Doctrine and Covenants 107:1

Mormon History: 1830 to 1839

Doctrine and Covenants 107:1–58

April [28–30], 1835, Kirtland, Ohio.

Melchizedek and Aaronic § Priesthoods; presidency of the High Priesthood (Melchizedek) can officiate in all offices §; high priests and elders concerned with spiritual affairs §; bishopric presidency of Aaronic §; bishop's "priesthood" lineal §; Aaronic priesthood ministering angels §; church presidency §; Quorum of the Twelve equal to quorum of the church presidency §; seventy missionaries §; quorum of seventy equals Quorum of the Twelve §; Twelve presiding high council §; Twelve direct the seventy §; standing high councils equal traveling high council §; Twelve ordain evangalists [patriarchs] §; lineal priesthood §; Enoch §; Adam's blessing in Adam-ondi-Ahman §; Adam Michael §.

The traditional date of March 28, 1835 is based on a letter of that date (Kirtland council, 198). However, William E. McLellin records that Joseph and other apostles were in Huntsburg, Ohio, not Kirtland, on March 26–30, 1835 (JS revelations, 153). The April date is based on a reference in the Patriarchal Blessing Book 1 (All sources agree the revelation was given on March 28, 1835 in Kirtland (JS revelations, 265n6).
Not printed in the Book of Commandments.

		Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 3) 1835
		ON PRIESTHOOD.
Melchizedek and Aaronic	1	There are, in the church, two priesthoods, namely: the Melchizedek and Aaronic, including the Levitical priesthood.	1	Current LDS D&C verse numbers are to the left of the text, 1835 D&C numbers to the right.
Melchizedek a high priest	2	Why the first is called the Melchizedek priesthood, is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest:
Original name	3	before his day it was called the holy priesthood, after the order of the Son of God;
Change name out of respect	4	but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek priesthood.
All rest appendages	5	All other authorities, or offices in the church are appendages to this priesthood;	2
Two divisions	6	but there are two divisions, or grand heads—one is the Melchizedek priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood.
Elder	7	The office of an elder comes under the priesthood of Melchizedek.	3
Melchizedek right of presidency	8	The Melchizedek priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church, in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things.		Revelation of January 12, 1838
Presidency of the High Priesthood	9	The presidency of the high priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek, have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church.	4
High priests	10	High priests, after the order of the Melchizedek Priesthood, have a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the presidency, in administering spiritual things, and also in the office of an elder, priest (of the Levitical order), teacher, deacon, and member.	5	Parentheses in 1835 edition.
Elders stand in for high priests	11	An elder has a right to officiate in his stead when the high priest is not present.	6
High priests and elders have spiritual things	12	The high priest, and elder, are to administer in spiritual things, agreeably to the covenants and commandments of the church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the church when there are no higher authorities present.	7
Aaronic Priesthood	13	The second priesthood is called the priesthood of Aaron because it was conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.	8
Lesser, outward ordinances	14	Why it is called the lesser priesthood, is because it is an appendage to the greater, or the Melchizedek priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances.
Bishopric is presidency of Aaronic	15	The bishopric is the presidency of this priesthood and holds the keys, or authority of the same.		Bishop
Reserved for literal descendants	16	No man has a legal right to this office, to hold the keys of this priesthood, except he be a litteral descendant of Aaron.
Others may sit in	17	But as a high priest, of the Melchizedek priesthood, has authority to officiate in all the lesser offices, he may officiate in the office of bishop when no literal descendant of Aaron can be found; provided he is called and set apart and ordained unto this power by the hands of the presidency of the Melchizedek priesthood.
Melchizedek keys	18	The power and authority of the higher or Melchizedek priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church—	9
Mysteries of the kingdom Church of the Firstborn Presence of Father and Son	19	to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven—to have the heavens opened unto them—to commune with the general assembly and church of the first born, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.
Aaronic keys Ministering of angels, baptism	20	The power and authority of the lesser, or Aaronic priesthood, is, to hold the keys of the ministring of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances—the letter of the gospel—the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, agreeably to the covenants and commandments.	10
Presidents of offices	21	Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding offices growing out of, or appointed of, or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods.	11
Presidency of the church	22	Of the Melchizedek priesthood, three presiding high priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the presidency of the church.
Twelve Apostles traveling counselors	23	The twelve travelling counsellors are called to be the twelve apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world: thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.		Twelve Apostles
Quorums of twelve and three	24	And they form a quorum equal in authority and power to the three presidents, previously mentioned.
Seventies missionaries	25	The seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world. Thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling:
Quorum equal to Twelve	26	And they form a quorum equal in authority to that of the twelve especial witnesses or apostles, just named.
Quorum decisions must be unanimous	27	And every decision made by either of these quorums, must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other.
Or majority	28	[A majority may form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise.]		Brackets in 1835 edition.
Otherwise, not as blessed	29	Unless this is the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained after the order of Melchizedek, and were righteous and holy men.
Virituous decisions	30	The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness; in holiness and lowliness of heart; meekness and long suffering; and in faith and virtue and knowledge; temperance, patience, godliness brotherly kindness and charity,
	31	because the promise is, if these things abound in them, they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.
General assembly of quorums are spiritual authorities—no appeal	32	And in case that any decision, of these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church, otherwise there can be no appeal from their decision.
Twelve a traveling presiding high council directed by church presidency	33	The twelve are a travelling, presiding high council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the presidency of the church, agreeably to the institution of heaven; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations: first unto the Gentiles, and secondly unto the Jews.	12	Minutes of Feb. 13, 1836
Seventy directed by Twelve	34	The seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the twelve, or the travelling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations: first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews:—	13
Twelve hold keys	35	the twelve being sent out, holding the keys, to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ: and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews.
Stake high councils equal to presidency, Twelve	36	The standing high councils, at the stakes of Zion, form a quorum equal in authority, in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the quorum of the presidency, or to the travelling high council.	14
Zion high council equal to Twelve in stakes	37	The high council in Zion, forms a quorum equal in authority, in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the councils of the twelve at the stakes of Zion.	15
Twelve call upon seventy for aid	38	It is the duty of the travelling high council to call upon the seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, instead of any others.	16
Twelve ordain evangelical ministers	39	It is the duty of the twelve in all large branches of the church, to ordain evangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation.	17
Evangelical (patriarchal) priesthood lineal	40	The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made.	18
Began with Aam	41	This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the following manner:
Seth	42	From Adam to Seth, who was ordained by Adam at the age of 69 years, and was blessed by him three years previous to his (Adam's) death, and received the promise of God by his father, that his posterity should be the chosen of the Lord, and that they should be preserved unto the end of the earth,	19	Parentheses in 1835 edition.
Seth was perfect	43	because he [Seth] was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express likeness of his father's, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things; and could be distinguished from him only by his age.		Brackets in 1835 edition.
Enos ordained by Adam	44	Enos was ordained at the age of 134 years, and four months, by the hand of Adam.	20
Cainan	45	God called upon Cainan in the wilderness, in the fortieth year of his age, and he met Adam in journeying to the place Shedolamak: he was eighty seven years old when he received his ordination.	21
Mahalaleel	46	Mahalaleel was 496 years and seven days old when he was ordained by the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.	22
Jared	47	Jared was 200 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, who also blessed him.	23
Enoch	48	Enoch, was 25years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam, and he was 65 and Adam blessed him—	24
Saw the Lord, walked with God, translated	49	and he saw the Lord: and he walked with him, and was before his face continually: and he walked with God 365 years: making him 430 years old when he was translated.
Methuselah oradined by Adam	50	Methuselah was 100 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam.	25
Lamech ordained by Seth	51	Lamech was 32 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Seth.	26
Noah ordained by Methuselah	52	Noah was 10 years old when he was ordained under the hand of Methuselah.	27
Gather at Adam-ondi-Ahman Adam's final blessing	53	Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity, who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.	28
Lord appears Calls Adam Michael	54	And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the Prince, the Archangel.
Adam's blessing	55	And the Lord administered comfort unto Adam, and said unto him, I have set thee to be at the head: a multitude of nations shall come of thee; and thou art a prince over them for ever.
Adam tells future	56	And Adam stood up in the midst of the congregation, and notwithstanding he was bowed down with age, being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation.	29
All written in book of Enoch	57	These things were all written in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time.
Twelve ordain all other officers	58	It is the duty of the twelve, also, to ordain and set in order all the other officers of the church, agreeably to the revelation which says:	30	Minutes of February. 13, 1836
		D&C 107:59-100 D&C 106 Ohio Revelations Doctrine and Covenants