Question # 1
Were the twelve apostles given the fullness before Joseph Smith died?
The presidency had keys over and above those that were apostles, or any callings in the church.
Scriptures: D&C 132:7; 35:25; 28:7; 115:19
The Patriarchal Priesthood is above the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Scriptures: D&C 84:6, 14, 19-22, 35-42; 107:63, 64; Abraham 1:2, 3
A greater Priesthood was given in D&C 84:39-42.
A greater Priesthood was needed to obtain the blessings of eternal marriage.
Scriptures: Abraham 1:18, 19; Genesis 22:16-18; D&C 131:1-4; 132:19, 20, 28-32
Joseph Smith was not to pass over the keys of the kingdom while he was alive.
Scriptures: D&C 28:7; 35:25; 64:4, 5; 115:19; 132:45; Alma 13:6-8, 18; 45:18, 19
The keys of Moses, the gospel of Abraham, and keys of Elijah were not shared by
Joseph Smith.
Scriptures:JST Genesis 14:18, 19; D&C 27:12, 13; 132:7; Abraham 2:8-11
Joseph Smith sealed a group of faithful to Eternal rewards just before he was to be killed with the keys.
Scriptures: D&C 132:7, 45; 27:6
Brigham Young did not reveal that Joseph Smith gave him the Priesthood of Elias, Elijah, Messiah or Keys of Moses.
Another Individual called Elias was to restore all things and not Joseph Smith.
Scriptures: D&C 27:6; 77:9
Joseph Smith did not do all of the ordinances in the past. (e.g. Sacrifice, circumcision)
The Church of Jesus Christ is not doing the ordinances, or doing them correctly. (Sacrament, washings, circumcision, sacrifice, etc.)
Thus we come to the next issue. Who has had the authority to direct the activities of the Gospel upon the earth in behalf of the Gods?
There exists upon this world numerous churches that testify; they are the Lord's medium to which the children of men are able to obtain the fulness of the rewards as offered by God.
Can they all be acceptable to the Gods as the source of salvation?
The answer is no, because they teach and do different activities.
One testifies of God, another of Christ, others of Buddah or reincarnation. Others speak of no God, but only non material beings, or else the self existence of God-kind in each person.
The variable of the Gods over this world and the eternal progression of man varies as differently as there are individual beings on this world.
The reality is that there is the existence of one God, He has one form, and not several.
There is also one program in which He progresses man, and not various ideas, contradicting. He has laws and sees that they are fulfilled.
His manner of worship and prayer is definite, to which He blesses men according to the degree of complying to them.
"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
"And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated??
"And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:18-21)
It must be assessed that the more a person complies with all of the activities, laws, and directives correctly about the Gods, the greater their companionship and influence they will have with God and His agents.
How then do the inhabitants learn the truthfulness of God, His agents, His program of progression, His laws, His mode of worship, prayer, and privileges?
Can man learn it on his own? No!
Can he learn it from historical records? Some!
Can he learn it through letters from one person to another? A little more!
How is the fulness to be taught?
The only way for a people to learn the mind and will of the Gods, is to have the Gods to reveal it to someone.
There must be a person in which the Gods have a companionship with, whom they are able to speak with, whom they are able to reveal their directives, truths, programs, and laws.
Without a person of this degree of relationship, the organization is limited to what they have been given.
Without revelation, the Kingdom of God is not on the earth.
"Salvation cannot come without revelation;..." (History 3:389 - Teachings 599)
"...we must have revelations then & we can see that the doctrin of revelation as far transcends the doctrin of no revelation as knowled[g]e is above ignorance for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in exhistance." (Words 330 [Wilford Woodruff Journal])
A church that has no revelators can exist to prepare people to live up to the requirements of the Gods, but there are limits to the rewards offered.
Without revelation a person cannot bestow the eternal rewards, for he cannot be told who is approved of the Gods to grant the blessings.
The Gods seal up the faithful upon this world when they approve of them, and not because a leader says so. Without revelation, no one obtains the eternal rewards.
How then is revelation made known to this world's revelators?
The Prophet Joseph Smith revealed as to how revelations must be obtained.
