--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Tanner, Henry S. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 10 number: 10 published: 1907-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Henry S. Tanner, "The Doctrine and Covenants," *Improvement Era* 10, no. 10 (August 1907): 769–775.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera10010unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera10010unse start_page: 769 end_page: 775 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1907-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera10010unse publication_year: 1907 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1907, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Doctrine and Covenants IMPROVEMENT ERA. Vol. X. AUGUST, 1907. No. 10 THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS. BY HENRY S. TANNER. The Hindoo has his Veda, the Mohammedan his Koran, the Zoroastrian his Zend Avesta, the Jew his Talmud, and the Christian his Bible, each containing ideals of life fitted and conformed to the intelligence which God gave them in their generation. The rays of inspiration have not fallen upon the minds of men with the same intensity. But few have walked in the sunlight, partaking of eternal wisdom and drinking from the fountain of revealed re- ligion; yet all have had the privilege of becoming familiar with such fragments of truth as have been revealed to their sages, wise men and prophets, modifying and controling their conduct in the interest of peace and universal beneficence. When man par- took of the fruits of mortality, he entered the field of progression and individual development, and became the comptroller of his des- tiny. His way was strewn with good and evil. At his pleasure he selected the fruit of his choice, which gave him experience, and shaped his actions and the faith and hope of his posterity. Men became arrogant and unrighteous, in the exercise of their domin- ion, and step by step, they walked from the presence of light and truth into the shadows of superstition and self-aggrandisement. 770 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Unable to escape their experience and traditions, and the message of ancient prophets preserved in their sacred records, some truth formed the basis of their philosophy, around which they built sys- tems and creeds to meet the peculiarities of the times and the in- clinations of the people. Farther and farther they drifted from the truth. Bound and fettered by dead forms, drinking at stag- nant pools, and wandering upon the desert of despair, they locked the doors and windows of heaven and lost the keys to their father's kingdom, thus depriving the world of the authority and spirit that giveth life. "Darkness coverd the earth, and gross darkness tne minds of the people." In the year 1820, an angel descended to the humble boy Joseph, and revealed unto him the marvelous work of the latter days, directing the organization of Christ's Church and restoring the gospel of the kingdom, which was to be preached unto all the world as a witness unto all By divine presence and nations. through holy messengers, God made known to the youth truths long forgotten and hidden from the world. The revelations and manifestations of divinity, and the restoration of authority to do in Christ's holy name what he might do if present for the regener- ation and redemption of mankind, were written and preserved by the boy prophet, and accepted as ' 'The Book of God's Covenants and Commandments" by the people of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Simple and pure, given unto his servants after the manner of their language that they might come to un- derstanding. Unfolding to men the magnanimity of the wonderful work of redemption. Detailing the bringing forth out of the wil- derness of obscurity and darkness the only true Church, the open- ing of the door of salvation to the living and the dead, and the re-affirming to the children of men that if they should ask, they would receive, and if they should knock it would be opened unto them. In harmony with the message of ancient prophets, fulfil" ing the prophecies, unifying and uniting all dispensations, turning the hearts of the fathers to tlieir children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, that the living and the dead, through the atonement of the Lord, might be redeemed from mortality, and receive the salvation instituted before the world was. Unlike our fathers in ages past, we had the promise that the THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS. 771 gospel of the kingdom had been restored, never to be overthrown or given to other people, that our teachers should not be removed into a corner any more, but that our eyes should behold our teach- ers, and we should hear a voice behind us saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." The Doctrine and Covenants is uniform in purpose and defin- ite in doctrine, — teaching us how to live and sanctify our bodies, establishing the genuine system of divineby which we religion, may measure our steps with assurance of salvation and reward for individual effort. Instead of infant damnation, we have infant purity and salvation through the blood of Christ. Little children are pure, — of such is the kingdom of heaven. We do not believe that men will be punished for Adam's transgression, that men are destined to be saved or lost irrespective of worthiness and obedience, that men will be saved by faith or grace alone, or that the principles of the gospel are temporal and evolutionary. We do not believe that men can obtain the authority of the priest- hood by scholastic or reverential training, or that they can assume the role of self-appointment by usurping the authority of the apostles of old, — repudiating God's right and power to reveal him- self or minister to the children of men. We believe that men will be punished for their sins and re- warded for their obedience and diligence, receiving of the glory they merit, that sanctification is the reward of endurance, and that people who do not obey the celestial law cannot abide the celestial glory. All must keep the commandments and conform to the same rules of faith and action, for only those governed by law shall be preserved, protected and sanctified by law- We are told that God has done away with all old covenants and has established his "new and everlasting covenant," which was from the beginning, a light and standard for the people, and a messenger to prepare the way of the Lord; and he has promised to stay his hand and sanctify those who receive the fulness of his gospel. He re-affirms that all things to him are spiritual, and that never at any time has he given a law that was temporal. He will accept only that which he has instituted, repudiating the ille- gitimate in religion, denying the works of the unauthorized, and refuses to be bound by the rituals and dead forms instituted of 772 IMPROVEMENT ERA. men. His works ami designs cannot be frustrated or destroyed. His course is one eternal round. In him there is no variableness. His glory is light and truth, and truth is the knowledge of things that are. The word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is light is of God, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. He that receiveth light and continueth in God is promised more light, and that the light will grow brighter until the perfect day. