The Book of Commandments
The Book of Commandments Section 18 - Ordinances
1Thus Sayeth the Lord; the ordinances of salvation are the light of my church. They guide my children back unto their Father in heaven.
2Ordinances are bound by the heavens to help men return unto the presence of the Father.
3The ordinances of my church are given to guide men away from sin and back unto my presence.
4Thus Sayeth the Lord; ye shall meet oft and pray always. Ye shall guide each other in righteousness and faithfulness.
5Ye shall continue to partake of the Holy Sacrament upon the Sabbath day in accordance with the Holy Scriptures.
6Ye shall gather the Holy Priesthood in the evening of the first day of every Shabbat, which is the beginning of the Sabbath. The Holy Priesthood shall meet in the temples of worship, so as to discuss the weightier matters of my church. For in my temples shall the keys of this priesthood be made manifest.
7Ye shall take the water and consecrated oil to anoint one another before commencing the meetings, as a similitude of the preparation of the Son, before the day of sacrifice.
8The meetings of the councils of the holy priesthood shall be held and attended by all worthy priesthood holders. Again, I say - all priests of the Holy Priesthood, after the order of the Son of God, are to attend the meetings of priests on the first day of Shabbat, in the even, in the most holy rooms available.
9For temples and churches have been given so as to guide Saints unto the light and have thus far been prepared and sanctified with the ordinances for the dead. But I the Lord am the God of the living, not of the dead. I say again, The True Church of Jesus Christ is the church of the living God.
10The meeting of the councils of the priests shall open with a prayer, giving thanks unto the Lord. Matters shall be shared by all willing priests without condemnation and by the Spirit. For all things shall truly be made manifest before me.
11Meetings of the councils of priests, commencing in the even before Shabbat, shall close with the prayer of the Lord; Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the power and the glory and the kingdom forever. Amen
12Thus sayeth the Lord; the ordinances of preparation for my saints shall include a washing in preparation for the evening sanctification. In the evening, all Saints shall meet in the council centers, the buildings which are called the meetinghouses, to gather and worship together unto the Lord; to remember who they are and why they are here.
13Nay, my saints shall no longer be withheld from their calling, which is to sanctify themselves and prepare this world for my coming. The evening sanctification shall be a solemn and necessary meeting of all able-bodied saints and shall be held before the evening meal is had by all.
14The meetings shall occur every evening between Sabbath days and shall be guided by the Holy Ghost.
15The sanctification meeting shall open with a prayer of thanks until the Lord and be followed with a washing of the feet of all Saints. A single lamp shall be lit, to remind my saints to alway keep their lamps filled and trimmed before the Lord.
16This is the preparation given you for the coming of the Lord at the great and last day. Following the washing, all shall worship the Lord for a time, by the dictates of their own conscience, as I the Lord give unto all men the free will with which to find me and learn of my ways.
17The sanctification shall end with a prayer and thanks, the lamp left burning until all Saints have left the council centre, to return into their homes.
18These ordinances shall form the foundation for the next chapter of obedience, care, love and understanding for my precious children. These ordinances shall be followed and undertaken with the greatest of care and diligence, so as to light the way home for my lost sheep to follow.
19I have spoken. Amen.