High priest (Latter Day Saints)
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In most denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, a high priest is an office of the priesthood within the Melchizedek priesthood. High priests are typically more experienced leaders within the priesthood. The term derives in part from the Epistle to the Hebrews, which describes Jesus as "a high priest after the order of Melchizedek" (5:10; see also 6:20). Movement founder Joseph Smith ordained the first high priests on June 3, 1831.[1]
High priests are organized into quorums. The first president of a high priests quorum of the church was Smith's younger brother, Don Carlos Smith.
High priests in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
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In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), high priests are primarily responsible for the spiritual welfare of the members and the administration of local church units called wards and stakes.
Melchizedek priesthood holders in the church are ordained high priests when they become a member of a
Like other priesthood offices in the LDS Church, high priests are organized into
In a district, there is no high priests quorum.
There are a number of positions in the LDS Church which may only be filled by a high priest. Among these are the stake president and his counselors, members of a stake high council, mission president, and member of a temple presidency. A bishop must be a high priest (unless he has a right-by-lineage to the calling). A bishop's counselors are also high priests, and are ordained as such prior to being set apart in the bishopric. Any high priest may become a member of the First Presidency, but in recent practice most members of the First Presidency have been apostles.[5]
Since 1995, individuals ordained to the office of seventy are ordained first to the office of high priest.
See also
References
- ^ High priest Archived 2014-07-06 at the Wayback Machine, The Joseph Smith Papers (accessed December 28, 2011).
- ^ Handbook 1: Stake Presidents and Bishops(Salt Lake City, Utah: LDS Church, 2010) § 16.
- ^ http://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org (2018-03-31). "Changes Announced to Church's Adult Priesthood Quorums". newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
{{cite web}}: External link in|last= - ^ "LDS Church announces they will discontinue high priests groups". April 2018.
- ^ The last man to serve as a counselor in the First Presidency without first being ordained an apostle was J. Reuben Clark, though he was ordained an apostle during his tenure in the First Presidency in order to establish his apostolic seniority and thus determine his order of succession to the presidency of the church.
External links
- High Priest, Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Macmillan, 1992.
- A Study of the History of the Office of High Priest, Lawson, John D., Masters Thesis Brigham Young University, 2006.
Priesthood callings | |
|---|---|
| Priesthood quorums and bodies | |
| Melchizedek priesthood | |
| Aaronic priesthood | |
| Defunct | |
