Priesthood and Church Organization
The sixth Mormon Article of Faith states, “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.” Another Article of Faith, the fifth, says, “We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.”
These two statements describe the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church) . Mormons believe that the church is led by apostles and prophets who have received authority and been set apart by the power of God to act in His name. This power and authority from God is called the priesthood. All worthy male members of the Church may receive the priesthood, if they do not lose it by sin.
The Mormon Church has a lay ministry. The leaders of congregations are not paid. Leaders in the Church are called from the general membership of the church. Leadership positions change often, and a person may be a Sunday School teacher one year, and a Bishop the next. Both men and women have opportunities to serve. These opportunities to serve are known as “callings.” Any member, male or female, may receive a calling to teach in Sunday School. Any member may also give talks to the congregation during worship services (also called Sacrament meeting).
Women may not receive the priesthood. They do, however, have their own organization called the Relief Society. Men may not serve in leadership positions within the Relief Society.
The Relief Society was founded by the Prophet Joseph
Smith on March 17, 1842, in Nauvoo, Illinois. In the days of
its founding, the Relief Society had two main purposes: to
provide relief for the poor and needy and to save souls. The
organization continues today, staying true to those original
guiding principles. Throughout the world, sisters in the
Relief Society work with priesthood holders to carry out the
mission of the Church. (True to the Faith, Relief Society. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2004. 130.)
The priesthood–the power of God delegated to man–consists of two general kinds. The first is the Aaronic (including the Levitical) Priesthood. This “lesser” priesthood holds the
key of the ministering of angels and the preparatory gospel;
Which gospel is the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments. (Doctrine and Covenants 84:26-27).
Deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop are offices within the Aaronic Priesthood. Many young men are given the Aaronic priesthood and ordained to the office of a deacon when they are twelve years old, after they are interviewed (usually by the Bishop of the congregation) and found worthy. Deacons are the ones to pass the sacrament to the congregation during Sunday worship services. Deacons may become teachers (who prepare the sacrament, among other duties) at fourteen, after another worthiness interview. At sixteen, they may become priests, if worthy. Priests are able to bless the sacrament and have the authority to baptize, as well as ordain others to be deacons, teachers, and priests.
The highest office in the Aaronic Priesthood is bishop. Only one bishop is called for each congregation (known as a “ward”). A bishop must also hold the Melchizedek Priesthood (as well as the Aaronic). The Bishop presides over the entire ward, and the Aaronic Priesthood in the ward.
The Aaronic Priesthood is “an appendage to the greater,
or the Melchizedek Priesthood” (D&C 107:14). It is often
called the preparatory priesthood. As a priesthood holder
serves in the Aaronic Priesthood, he prepares to receive the
Melchizedek Priesthood, to receive the blessings of the temple,
to serve a full-time mission, to be a loving husband and
father, and to continue in lifelong service to the Lord. (True to the Faith, Aaronic Priesthood. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2004. 4.)
The Melchizedek priesthood is the higher priesthood. Anyone who possesses it is able to hold any priesthood calling in the Church if, of course, they are found worthy and ordained to that calling by the laying on of hands. Offices in the Melchizedek Priesthood are elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy, and apostle. When a young man in the Church turns eighteen or nineteen, he is prepared to be ordained to the office of an elder. An elder is able to perform any ordinance in the Aaronic priesthood, ordain other elders, give new members the gift of the Holy Ghost, and give blessings of healing and comfort, among many other things. >The Melchizedek priesthood is the higher priesthood. Anyone who possesses it is able to hold any priesthood calling in the Church if, of course, they are found worthy and ordained to that calling by the laying on of hands. Offices in the Melchizedek Priesthood are elder, high priest, patriarch, seventy, and apostle. When a young man in the Church turns eighteen or nineteen, he is prepared to be ordained to the office of an elder. An elder is able to perform any ordinance in the Aaronic priesthood, ordain other elders, give new members the gift of the Holy Ghost, and give blessings of healing and comfort, among many other things. The apostles, in Mormonism, act as special witnesses of Christ that proclaim their testimony of Him to the world. As in the original Church, there are twelve apostles.
Thomas S. Monson is the President of the Church today. He has all the keys of the priesthood, Aaronic and Melchizedek, and is sustained by a unanimous vote of the entire church membership as prophet, seer, and revelator. President Monson and his two counselors are called, together, the First Presidency. This First Presidency is the Lord’s mouthpiece to speak to the Church and the Church’s ultimate authority.
