TWENTY PRIESTHOOD LAWS AND EVIDENCES, Ch 8 P 1 of The Church and the Priesthood

Why was it that the Lord did not restore the Gospel and Priesthood to one of the many churches already in existence? The answer is probably because He knew the ministers and their congregations would not accept them. This is evidenced by the fact that after Joseph Smith established the Priesthood with its doctrines and ordinances, other churches combined to oppose him and the restored Gospel. However, preserving and maintaining these Priesthood laws and ordinances have proved to be just as difficult as restoring them. When the U.S. Constitution was originally adopted, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin what they had given to the people. He responded, “A Republic–if you can keep it!” Undoubtedly the Prophet Joseph Smith felt the same–that he had given the Saints the fullness of the gospel and the authority of the Priesthood, but could they keep it? A church should be subordinate to Priesthood authority, but unfortunately churches have a tendency to expect the Priesthood to function only within their framework. The [110] important question is, “Can men within the Church make significant changes in Priesthood laws and ordinances and still possess the Priesthood?