Ordination of Men to the Ministry, as sanctioned by scriptural precedent and established by direct revelation of God's will, is to be effected through the gift of prophecy and by the imposition of hands by those who are in authority. By prophecy is meant the right to receive and the power to interpret manifestations of the divine will. That the laying on of hands is usual as a part of the ordinance is seen in several of the instances already cited; nevertheless the scriptures record numerous ordinations to the offices of the Priesthood without specific statement concerning the imposition of hands or any other details. Such instances do not warrant the conclusion that the laying on of hands was omitted; and in the light of modern revelation it is clear that the imposition of hands was a usual accompaniment of ordination as also of confirming blessings* and of bestowing the Holy Ghost.

Thus, the Holy Priesthood descended from Adam to Noah under the hands of the fathers.* Enos was ordained by the hand of Adam; and the same was true of Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah. Lamech was ordained under the hand of Seth; Noah received his authority under the hand of Methuselah. And so may the Holy Priesthood by traced, bestowed as the spirit of prophecy directed, by the hand of one upon another, till the time of Moses. Melchizedek, who conferred this authority upon Abraham, received his own through the direct lineage of his fathers from Noah. Esaias, a contemporary of Abraham, received his ordination under the hand of God. Through the hand of Esaias, the authority passed to Gad, thence by the same means to Jeremy, Elihu, Caleb, and Jethro the priest of Midian under whose hand Moses was ordained.* Joshua the son of Nun was set apart as directed of God, through the imposition of hands by Moses.*

In the days of the apostles circumstances rendered it expedient to appoint special officers in the Church, to care for the poor and attend to the distribution of supplies; these were selected with care and were set apart through prayer and laying on of hands.* Timothy was similarly ordained, as witness the admonitions given him by Paul: "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery," * and again, "Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."* The Lord has bound Himself by covenant to acknowledge the acts of His authorized servants. Unto whomsoever the elders of the Church give promise after acceptable baptism, the Holy Ghost will come.* Whatever the Priesthood shall bind or loose on earth, in accordance with the Lord's commands, is to be bound or loosed in heaven;* the sick upon whom the elders lay their hands are to recover;* and many other signs are to follow them that believe. So jealous is the Lord of the power to officiate in His name, that at the judgment all who have aided or persecuted His servants are to be rewarded or punished as if they had done those things unto Himself.*

Teachers True and False -- None but those who are duly authorized to teach can be regarded as true expounders of the word of God. The remarks of Paul concerning high priests are applicable to every office of the Priesthood: "No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron."* And Aaron, as we have already seen, was called through Moses unto whom the Lord revealed His will in the matter. This authority to act in the name of the Lord is given to those only who are chosen of God; it is not to be had for the mere asking; it is not to be bought with gold. We read of Simon, the sorcerer, who coveted the power possessed by the apostles; he offered them money, saying: "Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost." But Peter answered him with righteous indignation: "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God."*

It was known to the apostles of old that men would seek to arrogate unto themselves the right to officiate in things divine, thus becoming servants of Satan. In addressing a conference of elders from Ephesus, Paul prophesied of these ill events and warned the shepherds of the flock to look well to their charge,* and in an epistle to Timothy the apostle reiterated this prophecy. Encouraging to diligence in preaching the word, he declared: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."* Peter's declarations on the same subject are no less plain. Addressing himself to the saints of his time, he refers to the false prophets of old, and adds: "There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies; even denying the Lord that bought them * * * And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."*