D&C 107

"For he will give unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 98:12)

As we read the scriptures, we must understand that doctrine and truths are revealed "line upon line, precept upon precept" for the Lord taught, "...ye shall observe to do as I have commanded concerning your teaching, until the fulness of my scriptures is given..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 42:15)

It becomes obvious that when an individual or religious sect focuses on a single scripture or verse of scripture as their sole basis of doctrine without considering other revealed doctrine, they may seriously error in their beliefs.

I feel the revelation, known as the 107th section, may be a "line upon line, precept upon precept" type revelation on the doctrine of church and priesthood organization. As one studies the scriptures, he must realize that there were priesthood keys that were yet to be restored in the Kirtland Temple. (see Section 110)

My thoughts today build a little on yesterday's thoughts regarding my suggestion of two types of priesthood keys - that being related to keys related to presiding or presidency and those related to any member in the order of the Melchizedek priesthood. In the this revelation the Prophet is instructed in the organization of three seperate quorums - "a quorum of the Presidency of the Church", a quorum of "twelve traveling councilors...called to be the Twelve Apostles", and a quorum of "Seventy...called to preach the gospel".

The Lord instructs "...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" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:27) For a unanimous decision to take place, the decision cannot be their own but that of the Spirit for the Lord explained -

"The decisions of these quorums... are to be made in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and long suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity;
31 Because the promise is, if these things abound in them they shall not be unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:30 - 31)

He states that three of these quorums are "equal in authority". He later states that "The standing high councils, at the stakes of Zion, form a quorum equal in authority in the affairs of the church, in all their decisions, to the quorum of the presidency, or to the traveling high council." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:36)

Authority then must mean that they are all High Priests and because of that ordination and being thus "set apart" have authority to administrative decisions. But I found it interesting that the Lord did not state they were equal in "power". Of the quorum of "twelve traveling councilors...called to be the Twelve Apostles"..."they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:24)

My thoughts this morning were that the word "power" as revealed by the Lord related to "keys"or the presiding type keys I blogged about yesterday. I went to the dictionary for definitions of "power". There are many definitions for the word "power", but stood out to me me was definitions such as "command", "the right to govern", "the faculty of producing or making a change", and so forth. It becomes apparent that these two quorums would be the quorums that would hold the all the keys of this dispensation.

And then the Lord reveals, though equal in authority, the hiearchy of things with -

"The Twelve are a Traveling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the Church" (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:33)

"The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council..." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 107:34)

Though some may be somewhat confused as they read the 107th section, as the Lord continues to reveal "line upon line, precept upon precept", the doctrines of Priesthood organization become more clear.