ORDINANCES (Teachings of Joseph Smith)

Priesthood Is Everlasting and Is Present When Ordinances Are Administered — Willard Richards Account (Between circa June 26 and circa August 4, 1839)

The Priesthood is everlasting, without beginning of days or end of years, without Father, Mother &c,— If there is no change of ordinances there is no change of Priesthood. Wherever the ordinances of the Gospel are administered 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.

Sacrifice a Priesthood Ordinance That Will Be Restored in the Last Days — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

It is a very prevalent opinion that the sacrifices which were offered were entirely consumed, this was not the case if you read Leviticus [2] Chap [2-3] Verses you will observe that the priests took a part as a memorial and offered it up before the Lord, while the remainder was kept for the maintenance of the priests— So that the offerings and sacrifices are not all consumed upon the Alter, but the blood is sprinkled and the fat and certain other portions are consumed These sacrifices as well as every ordinance belonging to the priesthood will when the temple of the Lord shall be built and the sons of Levi be purified be fully restored and attended to all their powers [ramifications], and blessings— this ever did and will exist when the powers of the Melchisadc Priesthood are sufficiently manifest. else how can the restitution of all things spoken of by all the Holy prophets be brought to pass, It is not to be understood that, the law of Moses will be established again with all its rights and variety of ceremonies this has never been spoken off by the prophets but those things which existed prior to Mose’s day viz sacrifice, will be continued— It may be asked by some what necesssity for Sacrifice since the great Sacrifice was offered? In answer to which if Repentance Baptism and faith existed prior to the days of christ what necessity for them since that time

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, p. 10, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Elijah Sent with Keys of Authority to Administer Ordinances in Last Dispensation — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

And I will send Elijah the Prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord &c &c.

Why send Elijah because he holds the Keys of the Authority to administer in all the ordinances of the priesthood and without the authority is given the ordinances could not be administered in righteousness.
as saviors on mount Zion.

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, p. 9, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Sacrifice, a Priesthood Ordinance, Will Be Present in the Last Dispensation — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

Therefore all things had under the Authority of the Priesthood at any former period shall be had again — bringing to pass the restoration spoken of by the mouth of all the Holy Prophets. Malachi 3 then shall the sons of Levi offer an acceptable sacrifice to the Lord Se Malichi 3 Chap. 3&4 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of Silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord 

It will be necessary here to make a few observations on the doctrine, set forth in the above quotation, As it is generally supposed that Sacrifice was entirely done away when the great sacrife was offered up — and that there will be no necessity for the ordinance of Sacrifice in future, but those who assert this, are certainly not aquainted with the duties, privileges and authority of the priesthood, or with the prophets The offering of Sacrifice has ever been connected and forms a part of the duties of the priesthood.  It began with the prieshood and will be continued untill after the coming of Christ from generation to generation— We freequently have mention made of the offering of Sacrifice by the servants of the most high in antient days prior to the law of moses, See which ordinances will be continued when the priesthood is restored with all its authority power and blessings. Elijah was the last Prophet that held the keys of this priesthood, and who will, before the last dispensation, restore the Authority and delive[r] the keys of this priesthood in order that all the ordinan[c]es may be attended to in righteousness. ​It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing but the sons of Levi were too predjudi[ced]​

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, pp. 8-9, The Joseph Smith Papers.

All Priesthood Ordinances in Previous Dispensations Will Be Present in the Last Dispensation — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

The next great grand patriarch who held the Keys of the priesthood was Lamech See Gen 5 Chap 28 & 29 verses — And Lamech lived 182 years and begat a Son and he called his name Noah saying this same shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands because of the ground which the Lord has curst. “The priesthood continued from Lamech to Noah Gen 6 Chap 13 verse. And God said unto Noah the end of all flesh is before me, for the earth is filled with violence through them, and behold I will destroy them with the earth,” thus we behold the Keys of this priesthood consisted in obtaining the voice of Jehovah that he talked with him in a familiar and friendly manner, that he continued to him the Keys, the Covenants, the power and the glory with which he blessed Adam at the beginning and the offring of Sacrifice which also shall be continued at the last time, for all the ordinances and duties that ever have been required by the priesthood under the direction and commandments of the Almighty in the last dispensation at the end thereof in any of the dispensations, shall all be had in the last dispensation.

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, p. 8, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Ordinances Must Be Kept in Way God Appoints or Priesthood Used Turns Into Cursing Instead of Blessing — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

The power, glory, and blessings of the priesthood could not continue with those who received ordination only as their righteousness continued, for Cain also being authorized to offer sacrifice but not offering it in righteousness, therefore he was cursed. It signifies then, that the ordinances must be kept in the very way God has appointed, otherwise their priesthood will prove a cursing instead of a blessing. If Cain had fulfilled the law of righteousness as did Enoch he could have walked with God all the days of his life and never failed of a blessing.

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, p. 5, The Joseph Smith Papers.s.

Adam Received Commandments, Instructions, Revelations, Ordinances, and Authority from God — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

In the begining God called Adam by his own voice See Genesis 3 Chap 9 & 10 verses. And the Lord called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou, and he said I heard thy voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and hid myself. Adam received commandments and instruction from God. this was the order from the begining: that he received revelations, Commandments, and ordinances at the begining is beyond the power of controversy, else, how did they begin to to offer Sacrifices to God in an acceptable manner? And if they offered sacrifices they must be authorized by ordination.

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, pp. 3-4, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Adam, Under the Direction of Christ, Reveals Ordinances in Each Dispensation — Robert B. Thompson (October 5, 1840)

And again, God purposed in himself that there should not be an eternal fulness until every dispensation should be fulfilled and gathered together in one and that all things whatsoever that should be gathered together in one in those dispensations unto the same fulness and eternal glory should be in Christ Jesus, therefore he set the ordinances to be the same for Ever and ever and set Adam to watch over them to reveal them from heaven to man or to send Angels to reveal them 8 Heb 1 Chap. 16 verse. Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs of Salvation. These angels are under the direction of Michael or Adam who acts under the direction of Christ.

From the above quotation we learn that Paul perfectly understood the purpose of God in relation to his connexion with man, and that glorious and perfect order which he established in himself whereby he sent forth power revelations and glory. God will not acknowledge that which he has not called, ordained, and chosen.

Instruction on Priesthood, circa 5 October 1840, pp. 2-3, The Joseph Smith Papers.

Being Born Again Comes by the Spirit of God through Ordinances ( circa June 26 & August 4, 1839)

All Ordinances Required for a Fullness of Salvation — Wilford Woodruff (January 21, 1844)

The question is freequently asked can we not be saved without going through with all thes ordinances &c I would answer No not the fulness of salvation, Jesus said their was many mansions in his fathers house & he would go & prepare a place for them. House here named should have been translated [kingdom] & any person who is exhalted to the highest mansion has to abide a celestial law & the whole law to, But their has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this generation it has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corn dodger for a wedge & a pumpkin for a beetle; Even the Saints are slow to understand I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints prepared to recieve the things of God, but we freequently see some of them after suffering all they have for the work of God will fly to peaces like glass as soon as any thing comes that is contrary to their traditions, they cannot stand the fire at all, How many will be able to abide a celestial law & go through & recieve their exhaltation I am unable to say but many are called & few are chosen

Discourse, 21 January 1844, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff, p. 183, The Joseph Smith Papers; brackets in original.