Twice each year we have the opportunity to witness and enjoy general conference, where we are instructed by apostles and prophets. Apostles and prophets are an essential part of the foundation of the true Church. (Eph. 2:19-20).
Joseph Smith wrote the sixth Article of Faith as an explanation primarily to people who were not members of the Church. It was not intended to be a complete summary of how the Church should be organized. The Lord gave several other revelations regarding the organization of the Church, which are recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants. Sections 72, 84 and 107 are good examples.This sixth article does, however, provide a clear statement about how our current organization is the same as that originally established by the Savior.
I have prayed considerably and contemplated just what this article means to me personally. During a family home evening we considered the following question: "What is the sixth Article of Faith, and what does it mean to us?" Faced with the briefness of the statement, we found it difficult to explain. We had to spend some time breaking it down and analyzing each part of the statement. Even then I find we just touched the surface of its importance to us as Church members.
I even tried a similar experiment with the high council in our stake and received a similar response. Some could repeat the article, but the discussion of what its implications were was limited. I concluded that most of us, even those actively involved in Church government, take this article (and perhaps all of the Articles of Faith) for granted. We do not seem to appreciate the Lord's original purpose in writing these statements.
While researching this subject, I found two statements by apostles who wrote dissertations on this article. Elder James E. Talmage states: "In the dispensation of the meridian of time Jesus Christ established His Church upon the earth, appointing therein the officers necessary for the carrying out of the Father's purposes. Every person so appointed was divinely commissioned with authority to officiate in the ordinances of his calling; and, after Christ's ascension, the same organization was continued, those who had received authority ordaining others to the various offices in the priesthood. In this way were given unto the Church, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, high priests, seventies, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons.
"The existence of these officers, and particularly their operation with accompaniments of divine assistance and power, may be taken as a distinguishing characteristic of the Church in any age of the world - a crucial test, whereby the validity or falsity of any claim to divine authority may be determined." (The Articles of Faith, p. 198.)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: "Our avowed belief in `the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church' means that we have the same keys, the same priesthood, and the same priesthood offices as were had in the meridian of time. . . . Paul promised that apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers would remain in the true Church until the millennial day when there was a `unity of faith.' (Eph. 4:11-13)." (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 348.) The same message is found in 1 Corinthians 12:28.
These apostles have summed up the meaning of the sixth Article of Faith. It is a measure whereby we may judge the effectiveness of a church's organization and compare it to the Church as it was organized in Christ's time.
In Moroni we read, "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing." (Moroni 9:9.)
My testimony of this article of faith is strengthened by these scriptures and the knowledge that God does not change. That He loves His children today as in former times. If we will be obedient, He will bless us and provide us with right-teous leadership. One of these great blessings is that we enjoy the company of a living prophet. I love the latter-day prophets of the Church. They are great evidence of God's love for us. If we will follow them, we will be blessed forever.
The Prophet Joseph Smith, while speaking of the "spirit of revelation" identified the office of evangelist as that of a patriarch, and said: "Whenever the Church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a patriarch for the benefit of the Saints" (History of the Church, 3:381.)
I recall as an adult, about age 27, that I decided to get my patriarchal blessing. Why I had waited so long I do not recall, except that it didn't seem like an issue in our home while I was being raised as a child. I asked my bishop for an interview, received the necessary authorization, made an appointment with the patriarch, and then, with my wife, went to visit the patriarch, a great spiritual giant. I still recall that wonderful man, Brother Chauncey W. Burton. As he sat with me in a brief interview, prior to the blessing, I was able to feel of his spirit, and I recognized the great love he had for the Lord.