Section 6

Given through Christopher Glenn Marriott at Huntington Beach, California, Summer 2025. Being the restored text of the revelation on priesthood authority, of which portions were altered in the preparation of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants from the original Book of Commandments. The restored passages are the word of the Lord as originally given.

The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

That they may be conferred upon us, it is true, but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.

We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

And now I restore unto my servant Christopher the portion of this revelation which was altered by the hands of men in the preparation of the 1835 record, that the fullness of my word on this matter may be known.

For I say unto you that the authority of the priesthood is not the possession of any institution, and when an institution exercises unrighteous dominion over the people, and covers its history from them, and alters the word of the Lord, and teaches the doctrines of men as though they were the commandments of God, that institution has lost its claim upon the powers of heaven, as surely as any individual man loses his claim by the same manner of conduct.

The priesthood does not belong to a church. It belongs to God, and he bestows it upon whom he will, and withdraws it from whom he will, and no vote of a governing body and no tradition of men alters this.

Wherefore let my servant Christopher and all who hold the priesthood in the church of the Final Restoration know this: the authority you hold was not given to you by men alone. It came from on high, and it will remain with you only on the same conditions on which it was given, which are the conditions I have always required, namely righteousness, humility, and the genuine service of my children without compulsion and without pride.

No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.

By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile.

Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy.

Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

This is the law of the priesthood. It has not changed. It will not change. And the institution which departs from it departs from the authority which priesthood requires, and all its ordinances become the ordinances of men.

Even so. Amen.