"But if we do not get revelations we do not have the oracles of God & if they have not the oracles of God they are not the people of God But say you what will become of the world of the various professors of religion who do not believe in revelation & the oracles of God as Continued to the Church in all ages of the world when he has a people on earth I Tell you in the name of Jesus Christ they will be damned & when you get into the eternal world you will find it to be so they cannot escape the damnation of hell" (Words 156 [Wilford Woodruff Journal])
"What constitutes the kingdom of God? Where there is a prophet, a priest, or a righteous man unto whom God gives His oracles, there is the kingdom of God; and where the oracles of God are not, there the kingdom of God is not." (History 5:257 - Teachings 369)
Without the oracles of God, the Kingdom of God is not on the earth, though a schoolmaster church to prepare may remain.
Oracles are required to receive revelations from the Gods in order to bestow the blessings of the Gods.
"...whare there is no kingdom of God there is no salvation. What Constitutes the Kingdom of God Whare there is a Prophet a priest or a righteous man unto whom God gives his oracles there is the Kingdom of God, & whare the oracles of God are not there the Kingdom of God is not ." (Words 156 [Wilford Woodruff Journal])
"He said Where the oracles of God are revealed there is the kingdom of God. Wherever the oracles of God are & subjects to obey those oracles there is the kingdom of God. What constitutes the kingdom of God? an administrator who has the power of calling down the oracles of God, and subjects to receive those oracles no matter if there are but 3, 4, or 6 there is the kingdom of God &c." (Words 159 [William Clayton Diary])
"Knowledge is Revelation hear all ye brethern, this grand Key; Knowledge is the power of God unto Salvation." (Words 207 [Howard and Martha Coray Notebook])
Without the oracles of God, a man cannot be told that a given person is acceptable.
A man, chosen and ordained of God or the last to hold the authority to do so, bestows the Priesthood and keys to others, then this man can receive revelations through the activities with the oracle, key words, and signs.
"...to the three in the Grand Presidency, confining the oracles to a certain head on the principle of three." (History 5:207 - Teachings 384)
Who then holds the rights to receive revelations for and in behalf of the Gods over this world?
"But behold, verily, verily I say unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church, excepting my servant Joseph, for he receiveth them even as Moses:" (D&C 28:2)
"For behold, verily, verily I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you, to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.
"And this ye shall know assuredly, that there is none other appointed unto to you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
"But verily, verily I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him he shall not have power, except to appoint another in his stead:" (D&C 43:2-4)
The answer is that only one receives it for the church, even then the other counselors can receive revelations to help them to fulfill their callings. That as well, Joseph only could pass on the authority.
This activity of receiving revelations through oracles is not however meant for one man or three men, but is offered in degrees, to everyone who progresses in the church to receive the highest rewards.
"O remember, these words and keep my commandments. Remember this is your gift. Now this is not all, for you have another gift, which is the gift of working with the rod: behold it has told you things: behold there is no other power save God, that can cause this rod of nature, to work in your hands, for it is the work of God; and therefore whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, that you shall know." (Book of Commandments 7:3)
"Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;" (D&C 130:10)
Understanding that a person needs revelation through the use of oracles and keys words in order to know the mind and will of the Gods upon this world, this then is the major step to knowing where the Kingdom of God is not. Also realizing that there is a gift and difference between holding the gift to receive revelation for oneself and to that of the church.
Joseph Smith had the right to receive revelations for the church, and yet he passed on oracles and keys to others so they could receive revelations to help themselves. The revelations received by others could not supercede Joseph Smith's revelations and authority, but was given to help individuals to understanding what the Lord was performing through Joseph.
As well, the gift to revelations possessed the privilege in which to obtain blessings to help them in their life time.
"Let my servant William Law also receive the keys by which he may ask and receive blessings; let him be humble before me, and be without guile, and he shall receive of my Spirit, even the Comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things, and shall give him, in the very hour, what he shall say." (D&C 124:97)
The Prophet Joseph Smith received of the Lord unto himself the power, authority, gift, keys, and rights to work upon this world in behalf of the Gods.
"I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things. Ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you according to my word."
