<​October 5th. 1840 Page 1104​> #In order to investigate the subject of the Priesthood, so important to this, as well as every succeeding generation, I shall proceed to trace the subject as far as I possibly can from the Old and New Testaments.

There are two Priesthood’s spoken of in the Scriptures, viz the Melchisedec and the Aaronic or Levitical. Altho there are two Priesthoods, yet the Melchisedec Priesthood comprehends the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood and is the grand head and holds the highest authority which pertains to the Priesthood— the Keys of the Kingdom of God in all ages of the world to the latest posterity on the earth, and is the Channel through which all knowledge, doctrine, the plan of Salvation and every 5important matter is revealed from Heaven. Its institution was prior to “the “foundation of this earth, or the morning stars sang together, or the Sons of God, shouted for joy,” and is the highest and holiest priesthood and is after the order of the Son of God, and all other Priesthoods are only parts, ramifications, powers and blessings belonging to the same, and are held controlled and directed by it. It is the Channel through which the Almighty commenced revealing his glory at the beginning of the creation of this earth and through which he has continued to reveal himself to the children of men to the present time, and through which he will make known his purposes to the end of time. Commencing with Adam who was the first man who is spoken of in Daniel as being “the Ancient of Days” or in other words the first and oldest of all, the great grand progenitor of whom it is said in another place he is Michael because he was the first and father of all, not only by progeny, but — — — — the first to hold the Spiritual blessings to whom was made known the plan of ordinances for the Salvation of his posterity unto the end and to whom Christ was first revealed, and through whom Christ has been revealed from heaven and will continue to be revealed from henceforth. Adam holds the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times, i.e. the dispensation of all the times, have been and will be revealed through him from the beginning to Christ and from Christ to the end of all the dispensations that are to be revealed Ephesians 1st. ch 9 & 10 v. [“]Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth in him.” Now the purpose in himself in the winding up scene of the last dispensation is, that all things pertaining to that dispensation should be conducted precisely in accordance with the preceding dispensations. And again, God purposed in himself that there should not be an eternal fulness until every dispensation should be fulfilled and gathered together in one and that all things whatsoever that should be gathered together in one in those dispensations unto the same fulness and eternal glory should be in Christ Jesus; therefore he set the ordinances to be the same for ever and ever, and set Adam to watch over them, to reveal them from heaven to man or to send Angels to reveal them. Hebrews i.14. “Are they not all ministering Spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation?” These Angels are under the direction of Michael or Adam, who acts under the direction of the Lord— From the above quotation we learn that Paul perfectly understood the purposes of God in relation to his connexion with man, and that glorious and perfect order which he established in himself whereby he sent forth power revelations and glory. God will not acknowledge that which he has not called, ordained and chosen. In the beginning God called Adam by his own voice. See Genesis 3 ch 9 & 10 v. [“]And the Lord called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou, and he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and hid myself.” Adam received commandments and instruction from God, this was the order from the beginning. That he received revelations, commandments and ordinances at the beginning, is beyond the power of controversy; [p. 16 [addenda]]