Priesthood Quorums’ Table: Answers to Questions

Priesthood Quorums' Table — Answers to Questions. I. Question: When and by whom were the Nephites ordained to the Priesthood before the time of Christ? Answer: Lehi, founder of the Nephite race, was a prophet of the Lord, in Jerusalem, and had the Priesthood before he was commanded of the Lord to leave the land of his nativity and journey to the promised land. Nephi, his son, also was a prophet, and held the Priesthood, and most likely the other sons of Lehi held the Priesthood also, but Laman and Lemuel failed to magnify their callings. Lehi and Nephi could not have conversed with the Lord as they did nor received the commandments which they recorded in their scriptures without holding the Holy Priesthood. Who ordained them is not stated in the Book of Mormon, but the Priesthood they held was conferred upon their posterity from generation to generation. II. Question: Why did kings reign among the Nephites when they were keeping the commandments of God? They were promised that no kings should rule over them. Answer: The promise was not made that, "no kings should rule over" the Nephites. The reference referred to is evidently that found in II Nephi 10:11-16. This prophecy had reference to the time of the Gentiles, and reads: "And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles, and there shall be no kings upon the land, who shall raise up unto the Gentiles," etc. It has no reference to the Nephite nation. However, for hundreds of years the Nephites were ruled by Judges. (See Mosiah, 29th chapter.) III. Question: When did the Nephites first begin to inhabit North America? Answer: About six hundred years before the birth of Christ.

M I A SCOUTS ON THE SUMMIT OF LITTLE MOUNTAIN, JULY 24. 1914