Gospel topic
Aaron: Literal Descendant
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Literal Descendant Of Aaron As Presiding Bishop
President Joseph Fielding Smith
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Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles As I read the scriptures, I tremble for those who do not live righteously and who do not have a record of conforming with God's laws. Even if I were a literal descendant of Aaron, lived a righteous life, and held an inherited right to the office of the bishopric, there are additional standards to be met: "And a literal descendant of Aaron, also, must be designated by this Presidency [referring to the First Presidency], and found worthy, and anointed, and ordained under the hands of this Presidency, otherwise they are not legally authorized to officiate in their priesthood. "But, by virtue of the decree concerning their right of the priesthood descending from father to son, they may claim their anointing if at any time they can prove their lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under the hands of the above named Presidency" D&C 68:20-21 I emphasize that even the Presiding Bishop in such a case, in addition to a life of righteousness and a claim to be a descendant of Aaron, must prove his lineage, and this must be done from the records.
Elder Theodore M. Burton
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I remember a man, a big, heavyset, rough-looking fellow, dressed in a working garb, came into my office, and after a few pleasantries and a little introduction, he said to me as though to startle me, “I’m a literal descendant of Aaron.” Well, I said, “I have always been curious to see a literal descendant of Aaron.” And when he saw that I wasn’t too much impressed, he said, “And I have come to claim my right to be the Presiding Bishop of the Church.” “Well, now,” I said, “that is very well, but there is just one little matter that you have overlooked.” And he wanted to know what that was. And then I read to him from the revelations [that] a literal descendant of Aaron may serve without counselors, if called by the President of the Church and ordained to that office (see D&C 68:20; 107:76). “Now you just go back home and wait until the President of the Church sends for you, and then if he ever does send for you, you won’t have to have counselors to be the Presiding Bishop of the Church.” Well, he had lost that vital thing, which, if we understand, would keep us from being led astray. He failed to understand that only through that one man who is His mouthpiece on earth will the Lord reveal instructions for His church. Teachings of
President Harold B. Lee
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