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111-456: When the Church of Christ was organized on April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery led the church in their capacity as elders . Smith established the inaugural First Presidency on March 8, 1832, with the ordinations of Jesse Gause and Sidney Rigdon as his counselors. The term "first presidency," though used at least as early as 1834, did not become standard until 1838. The presidency

222-614: A " Great Apostasy ". After Smith's death in 1844, there was a crisis of authority , with the majority of the members following Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley , but with several smaller denominations remaining in Illinois or settling in Missouri and in other states. Each of the churches that resulted from this schism considers itself to be the rightful continuation of Smith's original "Church of Christ", regardless of

333-408: A Latter Day Saint receives the priesthood is as part of a priesthood ordination ceremony. Typically, in an ordination ceremony, before a person is ordained for the first time to a particular office such as elder, deacon, teacher, or priest, the person performing the ceremony will lay their hands upon the recipient's head and in the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of his priesthood confer upon

444-692: A group of approximately 30 believers met with the intention of formally organizing the Church of Christ into a legal institution. It is uncertain whether this occurred in the home of Peter Whitmer Sr. in Fayette, New York , or whether it occurred in the log home of Joseph Smith Sr. near their property in Manchester, New York . Soon after this formal organization, small branches were formally established in Manchester, Fayette , and Colesville . Although

555-523: A legal right to the bishopric, if they are the firstborn among the sons of Aaron." In a revelation to Joseph Smith, he was promised his lineage would have the priesthood: "Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers—For ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God—Therefore your life and

666-604: A new second counselor is named. Although this is a fairly common occurrence, there are no hard and fast rules about such practices and each president is free to choose the counselors he prefers. The First Presidency is the highest leadership or priesthood quorum of the Community of Christ . Normally the First Presidency consists of the Prophet-President of the church and two counselors. In 1860 with

777-516: A number of successors. The largest of these, led by Brigham Young and now based in Salt Lake City, Utah , continued using "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" until incorporating in 1851, when the church standardized the spelling of its name as " The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints " (LDS Church). Followers of James J. Strang use the spelling of the public domain name, " Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ", as

888-579: A particular ecclesiastical function organized in a top-down manner. Priesthood keys are passed in much the same way as priesthood power in general, usually through the laying on of hands. The manner and rigor with which the concept of keys is applied varies from denomination to denomination within the Latter Day Saint movement. In the LDS Church, the following declaration by Merrill J. Bateman explains how priesthood keys function: Within

999-500: A person may be called to the priesthood through their faith and good works. This view is based primarily upon the Book of Mormon , which states that "it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God". ( Ether 12:10 ). Similarly, in the Book of Mormon's first detailed discussion concerning the calling and ordination of high priests, the scripture states, "And this

1110-532: A person to have been called by prophecy when someone within the church hierarchy, who holds the priesthood, is inspired by the Holy Spirit that the person should hold the priesthood. In some situations, Latter Day Saints believe that a person may also be called through their lineage, so that they have a legal right to a priesthood office by lineal succession . For example, a revelation given to Smith states, "And if they be literal descendants of Aaron, they have

1221-462: A person's calling through lineage or foreordination may be revealed by prophecy, and a person's faith and good works may identify him as one who was foreordained; thus, these categories are not mutually exclusive. Despite the existence in Mormon doctrine of other means by which a person could be called to the priesthood, the most common and standard means by which a person is said to have been called to

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1332-606: A prerequisite to receiving the priesthood, a person must be "called" to the priesthood. When a person is called, it is the person's opportunity or destiny to hold the priesthood. See Matthew 22:14 ("Many are called but few are chosen"). There is some disagreement among the various Latter Day Saint sects as to the manner by which a person may be called to the priesthood; however, there are at least four possibilities expressed in Mormon scripture: (1) calling by prophecy, (2) calling through lineage, (3) calling by foreordination, or (4) calling through faith and good works. In addition,

1443-462: A president or presidents. Each quorum president holds priesthood keys. The president or presidents may or may not be given counselors to assist them. Because Latter Day Saints believe that priesthood authority and keys may be granted only by one who holds that authority or keys, they believe it is important that a person trace their priesthood through a line of succession from a person in the Bible who

