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"The Elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God.
The Priest's duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the Sacrament, and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties: and he may also ordain other Priests, Teachers, and Deacons; and he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no Elder present, but when there is an Elder present he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties. In all these duties the Priest is to assist the Elder if occasion requires.
The Teacher s duty is to watch over the Church always, and be with, and strengthen them, and see that there is no iniquity in the Church, neither hardness with each other; neither lying, backbiting nor evil speaking; and see that the Church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty; and he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the Elder or Priest, and is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the Church, by the Deacons, if occasion requires: but neither Teachers nor Deacons have authority to baptize, administer the Sacrament, or lay on hands; they are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ."
"Every member of the Church of Christ having children, is to bring them unto the Elders before the Church, who are to lay their hands upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, and bless them in His name."
"Any member of the Church of Christ transgressing, or being overtaken in a fault, shall be dealt with as the scriptures direct."
On Priesthood.
"There are, in the Church, two Priesthoods, namely: the Melchisedek, and the Aaronic, including the Levitical Priesthood. Why the first is called the Melchisedek Priesthood, is because Melchisedek was such a great High Priest: before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God; but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of His name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called that Priesthood after Melchisedek, or the Melchisedek Priesthood.
All other authorities, or offices in the Church, are appendages to this Priesthood; but there are two divisions, or grand heads—one is the Melchisedek Priesthood, and the other is the Aaronic, or Levitical Priesthood.
The office of an Elder comes under the Priesthood of Melchisedek. The Melchisedek Priesthood holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the Church, in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things.
