Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830, as Recorded in Hyde and Smith, Notebook [D&C 20]
Source Note
“Articles and Covenants,” [, Seneca Co., NY, ca. Apr. 1830, though parts may have been received as early as ca. summer 1829]. Version copied [between ca. Oct. 1831 and 1 Feb. 1832] in Hyde and Smith, Notebook, [3]–[11]; handwriting of ; Revelations Collection, CHL.
Church of Christ. An is an & it is his calling to & to other Elders & & to administer the flesh & blood of Christ according to the & to teach expound exhort & to baptize and to watch over the Church & to the church by the & the & to take the lead of all meetings. the Elders are to conduct the meetings according as they are led by the holy Ghost The priest’s duty is to preach teach expound exhort & baptize & administer the & visit the House of each member & exhort them to pray vocally & in secret & also to attend all family duties & ordain other priests Teachers & Deacons & take the lead in meetings, but none of these offices is he to do when there is an Elder present, but in all cases is he to assist the Elders The Teachers duty is to watch over the church always & be with them & strengthen them & see that there is no iniquity in the church nor no hardness with each other nor lying nor backbiting nor evil speaking & see that the Church meet together often & also that every member does his duty & he is to take the lead on of meetings in the abscence of the Elders or priests & is to be assisted always & in all his duties in the church by the deacons but neither the Teacher nor the Deacon [p. [7]]