1554-401: A revelation renaming the organization the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints". Up to the time of Smith's death , the church was known alternatively as the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" or the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints", that is, with or without a hyphen. After Smith's death, competing Latter Day Saint denominations organized under the leadership of

1665-406: A revelation stating that "in [the Book of Mormon] are all things written, concerning my church, my gospel, and my rock. Wherefore if you shall build up my church, and my gospel, and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you." Some time between June and December 1829, Cowdery said he received a revelation about "how he should build up his church & the manner thereof". This revelation

1776-411: A separate order. According to Latter Day Saint doctrine, to exercise priesthood authority, a person must (1) be called by God, (2) be ordained or endowed with priesthood authority, and (3) receive the necessary priesthood keys, either through ordination to an office of the priesthood or through delegation or setting apart by someone who does hold the appropriate keys. Latter Day Saints believe that as

1887-484: A special World Conference of the church approved Veazey and he was ordained as the 8th president of the High Priesthood, Prophet, and President of the Church on June 3, 2005. On June 4, 2005 with the ordinations of Kenneth N. Robinson and David D. Schaal as presidents of the church and counselors to the president, the First Presidency was reorganized. On March 27, 2007, Robinson retired from his position in

1998-406: A specific set of keys or be authorized by one who holds those keys. Thus, even though a priesthood holder is called and ordained with general priesthood power, to formally lead others in the church or to conduct specific rites may also require specific keys not held by all priesthood holders. The existence of keys makes possible a church hierarchy, in which particular priesthood holders specialize in

2109-669: A story of Alma the Elder , the former priest of a wicked king, who baptized his followers by immersion, "having authority from the Almighty God", and called his community of believers the "church of God, or the church of Christ". The book described the clergy in Alma's church as consisting of priests, who were unpaid and were to "preach nothing save it were repentance and faith in the Lord". Alma later established many churches (or congregations), which were considered "one church" because "there

2220-486: A tactic to frustrate the church's creditors and avoid payment of debts. There is also evidence pointing to Fayette as the place of organization. For example, a headnote to the earliest known version of chapter XXII of the Book of Commandments says that the revelation was dictated in Fayette on April 6, 1830, after the church was organized. This was changed to "Manchester" when the book was published in 1833. Officially,

2331-465: A year before his death, on August 27, 1843, he referred to a third order of priesthood called the Patriarchal priesthood . This one of the "3 grand orders of priesthood", Smith said, was second in greatness between the lower Aaronic and the higher Melchizedek. The priesthood included, according to Smith, the "keys to endowment—tokens, etc.", the ability to "walk with God", and the authority of

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2442-433: Is considered to be a saving ordinance . Very early in his ministry, Joseph Smith began to advocate the position that priesthood does not come directly from God through the Holy Spirit , as many Protestants believe, but through a line of direct or apostolic succession . Thus, Latter Day Saints generally believe that priesthood originates with Jesus, and is passed to others through a line of succession. Only one who holds

2553-406: Is formally conferred or endowed to that person through a sacred ceremony. Mormons generally understand priesthood authority to be given in one of two ways: (1) as part of a priesthood ordination ceremony, or (2) through the endowment ceremony. After a person has received the priesthood, a person may be ordained numerous times to various particular offices within the church. Receiving the priesthood

2664-459: Is generally believed that those who were foreordained to the priesthood earned this right by valiancy or nobility in the pre-mortal life . It is by prophecy that a person's foreordination is thought to be revealed. Latter Day Saints, however, do not believe in predestination , and therefore believe that foreordination is a destiny, but not an immutable destiny. A person can nullify their foreordination through sin. Many Latter Day Saints believe that

2775-407: Is recognized only in men and boys, who are ordained to offices in the priesthood as a matter of course once they reach the age of 12, so long as they meet requirements of worthiness. There are no other requirements for ordination, although prior to 1978, the church did not ordain men or boys who were deemed to be of black African descent, based on the mid-19th century teachings of Brigham Young , which

