The Papers
Reference
About
Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833
Source Note
Source Note
Historical Introduction
Historical Introduction
to receive any revelation forom [from] any one man or woman without being legally constituted and to that authority and given sufficien[t] proof of it, I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the or any <one> any one to receive instruction for those in authority hig[h]er than themselves, therefore you will see the impropriety of giving <heed> to them, but if any <have a vision> heavenly or a visitation from an hevenaly [heavenly] messenger it must be for their own benefit and instruction, for the fundimental principals, government and doctrine of the church is invested in the of the kingdom as it respects an apostate or one who has been cut off from the Church and wishes to come in again the law of our church expresly says that such shall repent, and be and be admited the same as at the first, the duty of a is to administer spriitual and holy things and to hold Communeion <with> God but not to exorcise [exercise] monarchy monarchal government or to appoint meetings for the without their concent and again it is the high priests duty to be bet[t]er qualifide to teach principles and doctrines than the Elder for the office of Elders is an appendege to the and it <centers &> concentrates in one, and again the proper <process> way of Labouring with a member we are to deal with them percisely as the scripturs direct if thy brother trespass against the[e] take him betwen him and thee alone and if he maketh the satisfaction thou hast saved thy brother and if not proce[e]d to take another with the[e] & [illegible] when there is no they are to be tried by the voice of the Church and if an Elder or an high priest be presant they are to take the lead in managing the business if not by such that have the highest authority, with respect to preparing to go to first it would be pleasing to the lord that that the Church or Churches going to Zion should be organised, and appointed a suitable person who is well acquainted with the Conditions of the Church & and be sent to to inform the and procure from him agreeable to the revelation so doing you will prevent confusion and disorder and escape many difficulties that [p. 30]