"For I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and make known unto you all things in due time."
"Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was Aaron, by mine own voice, and by the voice of him that sent me, and I have endowed him with the keys of the power of this priesthood, if he do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will justify him." (D&C 132:40, 45, 59)
The question to be answered is, did Joseph Smith pass this Priesthood to anyone else while he was alive?
At the death of Joseph Smith, the powers of this Priesthood had not been given to anyone else. The third member of the first presidency still living (Sidney Rigdon), had not even been given the greater endowments let alone the higher Priesthood..
Brigham Young was not present to have received the higher Priesthood. For he was in the eastern U.S. serving a mission.
When the time came as to whom the church leadership was to be given to, no one stood forward and said, "I am the man Joseph Smith gave the powers of the High Priesthood." Instead there was great confusion as to who was to lead the church.
Sidney Rigdon was to the belief that he being the remaining member of the first presidency, holding the keys of the leadership of the church was to be the guardian of the church until the oldest son of Joseph Smith was to come of age, and to which to take his place as the president. For he was to the belief that Joseph Smith taught that the church leadership would be passed down to his son, just as it was in the days of the Patriarchs from father to son.
"Little Joseph his Fathers successor although some people would fain make us believe that the Twelve are to be the perpetual heads of this Church to the exclusion of the Smith family, but every one who has read the book of Doctrine and Covenants must be aware that Priesthood authority is hereditary and descends from Father to son and therefore Josephs oldest son will take his place when he arrives to the age of a maturity. The twelve are however the Presidents for the time being but when Josephs successor comes they take their former place." (William Smith's Journal History 20 August 1845)
Brigham Young stated that Joseph Smith spoke of the limitations as to what he was to accomplish.
"The brethren testify that brother Brigham is brother Joseph's legal successor. You never heard me say so. I say that I am a good hand to keep the dogs and wolves out of the flock." (Journal of Discourses Volume 8:69 Brigham Young June 3, 1860)
Brigham Young as well questioned to a degree if all of the keys pertaining to the Kingdom of God were on the earth, that the fulness of the keys went with Joseph Smith in his death.
"The first thing which I thought of was, whether Joseph had taken the keys of the kingdom with him from the earth." (Eldon Jay Watson manuscript history of Brigham Young 1801-1844 pp 170-171)
Thus we come to the great debate.
The portion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as was organized by Joseph Smith that went to the Rocky Mountains, feign that they have the same as Joseph Smith had, for it was theirs through the apostleship.
This is not true!
Joseph Smith held keys, gifts, and powers over and above the counselors to the presidency, and that of the twelve apostles.
"And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead." (D&C 132:7)
They do not write or speak as the Lord revealing revelation, while exercising the gifts of the oracles and keys.
They meet in their groups, and organize their beliefs, and have their learned men write what sounds best, but this is not revelation.
As to the portion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as organized by Joseph Smith that remained in the mid-west, they feign the keys as well.
The wife of Joseph Smith with the support of others organized another church called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They placed a guardian over it until the oldest son of Joseph Smith was of a reasonable age to take over its leadership. They, in the meantime, took away many of the truths that the Lord established through Joseph Smith, and to which corrupted the ordinances and covenants that would have helped them to a degree.
Yet Joseph Smith did not pass on the keys and powers of the highest Priesthood to anyone.
The world has remained as it were in a preparation activity.
They have maintained in these two churches, the lower Priesthoods of that of the Aaronic and Melchizedek. Those that have had the lower Priesthoods have not received the fulness of the privileges that were theirs to receive, but they have gradually progressed people to which would be able to receive the fulness of the truths when it was to be brought forth.
Thus the work of the Elias to come forth.
"...and also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things, or the restorer of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days:" (1835 Section 50:2)
"Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things." (D&C 77:9 Q&A)
The time has come in which to bless the world with the fulness, evenso to those that have the faith to receive, come forth.
Amen.
Were the twelve apostles given the fullness before Joseph Smith died?
The presidency had keys over and above those that were apostles, or any callings in the church.
