This principle also is practiced in the government of priesthood quorums as set forth in one revelation on priesthood:
And every decision made by
either of these quorums must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is,
every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make
their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other–a majority may
form a quorum when circumstances render it impossible to be otherwise–Unless
this be the case, their decisions are not entitled to the same blessings which
the decisions of a quorum of three presidents were anciently, who were ordained
after the order of Melchizedek, and were righteous and holy men (D&C
107:27-29)
So in addition to the general membership of the Church, the decisions of quorums (The First Presidency, the twelve and the Seventy are specifically mentioned)
are to be preferably unanimous, but certainty by
no less than a majority of members in each respective quorum to be considered valid.
“And in case that any decision
of these quorums is made in unrighteousness, it may be brought before a general
assembly of the several quorums, which constitute the spiritual authorities of
the Church; otherwise there can be no appeal from their decision (D&C
107:32).
And in such a case the same principles would apply.
And in such a case the same principles would apply.
This principle outlined in section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants can also be found in another revelation given to Joseph Smith on January 12, 1838, in Kirtland, Ohio among the records of the Church. This revelation, while not a part of the standard works today, provides good historical evidence for this principle of common consent as well:
Thus saith the Lord, Let the
first Presidency of my Church, be held in full fellowship in Zion and all her
stakes, until they shall be found transgressors, by such an high Council as is
named in the above alluded section, in Zion, by three witnesses standing
against each member of said Presidency, and these witnesses shall be of long
and faithful standing, and such also as cannot [p. 51] be impeached by other
witnesses before such Council, and when a decision is had by such an Council in
Zion, it shall only be for Zion, it shall not answer for her stakes, but if
such a decision be acknowledged by the Council of her stakes, then it shall
answer for her stakes, But if it is not acknowledged by the stakes, then such
stake may have the privilege of hearing for themselves or if such decision
shall be acknowledged by a majority of the stakes, then it shall answer for all
her stakes
And again, The presidency of my
Church, may be tried by the voice of the whole body of the Church in Zion, and
the voice of a majority of all her stakes
And again Except a majority is
had by the voice of the Church of Zion and a majority of all her stakes, The
Charges will be considered not sustained and in order to sustain such Charge or
Charges, before such Church of Zion or her stakes, such witnesses must be had
as is named above, that is the witnesses to each President, who are of long and
faithful standing, that cannot be impeached by other witnesses before the
Church of Zion, or her stakes, And all this saith the Lord because of wicked
and aspiring men, Let all your doings be in meekness and in humility before me
even so Amen.
[Revelation given in the presence of J. Smith Jr., S. Rigdon, Vinson Knight and Geo. W. Robinson, 12 January, 1838 at the French farm in Kirtland, Geauga County, Ohio, in Dean C. Jesse, Ronald K. Esplin and Richard Lyman Bushman, eds., The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals (Salt Lake City: Church Historians Press, 2008) 1:282-83. Emphasis added. I have slightly corrected spelling].
Here again we see the principle of common consent applied to a potential trial of Church leaders in Zion (Missouri) or in the stakes of Zion wherever they may be. In either case a majority votes is required to sustain the charge were such an event to occur.
In addition to the above, it appears that this principle of the Church being governed by the law of common consent, which required at least a majority vote was taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith and was remembered by many of the early Saints who heard him do so (The emphasis in each of these references in mine).
Orson Hyde
Joseph Smith said, some know
that this work is of God, and some may not know, but if they believe the
testimony of those who do know and follow on they will go into the Celestial kingdom.
He also said, always follow the majority
of the church, for they will never go wrong. It is not by reason and
philosophy, which are after the world, that will regulate His church, but God
will regulate it by the power of the Holy Ghost through his representative on
the earth. If any people on the earth have reason to be faithful to god in all
things it is the people of the Latter-day Saints, who have in their midst His
living oracles (Orson Hyde, 11 September, 1867, in Deseret News, 25 September, 1867. Emphasis added).
[It] reminds me of the words of
Joseph the Prophet, when he said, “Brethren, remember that the majority of this people will never go astray; and as long as
you keep with the majority you are
sure to enter the celestial kingdom” (Orson Hyde, 5 May 1870, JD 13:367. Emphasis added).
Edward Stevenson
The writer [Edward Stevenson]
heard the Prophet say on the stand at the east end of the Nauvoo Temple, that
the time was coming, when there would be many dissensions from the Church.
“But,” said he, “I now see the time which I have long desired to see. Let me go
where I may, the Gospel tree is planted never more to be rooted up, for there
are those present who are prepared to carry on the Gospel, whatever may become
of me.” He also said: “I will give you a key by which you may never be
deceived, if you will observe these facts: Where the true church is, there will
also be a majority of the saints, and the records and history of the Church
also” (Andrew Jenson and Edward Stevenson, Infancy
of the Church, [1889], 5).
Ezra T. Clark
I heard the Prophet Joseph say
he would give the Saints a key whereby they would never be led away or
deceived, and that was: the Lord would never suffer the majority of this people
to be led away or deceived by impostors, nor would he allow the records of this
church to fall into the hands of the enemy (Ezra T. Clark, I.E. 5 [January 1902]: 202).
William G. Nelson
I will give you a key that will
never rust. If you will stay with the majority of the twelve apostles, and the
records of the church, you will never be led astray (William G. Nelson
recollection, YWJ 17 [December 1906]:
543).
