Celestial society is patriarchal in its organization. The divine patriarchal order in eternity before the creation of the earth: and the law that pertains to the celestial family was established upon the earth; and the law that pertains to the celestial family was established upon this earth in the early ages of the world. It came down from the fathers, from the beginning of time, yea, even from the beginning, or before the foundations of the earth. This family order is based upon the principles and ordinances of the Gospel by which the obedient become sons and daughters of Jesus Christ in the divine endowments that lead to eternal life.

Next to Christ, Adam presides as a father in eternal life over the righteous of the earth. Under him, each righteous man has a similar right to preside over his worthy posterity in the flesh, including those who are adopted into his family through the covenants and sealing powers of the priesthood. Having become members of the family of Christ by obeying the Gospel, the faithful must go to the House of the Lord and receive the covenants of the priesthood by which they are organized according to the law of the divine patriarchal order. Each generation of this divine system must be sealed from Adam until the latest age of time.