2886-480: Is referred to as the Melchizedek priesthood ( Melchizedek being the high priest to whom Abraham paid tithes). As an authority, priesthood is the authority by which a bearer may perform ecclesiastical acts of service in the name of God. Latter Day Saints believe that acts (and in particular, ordinances ) performed by one with priesthood authority are recognized by God and are binding in heaven, on earth, and in

2997-466: Is the manner after which they were ordained— ... they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling .... And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith." ( Alma 13:3-4 ). In a similar vein, the earliest sections of the Doctrine and Covenants contain statements such as "if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to

3108-528: The Church of the Latter Day Saints (by 1834 resolution), the Church of Jesus Christ , the Church of God , the Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints , and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (by an 1838 revelation ). Smith and his associates asserted that the Church of Christ was a restoration of the 1st-century early Christian church , which Smith claimed had fallen from God's favor and authority because of what he called

3219-711: The General Conference of the Church. The president has the right to choose his own counselors but they must also be sustained by vote of the general conference. The first president following the schism with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was Frederick Niels Larsen , a direct descendant (maternal 2nd great-grandson) of Joseph Smith . His successor is Terry W. Patience, whose first and second counselors are Michael Hogan and David Van Fleet. Within The Church of Jesus Christ ,

3330-572: The Hedrickite branch of the movement. The first Latter Day Saint references to the "church of Christ" are found in passages of the Book of Mormon that Smith dictated from April to June 1829. During the course of this dictation, the outlines for a community of believers or church structure gradually became apparent. Such a structure would have authority from God, ordinances such as baptism , and ordained clergy . Some time in April 1829, Smith dictated

3441-484: The Latter Day Saint movement , priesthood is the power and authority of God given to man, including the authority to perform ordinances and to act as a leader in the church. A group of priesthood holders is referred to as a quorum . Priesthood denotes elements of both power and authority. The priesthood includes the power Jesus gave his apostles to perform miracles such as the casting out of devils and

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3552-521: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles . Charles W. Nibley , for example, was a counselor to Heber J. Grant without ever being ordained to the priesthood office of apostle . In the case of an infirm president, his counselors may be called upon to perform more of his duties. If needed, any number of additional counselors may be called to assist them, though the president of the church still remains

3663-487: The Relief Society , who stated: A similar view was also expressed by LDS Church apostle James E. Talmage in 1912, who wrote: Female priesthood authority was closely associated with the Relief Society . Joseph F. Smith , an LDS Church apostle, argued that though Mormon women were not ordained as general authorities , elders, or high priests, they are admitted to an "ecclesiastical or priestly authority" through

3774-513: The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , which was formed primarily out of discontent with changes in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and seeks to be a "renewal" of that church prior to those changes. The First Presidency consists of three High Priests chosen by the voice of the Church; a president and two counselors. The president is selected by revelation , Jewish Laws of Inheritance , and vote of

3885-568: The Second Coming of Jesus . The fact that a number of the churches of the Restoration Movement were also named the " Church of Christ " caused a considerable degree of confusion in the first years of the Latter Day Saint movement. Because of the distinct belief in the Book of Mormon among Smith's followers, people outside the church began to refer them as "Mormonites" or " Mormons ." Smith and other church elders considered

3996-491: The " order of prayer ". Smith taught that this order of priesthood was passed from father to son, and held by Abraham and the biblical patriarchs. However, Smith provided little further information about this third order. Although Smith instituted an office of patriarch in the church, most modern Latter Day Saint denominations classify the Patriarchal priesthood as an office within the Melchizedek priesthood, rather than

4107-510: The Community of Christ, each new church president has generally been "designated" as the successor by God through revelation received by the preceding church president (while still in that role). The Counselors in the First Presidency are then chosen by the church president and are occasionally, but not required, to be former or current members of the Council of Twelve Apostles . In addition,

4218-536: The Elijah Message all claim to have been organized by Smith on April 6, 1830, the date on which the Church of Christ was organized. Other denominations, such as The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite), acknowledge that their organizations were created after this date, but nevertheless claim to be a re-establishment of the original church. In an 1880 lawsuit , an Ohio court held that the RLDS Church

