The Church and its Plan of Organization
Plan of Government in the Restored Church
Orders and Offices in the Priesthood -The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes two orders of Priesthood, the lesser called the Aaronic, the greater known as the Melchizedek order.
The Aaronic Priesthood is named after Aaron, who was given to Moses as his mouthpiece, to act under his direction in the carrying out of God’s purposes respecting Israel. For this reason it is sometimes called the Lesser Priesthood; but though lesser, it is neither small nor insignificant. While Israel journeyed in the wilderness, Aaron and his sons were called by prophecy and set apart for the duties of the priest’s office.
At a later period the Lord chose the tribe of Levi to assist Aaron in the priestly functions, the special duties of the Levites being to keep the instruments and attend to the service of the tabernacle. The Levites were to take the place of the firstborn throughout the tribes, whom the Lord had claimed for His service from the time of the last dread plague in Egypt whereby the firstborn in every Egyptian house was slain while the eldest in every Israelitish house was hallowed and spared. The commission thus given to the Levites is sometimes called the Levitical Priesthood; it is to be regarded as an appendage to the Priesthood of Aaron, not comprising the highest priestly powers. The Aaronic Priesthood, as restored to the earth in this dispensation, includes the Levitical order. The Aaronic Priesthood holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and the authority to attend to the outward ordinances, the letter of the Gospel; it comprises the offices of deacon, teacher, and priest, with the bishopric holding the keys of presidency.
The Melchizedek Priesthood is named after the king of Salem, a great High Priest before whose day it was known as "the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the Church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek." This Priesthood holds the right of presidency in all the offices of the Church; its special functions lie in the administration of spiritual things, comprising the keys of all spiritual blessings of the Church, the right "to have the heavens opened unto them [the bearers of this Priesthood], to commune with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant." The special offices of the Melchizedek Priesthood are those of apostle, patriarch or evangelist, high priest, seventy, and elder. Revelation from God has defined the duties associated with each of these callings; and the same high authority has directed the establishment of presiding officers appointed from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two Priesthoods.
Special Duties in the Priesthood-The office of Deacon is the first or lowest in the Aaronic Priesthood. The duties of this calling are primarily of a temporal nature, pertaining to the care of houses of worship, the comfort of the worshipers, and ministration to the members of the Church as the bishop may direct. In all things, however, the deacon may be called to assist the teacher in his labors. Twelve deacons form a quorum; such a body is to be presided over by a president and counselors selected from among their number.
Teachers are local officers, whose function it is to mingle with the saints, exhorting them to their duties, and strengthening the Church by their constant ministry; they are to see that there is no iniquity in the Church; that the members do not cherish ill feelings toward one another, but observe the law of God respecting Church duties. They may take the lead of meetings when no priest or higher officer is present. Both teachers and deacons may preach the word of God when properly directed so to do; but they have not the power to independently officiate in any spiritual ordinances, such as baptizing, administering the sacrament, or laying on of hands. Twenty-four teachers constitute a quorum, including a president and two counselors.
Priests are appointed to preach, teach, expound the scripture, to baptize, to administer the sacrament, to visit the homes of the members, exhorting them to diligence. When properly directed, the priest may ordain deacons, teachers, and other priests; and he may be called upon to assist the elder in his work. A quorum of priests comprises forty-eight members, and is under the personal presidency of a bishop.
Elders are empowered to officiate in any or all duties connected with lower callings in the Priesthood; and in addition, they may ordain other elders, confirm as members of the Church candidates who have been properly baptized, and confer upon them the Holy Ghost. Elders have authority to bless children in the Church, and to take charge of meetings, conducting the same as they are led by the Holy Ghost. The elder may officiate in the stead of the high priest when the latter is not present. Ninety-six elders form a quorum; three of these constitute the presidency of the body.
Seventies are primarily traveling elders, especially ordained to promulgate the Gospel among the nations of the earth, "unto the Gentiles first, and also unto the Jews." They are to act under the direction of the apostles in this specific labor. A full quorum comprises seventy members, including seven presidents.
High Priests are ordained with power to officiate, when set apart or otherwise authoritatively directed, in all the ordinances and blessings of the Church. They may travel as do the seventies, carrying the Gospel to the nations; but they are not especially charged with this duty; their particular calling being that of standing presidency and service. The high priests of any stake of the Church may be organized into a quorum, and this without limit as to number; over such a quorum, three of the members preside as president and counselors.
Patriarchs or Evangelists are charged with the duty of blessing the members of the Church; of course they have authority to officiate also in other ordinances. There is one "Patriarch to the Church," known officially as the Presiding Patriarch, with general jurisdiction throughout the whole organization; he holds the keys of the patriarchal office, and unto him the promise is given "that whoever he blesses shall be blessed, and whoever he curses shall be cursed, that whatsoever he shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever he shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Concerning the patriarchal authority the Lord has said: "The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed to whom the promises were made. This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage." But, besides this office of general patriarchal power, there are a number of local patriarchs appointed in the branches of the Church, all subject to counsel and instruction from the Presiding Patriarch as he is directed by the First Presidency or the Council of the Twelve, yet possessing the same privileges and authority within their districts as belong to the Presiding Patriarch throughout the Church. "It is the duty of the Twelve, in all large branches of the church, to ordain evangelical ministers, as they shall be designated unto them by revelation."
Apostles are called to be special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world; they are empowered to build up and organize the branches of the Church; and may officiate in any and all of the sacred ordinances. They are to travel among the saints, regulating the affairs of the Church wherever they go, but particularly where there is no complete local organization. They are authorized to ordain patriarchs and other officers in the Priesthood, as they may be directed by the Spirit of God. In all their ministry they act under the direction of the First Presidency of the Church. Twelve Apostles, duly set apart, constitute the Quorum, or Council, of the Twelve.
Presidency and Quorum Organizations-The revealed word of God has provided for the establishment of presiding officers "growing out of, or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to the several offices in these two priesthoods." In accordance with the prevailing principles of order characteristic of all His work, the Lord has directed that the bearers of the Priesthood shall be organized into quorums, the better to aid them in learning and discharging the duties of their respective callings. Some of these quorums are general in extent and authority, others are local in jurisdiction. The General Authorities of the Church, and all officers whether of general or local jurisdiction, are to be sustained in their several positions by the vote of the people over whom they are appointed to preside. Stake and ward officers are so voted upon by the local organizations, the general authorities and general officers by the Church in conference assembled. Conferences of the Church are held at semiannual intervals, while both stake and ward conferences are convened quarterly; and at these conferences the vote of the people on nominations to office is an important feature. The principle of common consent is thus observed in all the organizations of the Church.
The First Presidency constitutes the presiding quorum of the Church. By divine direction, a president is appointed from among the members of the High Priesthood to preside over the entire Church. He is known as President of the High Priesthood of the Church, or Presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church. He is called "to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the Church." His station is compared by the Lord to that of Moses of old, who stood as the mouthpiece of God unto Israel. In his exalted labors amongst the Church, the Presiding High Priest is assisted by two others holding the same Priesthood, and these three High Priests, when properly appointed and ordained and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayers of the Church, "form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church."