“The first principles of man are
self-existent with God. God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and
glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby
the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we
have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to
institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted
with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that
knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save
them in the world of spirits.” (TPJS, p. 354)
Brigham Young understood that the terms ‘priesthood’, ‘celestial
law’, and ‘the principle of salvation’ to be the same thing, which is a system
that allows us gain eternal life:
“When we talk of the celestial law
which is revealed from heaven, that is, the Priesthood, we are talking about
the principle of salvation, a perfect system of government, of laws and
ordinances, by which we can be prepared to pass from one gate to another, and
from one sentinel to another, until we go into the presence of our Father and
God.” (DBY, p. 201)
He also equated the priesthood with the gospel and that
their purpose is to save mankind:
“The Gospel of salvation – the
Priesthood of the Son of God – is so ordered and organized, in the very nature
of it, being a portion of that law of heaven by which worlds are organized,
that it is calculated to enlighten the children of men and give them power to
save themselves.” (DBY, p. 7)
Brigham Young had a few more good things to say about how
priesthood is a law and its purpose as a law:
“The holy Priesthood is a system
of laws and government that is pure and holy; and if it is adhered to by
intelligent man, whom God has created a little lower than angels, it is
calculated to preserve our tabernacles in eternal being; otherwise they will be
resolved into native element. … Nothing can satisfy, except being perfectly
subject to the law that will preserve them in their identity to all eternity,
and that is the holy Priesthood.” (JOD, Volume 7, p. 201-206)
“[God] has instituted laws and
ordinances for the government and benefit of the children of men, to see if
they would obey them and prove themselves worthy of eternal life by the law of
the celestial worlds; and it is of these laws that our religion is composed. This holy Priesthood that we talk about is
a perfect system of government. The best way I can think of to express my idea
of Priesthood of the Son of God is to call it a perfect system of laws and
government. By obedience to these laws we expect to enter the celestial kingdom
and be exalted.” (JD, Volume 14, p. 91-98)
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