- Keys of the Gathering of Israel, Dispensation, Etc. Given to Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery — Warren Cowdery (April 3, 1836)
- Priesthood & Dominion First Given to Adam, Then Noah (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Priesthood an Everlasting Principle (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Keys Brought From Heaven & Revealed Through Adam's Authority (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Adam Gathers and Prepares His Children for Christ’s Coming, before Delivering His Stewardship & Keys to Christ (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Father Gives Adam Keys (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Ordinances Connected to the Priesthood (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Suscession of the Priesthood (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Priesthood Needed to Come into the Presence of God (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
- Knowledge of Who Holds Keys Necessary to Prevent Deception — Wilford Woodruff (March 10, 1844)
Keys of the Gathering of Israel, Dispensation, Etc. Given to Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery — Warren Cowdery (April 3, 1836)
After this vision [of Jehovah] closed, the Heavens were again opened unto them and Moses appeared before them and committed unto them the Keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the Eearth and the leading of the ten tribes from the Land of the North. After this Elias appeared and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying, that in them and their seed all generations after them should be blessed. After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burts upon them, for Elijah, the Prophet, who was taken to Heaven without tasting death, also stood before them, and said, behold the time has fully come which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi, testifying, that he should be sent before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come, to turn the hearts of the Fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse. Therefore, the Keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands, and by this ye may know that the great and the dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors
Journal, 1835–1836, p. 193, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Priesthood & Dominion First Given to Adam, Then Noah (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
The Priesthood was.
first given To Adam: he obtained the first Presidency & held the Keys of it, from genration to Generation; he obtained it in the creation before the world was formed as in Gen. 1, 26:28,— he had dominion given him over every living Creature. He is Michael, the Archangel, spoken of in the Scriptures,— Then to Noah who is Gabriel, he stands next in authority to Adam in the Priesthood; he was called of God to this office & was the Father of all living in his day, & To him was Given the Dominion. These men held keys. first on earth, & then in Heaven.—
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 63, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
Priasthood.—
The priasthood was first given to Adam, he obtained the first presidency & held the keys of it from generation to generation. He obtained it in the creation, before the world was formed as in Gen c 1 v 26, 28 he had dominion given him over every living creature; he is Michael the Archangel spoken of in the scriptures— Then to Noah who is Gabriel he stands next in authority to Adam, in the preasthood, he was called of God to this office. & was the father of all living, in this day, & to him was given the dominion, These men held keys first on earth & then in heaven;
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, p. 2, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Priesthood an Everlasting Principle (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
The Priesthood is an everlasting principle & Existed with God from Eternity & will to Eternity, without beginning of days or end of years. . . .
The Priesthood is everlasting. The Savior. Moses. & Elias— gave the Keys to Peter, James & John on the Mount when they were transfigured before him. The Priesthood is everlasting. without biginning of days or end of years, without Father. Mother &c.—
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 63, 65, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
The priesthood is an everlasting principle & existed with God from eternity & will to eternity, without begining of days or end of years . . .
The priesthood is everlasting. The Saviour, Moses, & Elias gave the keys to Peter. James. & John. on the mount, when they were transfigured before him. The priesthood is everlasting, without beginning of days or end of years without Father Mother &c. If there is no change of odanances, their is no change of priesthood, whenever the ordanances of the gospel are administered there is the priesthood.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, pp. 2-3, The Joseph Smith Papers..
