The Latter-day Saints affirm that the authority to act in the name of God—­the Holy Priesthood—­has been restored to earth in this dispensation and age, in accordance with the inspired predictions of earlier times.  But, it may be asked, what necessity was there for a restoration if the Priesthood had been once established upon earth?  None indeed, had it never been taken away.  A general apostasy from the primitive Church is conceded in effect by some authorities in ecclesiastical history; though few admit the entire discontinuance of priestly power, or the full suspension of authority to operate in the ordinances of the Church.  This great apostasy was foretold.  Paul warned the Saints of Thessalonica against those who claimed that the second coming of Christ was then near at hand:  “For,” said he, “that day shall not come except there come a falling away first.” (II Thess. 2:3.) “Mormonism” contends that there has been a general falling away from the Church of Christ, dating from the time immediately following the apostolic period.  We believe that the proper interpretation of history will confirm this view; and, moreover, that the inspired scriptures foretold just such a condition.[5]

[Footnote 5:  See “The Great Apostasy:  Considered in the Light of Scriptural and Secular History,” by James E. Talmage.  Published by the Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah; 176 pp.]

If the Priesthood had been once taken from the earth no human power could re-establish it; the restoration of this authority from heaven would be necessary.  The Church claims that in the present age this restoration has been effected by the personal ministrations of those who exercised the authority in earlier dispensations.  Thus, in 1829, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received the Lesser or Aaronic Priesthood under the hands of John the Baptist, who visited them as a resurrected being—­the same Baptist who by special and divine commission held the authority of that Priesthood in the dispensation of the “Meridian of Time.”  Later, the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred upon them through the personal ministrations of Peter, James, and John—­the same three who constituted the presidency of the apostolic body in the primitive Church, after the departure of the Lord Jesus Christ by whom it was founded.

That the claim is a bold one is conceded without argument.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints professes to have the Priesthood of old restored in its fulness; and, moreover, while acknowledging the right of every individual as of every sect or other organization of individuals to believe and practise according to choice in matters religious, it affirms that it is the only Church on the face of the earth possessing this authority and Priesthood; and that therefore it is The Church and the only Church of Christ upon the earth today.  It holds as absolutely indispensable to proper Church organization, the presence of the living oracles of God who shall be directed from the heavens in their earthly ministry; and these, “Mormonism” asserts, are to be found with the Church of Jesus Christ.