Prophets First Witnesses Then Judges

After speaking of authorities in the church or kingdom of God, he observed that apostles in the primitive age of christianity were first made witnesses to all the nations of the earth. They were afterwards made judges of that same people. Hence the saying of the Apostles know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? that is that generation or people to whom they were sent as witnesses. (See 1st Corinth., 6 chap. 2, 3, verses.) Indeed they were competent to sit in judgment upon them, having had an experimental knowledge of their course of conduct and barbarous treatment towards the servants of God that were sent to establish peace among them. Many of whom they did not only reject, but tortured and slew them in a cruel manner. This was the fate of the Prophets and Apostles who vainly attempted to restore them from their wickedness, assuring them, to use the language of the scripture: As you mete out to others, so shall it be measured to you again. (Dedication of the Seventies Hall. Thursday December 26th, A. D. 1844., Times and Seasons, vol. 6 (January 15, 1845-February, No. 2. Nauvoo, Illinois, Feb 4, 1845. Whole No. 110., p.796) 6.--In our examination into the truth or falsehood of many subjects, we are exceedingly liable to be deceived. Man, through the influence of sophistry, or popularity, or surrounding circumstances or tradition, or many causes, combined, may be biased in his judgment, partial in his investigations, and swayed from that searching analysis which is sometimes requisite in order to discover the truth or error of the subject, statement, or proposition, under consideration. True Faith, Orson Pratt This is the correct view to take. The Kingdom of God is a separate organization from the Church of God. (Hyrum L. Andrus, Joseph Smith and World Government, p.9)