Priests in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Young men who reach the age of 16 are integrated into the Priests. This is also open to worthy male converts 16 and over, within a few weeks of baptism. Those who are deemed worthy and interviewed by the bishop are ordained to the office of a Priest by another Priest or a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood. A Priests Quorum can have a maximum of 48 members, so Priests Quorums are rarely split, even in the largest wards.
The president of the Priests Quorum is the Bishop, who holds the keys of the priesthood for this quorum. The Bishop typically calls a first assistant and a second assistant and a secretary from among the members of the quorum. The Bishop's assistants in the Priests Quorum are not the first and second counselors that serve in the bishopric. Generally, the first assistant acts as a de facto president of the quorum, but seeks approval from the Bishop in everything he does.
According to scripture, the duty of a Priest is to "preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament". Accordingly, Priests bless the sacrament and are permitted to perform the ordinance of baptism. They also are able to ordain Deacons, Teachers, and Priests and confer the Aaronic Priesthood upon others. However, a Priest must receive the approval of his Bishop prior to performing the ordinance of baptism or ordaining other Deacons, Teachers, or Priests. Usually, a Priest will be paired with an adult male (often their father) as a Home Teacher. They perform all of these functions under the direction of the Bishop, who holds the "priesthood keys" of this office. Priests also have all the duties and authority of a Teacher and a Deacon.
The adult president of the local Young Men Organization advises the Priests Quorum. Sometimes an assistant advisor is also called.
As the Church in the United States and Canada sponsors troops of the Boy Scouts of America and Scouts Canada programs, many Priests participate in these Scouting programs as well. The adult ward leaders of the Young Men Organization are frequently also leaders in the Scout troop, but the priesthood quorums and the Scouts are not otherwise connected.
When a Priest turns 18 years old, or graduates from high school, depending on the situation, he is integrated into the Elders Quorum. Those that are 18 years old and deemed worthy by the Bishop and Stake President will receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and become an Elder.
Priests generally spend a great amount of time preparing for their future service as a missionary. All worthy and able young men in the Church are asked to serve missions at the age of 18.
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Famous quotes containing the words priests in, priests, church, jesus, christ and/or saints:
“And I saw it was filled with graves,
And tomb-stones where flowers should be;
And Priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,
And binding with briars my joys and desires.”
—William Blake (1757–1827)
“Preach in the name of God. The learned will smile; ask the learned what they have done for their country. The priests will excommunicate you; say to the priests that you know God better than all of them together do, and that between God and His law you have no need of any intermediary. The people will understand you, and repeat with you: We believe in God the Father, who is Intelligence and Love, Creator and Teacher of Humanity. And in this saying you and the People will conquer.”
—Giuseppe Mazzini (1805–1872)
“For often at Church I’ve seen the stained high glass
Pour out the Virgin and Saints, twist and untwist
The mortal youth of Christ astride an ass.”
—Allen Tate (1899–1979)
“If Jesus, or his likeness, should now visit the earth, what church of the many which now go by his name would he enter? Or, if tempted by curiosity, he should incline to look into all, which do you think would not shut the door in his face?... It seems to me ... that as one who loved peace, taught industry, equality, union, and love, one towards another, Jesus were he alive at this day, would recommend you to come out of your churches of faith, and to gather into schools of knowledge.”
—Frances Wright (1795–1852)
“Rejoice ye pure in heart,
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
Your orient banners wave on high,
The cross of Christ your King.”
—Edward Plumptre (1821–1891)
“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”
—Bible: New Testament, Ephesians 4:11.