- Verse 1: Discourse given by Joseph Smith between June 26th and August 4th, 1839
- Verse 2: Alma 9:16 (LDS Alma 13:1:3 | RLDS Alma 9:62-65)
- Verse 3: Ether 5:2 (LDS Ether 12:10 | RLDS Ether 5:11)
- Verse 4: Hebrew 7:3 (Joseph Smith Biblical Revision Project); Melchizedek 1:3—4
- Verse 5: Alma 20:1 (LDS Alma 43:2 | RLDS Alma 20:2)
- Verse 6: Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:18-19: Vision of Moses 1:43
- Verse 7: Hebrew 7:3 (Joseph Smith Biblical Revision Project)
- Verse 8: Alma 9:16 (LDS Alma 13:4-6 | RLDS 9:67-69)
- Verses 9, 11, 12: Joseph Smith Jr.’s March 22nd, 1839 Liberty Jail Letter to Edward Partridge and the Church
- Verse 10: Joseph Smith Jr.’s May 21st, 1843 discourse
- Verses 13-15: Alma 5:8 (LDS Alma 7:22-24 | RLDS Alma 5:38-41)
1. Priesthood is an everlasting principle, as eternal as God Himself and the Holy Order of God is without beginning of days or end of years, from eternity to all eternity.
2. The Holy Order of God was prepared before the foundation of the world for all who will not harden their hearts.
3. It is by faith that one is called after the Holy Order of God.
4. Priesthood is not inherited through one’s father or mother, nor is it conferred through human traditions or laws, but is delivered by the calling of God’s own voice, according to God’s will, unto as many as believe on his name, repent, and choose to work righteousness.
5. God ordains them after his holy order out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people to declare the truth according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation.
6. The Spirit of God is upon them, and God anoints them to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; God sends them to heal the brokenhearted, comfort all who mourn, preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to proclaim the age of God’s favor, and to work at all times and in all places to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of humankind.
7. All those who take upon themselves this priesthood become like the Son of God, who is full of grace, equity, and truth.
8. This Holy Order is open to all who will not reject the Spirit of God through the hardness of their hearts or blindness of their minds.
9. For the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven and can only be controlled or handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
10. To be righteous is to be just and merciful.
11. Therefore, when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of others in any degree, behold, the heavens withdraw, and the Spirit of God is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that person.
12. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile
13. Therefore, let us all awaken to a sense of our duty to God and walk blameless before him, that we may walk after the Holy Order of God, into which we have been received.
14. Let us be humble, submissive, and gentle; easily entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; temperate in all things; diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things we stand in need, both spiritual and temporal, and always returning thanks to God for whatsoever things we do receive.
15. Let us have faith, hope, and love so that we might always abound in good works.