Scriptures: D&C 132:7; 35:25; 28:7; 115:19
The Patriarchal Priesthood is above the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Scriptures: D&C 84:6, 14, 19-22, 35-42; 107:63, 64; Abraham 1:2, 3
A greater Priesthood was given in D&C 84:39-42.
A greater Priesthood was needed to obtain the blessings of eternal marriage.
Scriptures: Abraham 1:18, 19; Genesis 22:16-18; D&C 131:1-4; 132:19, 20, 28-32
Joseph Smith was not to pass over the keys of the kingdom while he was alive.
Scriptures: D&C 28:7; 35:25; 64:4, 5; 115:19; 132:45; Alma 13:6-8, 18; 45:18, 19
The keys of Moses, the gospel of Abraham, and keys of Elijah were not shared by
Joseph Smith.
Scriptures:JST Genesis 14:18, 19; D&C 27:12, 13; 132:7; Abraham 2:8-11
Joseph Smith sealed a group of faithful to Eternal rewards just before he was to be killed with the keys.
Scriptures: D&C 132:7, 45; 27:6
Brigham Young did not reveal that Joseph Smith gave him the Priesthood of Elias, Elijah, Messiah or Keys of Moses.
Another Individual called Elias was to restore all things and not Joseph Smith.
Scriptures: D&C 27:6; 77:9
Joseph Smith did not do all of the ordinances in the past. (e.g. Sacrifice, circumcision)
The Church of Jesus Christ is not doing the ordinances, or doing them correctly. (Sacrament, washings, circumcision, sacrifice, etc.)
Thus we come to the next issue. Who has had the authority to direct the activities of the Gospel upon the earth in behalf of the Gods?
There exists upon this world numerous churches that testify; they are the Lord's medium to which the children of men are able to obtain the fulness of the rewards as offered by God.
Can they all be acceptable to the Gods as the source of salvation?
The answer is no, because they teach and do different activities.
One testifies of God, another of Christ, others of Buddah or reincarnation. Others speak of no God, but only non material beings, or else the self existence of God-kind in each person.
The variable of the Gods over this world and the eternal progression of man varies as differently as there are individual beings on this world.
The reality is that there is the existence of one God, He has one form, and not several.
There is also one program in which He progresses man, and not various ideas, contradicting. He has laws and sees that they are fulfilled.
His manner of worship and prayer is definite, to which He blesses men according to the degree of complying to them.
"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.
"And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated??
"And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:18-21)
It must be assessed that the more a person complies with all of the activities, laws, and directives correctly about the Gods, the greater their companionship and influence they will have with God and His agents.
How then do the inhabitants learn the truthfulness of God, His agents, His program of progression, His laws, His mode of worship, prayer, and privileges?
Can man learn it on his own? No!
Can he learn it from historical records? Some!
Can he learn it through letters from one person to another? A little more!
How is the fulness to be taught?
The only way for a people to learn the mind and will of the Gods, is to have the Gods to reveal it to someone.
There must be a person in which the Gods have a companionship with, whom they are able to speak with, whom they are able to reveal their directives, truths, programs, and laws.
Without a person of this degree of relationship, the organization is limited to what they have been given.
Without revelation, the Kingdom of God is not on the earth.
"Salvation cannot come without revelation;..." (History 3:389 - Teachings 599)
"...we must have revelations then & we can see that the doctrin of revelation as far transcends the doctrin of no revelation as knowled[g]e is above ignorance for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in exhistance." (Words 330 [Wilford Woodruff Journal])
A church that has no revelators can exist to prepare people to live up to the requirements of the Gods, but there are limits to the rewards offered.
Without revelation a person cannot bestow the eternal rewards, for he cannot be told who is approved of the Gods to grant the blessings.
The Gods seal up the faithful upon this world when they approve of them, and not because a leader says so. Without revelation, no one obtains the eternal rewards.
How then is revelation made known to this world's revelators?
The Prophet Joseph Smith revealed as to how revelations must be obtained.