Keys Brought From Heaven & Revealed Through Adam’s Authority (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
The Keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the Gospel is sent.— When they are revealed from Heaven it is by Adams Authority.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 63, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
The keys have to be brought from heaven whenever the gospel is sent.— when they are revealed from heaven it is by adams authority.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, p. 2, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Adam Gathers and Prepares His Children for Christ’s Coming, before Delivering His Stewardship & Keys to Christ (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
Dan VII Speaks of the Ancient of days, he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael; he will call his children together. & hold a council with them. to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He, (Adam) is the Father of the human family & presides over the Spirits of all men, & all that have had the Keys must Stand before him in this grand Council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action, The Son of Man Stands before him & there is given him glory & dominion.— Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was deliverd to him as holding the Keys of the Universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 63-64, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
Danl. 7 speaks of the ancient of days he means the oldest man our Father Adam Michael, he will call his children, together & hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the son of man, he. (Adam) is the father of the human familey & presides over the spirits of all men. & all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action. The son of man stands before him, and there is given him glory & dominion— Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as the keys of the universe but retains his standing as head of the human family.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, pp. 2-3, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Father Gives Adam Keys (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
The father called all spirits before him at the creation of Man & organized them. He (Adam) is the head. & was told to multiply.
The Keys were first given to him, & by him to others he will have to give an account of his Stewardship, & they to him.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 64-65, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
The father called all spirits before him at the creation of man & organized them he (Adam) is the head & was told to multiply—
The keys were given to him. he will have to give an account of his stewardship & they to him—
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, p. 3, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Ordinances Connected to the Priesthood (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
If there is no change of ordinances there is no change of Priesthood. Wherever the ordinances of the Gospel are adminesterd there is the priesthood.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 65, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
If there is no change of odanances, their is no change of priesthood, whenever the ordanances of the gospel are administered there is the priesthood.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, p. 3, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Suscession of the Priesthood (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
How have we come at the Priesthood in the last days? It came down, down in regular succession— Peter James & John had it given to them & they gave it up.— Christ is the Great High priest; Adam next.—
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, p. 65, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
How have we come at the priesthood, in the last days— they came down in regular suscession. Peter James & John had it given to them, & they gave it up. Christ is the great High Priest. Adam next.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, p. 3, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Priesthood Needed to Come into the Presence of God (circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839)
Willard Richards
Moses Sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God. through the power of the Priesthood, but he could not. In the first ages of the world they tried to establish the same thing— & there were Elias’s raised up who tried to restore these very glories but did not obtain them. but (Enoch did for himself & those that were with Him, but not for the world. J. T.) They prophecied of a day when this Glory would be revealed.— Paul spoke of the Dispensation of the fulness of times. when God would gather together all things in one &c &, Those men to whom these Keys have been given will have to be there (I.E. when Adam shall again assemble his children of the Priesthood, & christ be in their midst) the Ancient of Days come &c &c J. T.) And they without us cannot not be made perfect. These men are in heaven, but their children are on Earth. Their bowels yearn over us. God sends down men for this reason, Mat. 13.41. & the Son of man shall send forth his angels &c— All these authoritative characters will come down & join hand in hand in bringing about this work—
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards, pp. 66-67, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Unidentified Scribe
Mosses sought to bring the children of Israel into the presence of God, through the power of the preasthood but he could not. In the first ages of the world, they tried to establish the same thing, & then was Elias raised up who tried to restore these very Glories, but did not obtain them (Enoch did for himself & those that were with him, but not for the world J T) They prophesied of a day when this glory, would be revealed. Paul spoke of the dispensation of of the fullness of times; when God would gather together all things in one &c. Those men to whoom these keys have been given will have to be there (I E When Adam shall again assemble his children of the preasthood & Christ be in their midst the ancient of days come &c &c J T) & they without us could not be made perfect. These men are in heaven, but there children are on Earth their bowels yearn over us. God sends men down for this reason Matt 13— 41 & the sons of man shall send forth his angels &c All these authoritative characters will come down & join hand in hand, in bringing about this work.
Discourse, between circa 26 June and circa 4 August 1839–A, as Reported by Unidentified Scribe, p. 4, The Joseph Smith Papers.
Knowledge of Who Holds Keys Necessary to Prevent Deception — Wilford Woodruff (March 10, 1844)
. . . it is necessary to know who holds the keys of power & who dont or we may be likely to be decieved
Discourse, 10 March 1844, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, p. 207, The Joseph Smith Papers.