My brother William and I were
baptized into the Church by the Prophet Joseph during the summer of 1842. I
well remember many of the sayings of the Prophet which are on record in the
Church. But one I will mention here. He said: “I will give you a key that will
never rust; if you will stay with the majority of the twelve Apostles, and the
records of the Church, you will never be led astray (“William Goforth Nelson,”
Mormon Biography File Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah).
Lyman O. Littlefield
Once in Nauvoo I heard the
Prophet declare to the people how they might always know where to find the true Church. He gave it as a guide
for them ever afterwards, and said they day would come when they would need it.
He said: “Factions and parties will arise out of this Church, and apostates
will lead away many. But in the midst of all this, keep with the majority, for the true leaders of God’s people will
always be able to have a majority, and the records of the Church will be with
them. Keep with the majority, for where the carcass is, there will the eagles
be gathered together” (Lyman O. Littlefield, Millennial Star 45/25 [18 June, 1883]: 389. Emphasis added).
Mosiah Hancock
Brother Joseph gave us to
understand that it was our duty to follow the Twelve. The majority of this people will be right; but when you see people
thirsting for the blood of the Saints, you may know they are not right
(Autobiography of Mosiah Hancock, 28. Emphasis added).
Brigham Young
Among a great many other things
he said, and he had a foreboding that he would be betrayed into the hands of
his enemies. “I will give you a key to govern your actions if I should be slain
by my enemies. If ever this transpires, some persons will stand forth who honor
and hold the keys of the holy priesthood, and the main body of the people will follow that individual. You may
depend upon this.” many of your are witnesses with regard to the truth of this
saying (Brigham Young Address, 7 October 1863, HDC, Ms d 1234 Box 49, folder11.
Emphasis added).
Joseph Smith said that where the
keys of the Kingdom were, there would be the place to gather. Wherever the
Twelve and Council are, there will the keys be, and the place of gathering
(Brigham Young, 3 May, 1846, Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 149-52)
W. W. Phelps
This principle also seems to have been known to Oliver Cowdery as reported by additional witnesses of his public testimony when he returned to the Church in 1848.
This Gospel is the “stone taken
from the mountain without hands.” John the Baptist, holding the keys of the
Aaronic Priesthood; Peter, James, and John, holding the keys of the Melchisedek
Priesthood, have ministered for those who shall be heirs of salvation, and with
these administrations ordained men to the same Priesthoods. These Priesthoods, with their authority, are
now, and must continue to be, in the body of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Blessed is the Elder who received the same, and thrice
blessed and holy is he who shall endure to the end (Oliver Cowdery to Samuel W.
Richards, 13 January 1849, IE 2
[December 1898]: 95-96. Emphasis added).
W. W. Phelps
“It takes a majority of any
quorum, according to the order of God, as declared in the Doctrine &
Covenants, which I hold in my hand, and the common consent of the whole church,
to make any act valid; every ordination, therefore made by Sidney Rigdon, he
being one only out of a quorum of three, even if he had not otherwise
transgressed is illegal” (Trial of Sidney Rigdon, Times & Seasons 5/18 [1 October, 1844]: 663).
This principle also seems to have been known to Oliver Cowdery as reported by additional witnesses of his public testimony when he returned to the Church in 1848.
Oliver Cowdery
Brother Hyde has just said that it was all important that we keep in
the true channel in order to avoid the sand bars. This is true. The channel is
here. The priesthood is here. I was present with Joseph when a holy angel
from God came down from heaven and conferred, or restored, the Aaronic
Priesthood and said at the same time that it should remain upon the earth while
the earth stands. I was also present with Joseph when the Melchizedek
Priesthood was conferred by the holy angels of God which we then confirmed on
each other by the will and commandment of God. This Priesthood is also to
remain upon the earth until the last remnant of time (Oliver Cowdery, Reuben
Miller Journal, 21 October, 1848. Emphasis added).
Oliver Cowdery, who had just
arrived from Wisconsin with his family, on being invited, addressed the
meeting. He bore testimony in the most positive terms of the truth of the Book
of Mormon, the restoration of the priesthood to the earth, and the mission of
Joseph Smith as the prophet of the last days. And told the people if they
wanted to follow the right path, to keep
in the main channel of the stream–where the body of the Church goes, there is
the authority; and all these lo here’s and lo there’s, have no authority.
But this people have the holy priesthood, “for the angel said unto Joseph
Smith, Jr., in my hearing, that this priesthood shall remain on earth unto the
end” (George A. Smith to Orson Pratt, Council Bluffs, Iowa, 20 October 1848, MS 11 [1849]: 14. Emphasis added).
O. Cowdery is dead. His last
testimony will never be forgotten by many. He said to his friend, [there] was
no salvation but in the valley and through the priesthood there (Phineas Young
to Brigham Young, Kanesville, 25 April 1850).
Oliver Cowdery said to the
people, when he came to Pottawotamie and requested to be restored to the
Church, “Follow the Twelve: they are the men with whom the priesthood rests. If you follow the main channel of the
stream, you will go right; but if you run into a bayou, you will find
yourself among snags” (George A. Smith, 10 January 1858, JD 7:117. Emphasis added).
Here it is important to observe that the Saints were never taught to follow the majority of the world or the wicked, but to follow the majority of the Twelve and the Saints. Again, this is consistent with the other revelations in the Scriptures about the nature of the Church in the Latter-day Days (Even the parable of the ten virgins suggests at least half of the Saints would remain wise Matthew 25:1-13). Knowing that Joseph Smith lived and died a true Prophet, and knowing that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true, entails an understanding of where the Church stands in the Bridegroom's timeline.
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