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall. Salvation is concurrent with intelligence, and intelligence is God's glory. Truth, intelligence and priesthood are eternal prin- ciples, and "the power of God is not manifest to the children of men without the ordinances of the gospel and the authority of the priesthood." God has promised to extend the arm of his power around the faithful in every time of trouble, and turn from them the fiery darts of the adversary, and that as many as will re- ceive Christ he will give power to become the sons of God. There- fore we should love him, serve him, and keep his commandments. All eternal principles are based on constant diligence and fidelity. All truths revealed are eternal standards by which we will be measured, and our destiny determined, and all who stray from these principles and break the everlasting covenant shall fall and perish with Babylon. The favored and powerful cannot follow their own dictates and set at naught the counsels of God without incurring the divine displeasure and impelling the withdrawal of the spirit of truth and peace. The spirit is in man to accomplish good and bring about the purposes of God, — warning us against everything that darkens, weakens, or destroys, commending faith, patience and forgiveness. Ever in keeping with the eternity and harmony of God's work, — the priesthood the immediate source and right of the operative functions —is in the Church of God in all generations, for the administering of the gospel and the holding of the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom and of the knowledge of God. Unto the First Presidency of the Church and unto the Twelve the power of the priesthood was given for the last days and for the last time. Peter, James and John confirmed and ordained Joseph and Oliver to be Apostles of Jesus Christ and committed to them the keys of the kingdom, by which principles, ordinances, and church cove- THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS. 773 nants were established to govern the hope and salvation of the people, and regulate all the affairs of the Church. They were commanded to do all things in order by the prayer of faith and common consent, and that nothing should be appointed to any in this Church contrary to the Church covenants. To protect the people against the self-appointed and would-be usurpers, God de- clared that it should never be given to any one to go forth to preach the gospel or build up the Church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the Church that he has authority, and that he has been regularly ordained by the heads of the Church. And that he shall observe the covenants and Church articles to do them as he shall be directed by the Spirit, and if he receive not the Spirit he shall not teach. This is the law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any who come with revelations and commandments, unless they themselves have come in at the gate and been properly ordained by the heads of the Church to teach the things received, or which will be re- ceived through the one appointed. The appointive or nominating power is in the Presidency of the High Priesthood. The keys belongeth always unto the Presidency of the High Priesthood, and they have the power and authority to officiate in all of the offices and hold the keys of all of the spiritual blessings of the Church. The Twelve Apostles are a traveling, presiding high council, are special witnesses for Christ, God's High Priests, to officiate in the name of the Lord under the direction of the Presidency. Other- wise they form a quorum equal in authority and power to the Pres- idency. Upon the dissolution of the Presidency, the body of God's High Priests hold the nominating or appointing power, and in har- mony with the principles of righteousness select one of the high priesthood to preside over the high priesthood of the Church. The appointment is submitted for the approval of the Church, as all things are done by common consent. There are two offices in the Church that descend from father to son, but the right to the Melchizedek priesthood comes from the Eternal God, and not by descent from father or mother. Since the organization in 1830, there never has been a disorganization of the Church, never a cessation of authority, never a lapse or fail- ure in the functions of the priesthood. God in his wisdom builded 774 IMPROVEMENT ERA. well —thoroughly and firmly upon the eternal rock; and while the furious storms once scarred and partially shattered the superstruc- ture and drove some of the tottering and fearful to other shelter, the Church remained and has been equal to every emergency. Men may fall, or their posterity apostatize, but the priesthood shall con- tinue forever. In Christ's Church the prerogatives of the priesthood have been preserved and perpetuated in the furtherance of the purposes of the Lord. In a time of distress and apostasy, Oliver Cowdery said, "Keep the main body of the stream. Where the main body of the Church goes, there is the authority. All those lo here's and lo there's have no authority, but this people have the true and holy priesthood." Joseph and Oliver were visited by a holy messenger, who committed unto them the gospel of salvation, and told the young men that in them and their seed all generations after them should be blessed. In them, and the wonderful work they estab- lished, all generations so far have been blessed. But Oliver has left no seed to be a blessing unto the world, and Joseph's family were moved out of their place for not giving heed to the sayings and teachings of the prophet. The Lord, being ever mindful of the words of his inspired servants, that truth should not be overcome by evil designings, and knowing what should befall the posterity of Joseph and Oliver, transferred the blessing conferred upon Oliver to the head of Hyrum Smith, that the rights and inherit- ance of the gospel of Abraham might be preserved inviolate in the Church and among his people. "From this time forth I appoint unto him (Hyrum Smith) that he may be a prophet, and a seer, and a revelator unto my Church, as well as my servant Joseph. That he may act in concert also with my servant Joseph, who shall show unto him the keys whereby he may ask and receive, and be crowned with the same blessing, and glory, and honor, and priesthood, and gifts of the priesthood, that were once put upon him that was my servant Oliver Cowdery." So the rights and blessings and func- tions necessary in God's eternal plan are protected and preserved for the fulfilment of his divine purposes. In fulfilment of prophecy, the Lord led our fathers to this val- ley. He is making Zion flourish upon the hills, and rejoice upon the mountains. He is bringing forth buds and blossoms in adundance ; ! THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS. .775 from solitary places, and he has promised that Zion shall be re- deemed and shall not be moved out of her place. "I have decreed," says the Lord, "that your brethren which have been scattered shall return to the land of their inheritance, and build up the waste places of Zion; for after much tribulation cometh the blessing; but that Zion cannot be built up, except upon the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom." May God hasten the time when righteousness may co-ordinate with mercy, and justice prevail by right and might, that faith may increase, and the everlasting covenant and the fulness of the gospel prevail unto the establishment of peace and good will. May men accede to the fatherhood of God, unselfishly respect God's pur- poses, and humbly receive the truths of heaven contained in the book of God's covenants and commandments, that most wonderful of sacred books — "The Doctrine and Covenants." Salt Lake City, Utah.