"But if we do not get revelations we do not have the oracles of God & if they have not the oracles of God they are not the people of God But say you what will become of the world of the various professors of religion who do not believe in revelation & the oracles of God as Continued to the Church in all ages of the world when he has a people on earth I Tell you in the name of Jesus Christ they will be damned & when you get into the eternal world you will find it to be so they cannot escape the damnation of hell" (Words 156 [Wilford Woodruff Journal])
"What constitutes the kingdom of God? Where there is a prophet, a priest, or a righteous man unto whom God gives His oracles, there is the kingdom of God; and where the oracles of God are not, there the kingdom of God is not." (History 5:257 - Teachings 369)
Without the oracles of God, the Kingdom of God is not on the earth, though a schoolmaster church to prepare may remain.
Oracles are required to receive revelations from the Gods in order to bestow the blessings of the Gods.
"...whare there is no kingdom of God there is no salvation. What Constitutes the Kingdom of God Whare there is a Prophet a priest or a righteous man unto whom God gives his oracles there is the Kingdom of God, & whare the oracles of God are not there the Kingdom of God is not ." (Words 156 [Wilford Woodruff Journal])
"He said Where the oracles of God are revealed there is the kingdom of God. Wherever the oracles of God are & subjects to obey those oracles there is the kingdom of God. What constitutes the kingdom of God? an administrator who has the power of calling down the oracles of God, and subjects to receive those oracles no matter if there are but 3, 4, or 6 there is the kingdom of God &c." (Words 159 [William Clayton Diary])
"Knowledge is Revelation hear all ye brethern, this grand Key; Knowledge is the power of God unto Salvation." (Words 207 [Howard and Martha Coray Notebook])
Without the oracles of God, a man cannot be told that a given person is acceptable.
A man, chosen and ordained of God or the last to hold the authority to do so, bestows the Priesthood and keys to others, then this man can receive revelations through the activities with the oracle, key words, and signs.
"...to the three in the Grand Presidency, confining the oracles to a certain head on the principle of three." (History 5:207 - Teachings 384)
Who then holds the rights to receive revelations for and in behalf of the Gods over this world?
"But behold, verily, verily I say unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church, excepting my servant Joseph, for he receiveth them even as Moses:" (D&C 28:2)
"For behold, verily, verily I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you, to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.
"And this ye shall know assuredly, that there is none other appointed unto to you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
"But verily, verily I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him, for if it be taken from him he shall not have power, except to appoint another in his stead:" (D&C 43:2-4)
The answer is that only one receives it for the church, even then the other counselors can receive revelations to help them to fulfill their callings. That as well, Joseph only could pass on the authority.
This activity of receiving revelations through oracles is not however meant for one man or three men, but is offered in degrees, to everyone who progresses in the church to receive the highest rewards.
"O remember, these words and keep my commandments. Remember this is your gift. Now this is not all, for you have another gift, which is the gift of working with the rod: behold it has told you things: behold there is no other power save God, that can cause this rod of nature, to work in your hands, for it is the work of God; and therefore whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, that you shall know." (Book of Commandments 7:3)
"Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;" (D&C 130:10)
Understanding that a person needs revelation through the use of oracles and keys words in order to know the mind and will of the Gods upon this world, this then is the major step to knowing where the Kingdom of God is not. Also realizing that there is a gift and difference between holding the gift to receive revelation for oneself and to that of the church.
Joseph Smith had the right to receive revelations for the church, and yet he passed on oracles and keys to others so they could receive revelations to help themselves. The revelations received by others could not supercede Joseph Smith's revelations and authority, but was given to help individuals to understanding what the Lord was performing through Joseph.
As well, the gift to revelations possessed the privilege in which to obtain blessings to help them in their life time.
"Let my servant William Law also receive the keys by which he may ask and receive blessings; let him be humble before me, and be without guile, and he shall receive of my Spirit, even the Comforter, which shall manifest unto him the truth of all things, and shall give him, in the very hour, what he shall say." (D&C 124:97)
The Prophet Joseph Smith received of the Lord unto himself the power, authority, gift, keys, and rights to work upon this world in behalf of the Gods.
"I am the Lord thy God, and I gave unto thee, my servant Joseph, an appointment, and restore all things. Ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you according to my word."
"For I have conferred upon you the keys and power of the priesthood, wherein I restore all things, and make known unto you all things in due time."
"Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was Aaron, by mine own voice, and by the voice of him that sent me, and I have endowed him with the keys of the power of this priesthood, if he do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will justify him." (D&C 132:40, 45, 59)
The question to be answered is, did Joseph Smith pass this Priesthood to anyone else while he was alive?
At the death of Joseph Smith, the powers of this Priesthood had not been given to anyone else. The third member of the first presidency still living (Sidney Rigdon), had not even been given the greater endowments let alone the higher Priesthood..
Brigham Young was not present to have received the higher Priesthood. For he was in the eastern U.S. serving a mission.
When the time came as to whom the church leadership was to be given to, no one stood forward and said, "I am the man Joseph Smith gave the powers of the High Priesthood." Instead there was great confusion as to who was to lead the church.
Sidney Rigdon was to the belief that he being the remaining member of the first presidency, holding the keys of the leadership of the church was to be the guardian of the church until the oldest son of Joseph Smith was to come of age, and to which to take his place as the president. For he was to the belief that Joseph Smith taught that the church leadership would be passed down to his son, just as it was in the days of the Patriarchs from father to son.
"Little Joseph his Fathers successor although some people would fain make us believe that the Twelve are to be the perpetual heads of this Church to the exclusion of the Smith family, but every one who has read the book of Doctrine and Covenants must be aware that Priesthood authority is hereditary and descends from Father to son and therefore Josephs oldest son will take his place when he arrives to the age of a maturity. The twelve are however the Presidents for the time being but when Josephs successor comes they take their former place." (William Smith's Journal History 20 August 1845)
Brigham Young stated that Joseph Smith spoke of the limitations as to what he was to accomplish.
"The brethren testify that brother Brigham is brother Joseph's legal successor. You never heard me say so. I say that I am a good hand to keep the dogs and wolves out of the flock." (Journal of Discourses Volume 8:69 Brigham Young June 3, 1860)
Brigham Young as well questioned to a degree if all of the keys pertaining to the Kingdom of God were on the earth, that the fulness of the keys went with Joseph Smith in his death.
"The first thing which I thought of was, whether Joseph had taken the keys of the kingdom with him from the earth." (Eldon Jay Watson manuscript history of Brigham Young 1801-1844 pp 170-171)
Thus we come to the great debate.
The portion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as was organized by Joseph Smith that went to the Rocky Mountains, feign that they have the same as Joseph Smith had, for it was theirs through the apostleship.
This is not true!
Joseph Smith held keys, gifts, and powers over and above the counselors to the presidency, and that of the twelve apostles.
"And verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead." (D&C 132:7)
They do not write or speak as the Lord revealing revelation, while exercising the gifts of the oracles and keys.
They meet in their groups, and organize their beliefs, and have their learned men write what sounds best, but this is not revelation.
As to the portion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as organized by Joseph Smith that remained in the mid-west, they feign the keys as well.
The wife of Joseph Smith with the support of others organized another church called the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They placed a guardian over it until the oldest son of Joseph Smith was of a reasonable age to take over its leadership. They, in the meantime, took away many of the truths that the Lord established through Joseph Smith, and to which corrupted the ordinances and covenants that would have helped them to a degree.
Yet Joseph Smith did not pass on the keys and powers of the highest Priesthood to anyone.
The world has remained as it were in a preparation activity.
They have maintained in these two churches, the lower Priesthoods of that of the Aaronic and Melchizedek. Those that have had the lower Priesthoods have not received the fulness of the privileges that were theirs to receive, but they have gradually progressed people to which would be able to receive the fulness of the truths when it was to be brought forth.
Thus the work of the Elias to come forth.
"...and also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things, or the restorer of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days:" (1835 Section 50:2)
"Q. What are we to understand by the angel ascending from the east, Revelation 7th chapter and 2nd verse?
A. We are to understand that the angel ascending from the east is he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, he crieth unto the four angels having the everlasting gospel, saying: Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And, if you will receive it, this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things." (D&C 77:9 Q&A)
The time has come in which to bless the world with the fulness, evenso to those that have the faith to receive, come forth.
Amen.