, and the directing of the labors performed by that authority.

BOOK MENTION.

Sunday School Jubilee History. "Jubilee History of Latter-day Saints Sunday Schools" is the title of a home publication recently issued. The book contains a