Logistics of Church Rites, Ordinances, and Procedures

The words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them, and he called them by name, saying:

“Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.”

Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost.

The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers— After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said:

“In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest, (or, if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.”

And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them.

The manner of their elders and priests administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church; and they administered it according to the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be true; and the elder or priest did minister it—And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:

“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee,
in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ,
To bless and sanctify this bread
to the souls of all those who partake of it,
That they may eat in remembrance
of the body of thy Son,
and witness unto thee,
O God, the Eternal Father,
That they are willing to
take upon them the name of thy Son,
and always remember him,
and keep his commandments
which he hath given them,
That they may always have his Spirit to be with them.
Amen.”

The manner of administering the wine—

Behold, they took the cup, and said:

“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee,
in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ,
To bless and sanctify this wine
to the souls of all those who drink of it;
That they may do it in remembrance
of the blood of thy Son,
which was shed for them;
That they may witness unto thee,
O God, the Eternal Father,
That they do always remember him,
that they may have his Spirit to be with them.
Amen.”

And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it.

Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.

And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.

And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls. And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.

And they were strict to observe that there should be no iniquity among them; and whoso was found to commit iniquity, and three witnesses of the church did condemn them before the elders, and if they repented not, and confessed not, their names were blotted out, and they were not numbered among the people of Christ. But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.

And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done.