| 714 have received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation: for verily I say unto you the keys of the dispensation which ye have received, have came down from the fathers: and last of all, being sent down from heaven unto you."
This conclusively shows that the Twelve hold the power of the priesthood in ALL the world. To make the matter plainer, however, I take an extract from President Joseph Smith's charge to the Twelve on the evening of the 27th of February, 1835:
"They are the Twelve apostles, who are called to the office of a travelling [traveling] high council; who are to preside over ALL the churches of the saints among the Gentiles, where there is no presidency established, and they are to travel and preach among the Gentiles until the Lord commands them to go to the Jews.-They are to hold the keys of this ministry; to unlock the door of the kingdom of heaven unto all nations; and to preach the gospel to every creature. This is the power, authority and virtue of their apostleship."
Elder Woodruff, one of the Twelve, having gone to England to preside; Elder Wm. Smith another of the Twelve, travelling [traveling] constantly in the eastern states, together with the labors of Elders Hyde and Page, and the last summer's tour of the whole Twelve, put along with their unabated vigilance in the vineyard since their appointment, is pretty strong testimony that "they are called, chosen, and faithful."-Thanks be to Jesus: the horrors and powers of the priesthood are not obtained, by money or craft. They are handed down by lineage from father to son, according to the order of the Son of God.
No body disputes the apostacy [apostasy] of certain men from Cain down to Sidney Rigdon, Esq.: nor is it at all to be wondered, that they all claim to be "perfect." G. M. Hinkle has the "Bride, the Lamb's wife;" John C. Bennett has been "Joab a general in Israel;" Law notwithstanding he carried pistols to shoot Joseph, is so smooth that he is nearly "a new redeemer;" and Sidney Rigdon, Esq, who it seems, from the paper before alluded to, is the "stone that builders refused or rejected," independent of Jesus Christ:-We must be plain on the subject and quote a little scripture which seems to meet the case to a nicety, whether the prophet meant so or not; because Sidney's determined to fight the Gentiles among the Allegany [Allegheny] mountains. So hear what Daniel says:
"And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous [marvelous] things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
Neither shall he regard the god of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
But in his estate shall he honor the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overthrow and pass over.
He shall enter also into the glorious land and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans, and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain: yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him."
All this is spiritual and shows that besides Sidney's being the "stone the Jews refused," holding the key of David which actually belongs to Jesus Christ, he is a kind of god that will trouble the Ethiopians, Egyptians, Lybians [Libyans], &c., probably with bees and flies, but will come to his end and "none will help him."-It may not be amiss, however, before Sidney obtains this mighty power, to square his claims from revelations in the aforesaid Doctrine and Covenants, Section 11, page 158; and which was the first word the Lord ever said to encourage Sidney up to that time, among other things, said of Brother Joseph, "and in weakness have I blessed him, and I have given unto
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