Legally And Lawfully

“Whenever men can find out the will of God and find an administrator legally authorized from God, there is the kingdom of God; but where these are not, the kingdom of God is not.  All the ordinances, systems, and administrations on the earth are of no use to the children of men, unless they are ordained and authorized of God; for nothing will save a man but a legal administrator; for none others will be acknowledged either by God or angels.” 
~ TPJS pg. 274 

 Oh how often this is used as an excuse for priestcraft! 

"Verily, if a man be called of my Father, as was Aaron, by mine own voice, and by the voice of him that sent me, and I have endowed him with the keys of the power of this priesthood, if he do anything in my name, and according to my law and by my word, he will not commit sin, and I will justify him."

Notice that it does not say that he can now do anything that he wants and he will not commit sin, but the Lord says that if the priesthood holder does anything “in my name, and according to my law and by my word,” then he will be justified.  Being a legal administrator does not give the priesthood holder the right to circumvent the Law of God. 

Follow priesthood lineages carefully, for all things must be done legally and lawfully. 

Unfortunately there have been several things that have interrupted proper priesthood ordinations, meaning, as John Taylor prophesied, there are many who think they have the priesthood, but really do not.  So we must be vigilant in watching from what priesthood lines that we request ordination and/or blessings.  God is a God of order, and all things must be done properly, and that means both legally and lawfully. 

It is often that we find people honestly seeking to do the will of God, and they are upright and honourable people, striving with all their hearts to follow the rules, the law that the Lord has set out, but they do things without the proper priesthood, and/or having the priesthood properly conferred upon them, which means that the ordinances that they performed are illegal and will not be recognized, and will have to be done again properly if the circumstances warrant it. 

Everything must be done both legally and lawfully. 

Then there are others who try to circumvent the law, to bend the rules that the Lord has set out, and by doing so are not following the law of God, and yet still think that just because they do it legally, that the Lord will accept it.  But this is vain.  All things done before the Lord must be done both legally and lawfully.  That is the ONLY way.  By the Lord’s own words, His way is the ONLY way that He will accept. 

Just because a person has legal right to perform priesthood ordinances does not mean that they can break the law that God gave to govern that ordinance.  Our Father gives the highest priesthood to those whom He can trust implicitly. 

"5. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

...

 7. Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people." 

It is not a priesthood holder’s right to break the rules whenever he sees fit.  To do so will void the ordinance and bring an end to the priesthood authority of the officiator, as is recorded in Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

Be very wary of those who claim to have the keys who don't even keep the laws which govern those keys. 

All things must be done both legally and lawfully. 

.