4329-471: The First Presidency and Becky Savage was ordained into the First Presidency. She is the first female to sit on the First Presidency. Unlike most Latter Day Saint denominations with a First Presidency, the counselors in the First Presidency of the Community of Christ are no longer designated "first" and "second" counselors. Current members of the First Presidency: A First Presidency also leads

4440-511: The God of our salvation. Unlike the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood, Smith never provided a date for the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood, and never clearly indicated how this authority was conferred. Smith first specifically introduced the Melchizedek or high priesthood to the church in 1831. In his 1832 history, he referred to "a confirmation and reception of the high Priesthood after

4551-464: The Holy Ghost fell upon him, and he stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass. And again, so soon as I had been baptized by him, I also had the spirit of prophecy, when, standing up, I prophesied concerning the rise of this Church, and many other things connected with the Church, and this generation of the children of men. We were filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in

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4662-540: The Levitical priesthood), is considered to be a lesser priesthood tracing its roots to Aaron , the brother of Moses , through John the Baptist . In Latter Day Saint theology, it derives from the original holy priesthood which Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery received on May 15, 1829, when they were ordained by an angel identifying himself as John the Baptist . In 1835, Smith and Cowdery clarified that this authority

4773-461: The Melchizedek priesthood was manifested and conferred for the first time upon several of the Elders" during a general conference of the church in early June 1831. When Smith's official history was first published in 1902, the compiler, B. H. Roberts , thought that this was a mistake, because it would not be consistent with the then-common Mormon belief that the priesthood had been conferred prior to

4884-491: The Relief Society, which may include holding offices within the church through that organization. After a person has received the priesthood, they may be ordained numerous times to various particular offices within the church. This takes place by the laying on of hands. The ordination to a particular office, such as priest, teacher, or elder, represents a more specific call to perform a particular priesthood duty within

4995-488: The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ ), by James J. Strang for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) , and by William Bickerton for The Church of Jesus Christ , although the latter two organizations have not had a First Presidency for much of their history. In the LDS Church, the First Presidency is the presiding, or governing authority of

5106-510: The Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!" Thus, most Latter Day Saints believe that Smith and Cowdery were visited by the three angels and that they conferred the Melchizedek priesthood in the same way John the Baptist had conferred the Aaronic priesthood. However, the official church history, supervised or written by Smith, states that "the authority of

5217-409: The afterlife. In addition, Latter Day Saints believe that leadership positions within the church are legitimized by the priesthood authority. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), the largest church in the movement, restricts its priesthood to men, as do most of the other Latter Day Saint denominations. An exception is the Community of Christ , the second largest denomination of

5328-513: The authority to baptize in Jesus Christ's name. Smith and Cowdery then baptized each other by immersion. They also baptized dozens of people, as early as June 1829. These converts, however, did not belong to a formal church organization. Nevertheless, this community of believers referred to themselves as "the Church of Christ", and included converts in three New York towns: Fayette , Manchester , and Colesville . In June 1829, Smith dictated

5439-429: The ceremony, both men and women are clothed in the "robes of the priesthood" and "prepared to officiate in the ordinances of" the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods. Thus, it has been suggested that the endowment ceremony was recognized as an endowment of priesthood authority to both men and women, although not an ordination to a specific priesthood office. This view was expressed in 1884 by Eliza R. Snow , president of

5550-435: The church felt it could not abandon without a revelation from God. (See Black people and priesthood (LDS) ). The doctrine was eliminated in 1978 and the church now allows all men to hold the priesthood, subject to worthiness. Priesthood is structured as a vertical hierarchy with a clear chain of command. At each level in the hierarchy, the priesthood is organized by quorums , led by a presidency, which usually consists of

5661-676: The church was organized in the Smith log home in Manchester, New York . The first Smith log home was located on the Samuel Jennings property in Palmyra, just north of the town's southern border and subsequent the Smith Manchester property. The Smiths may have constructed a second log home on their own property. Beginning in 1834, several church publications began to give the location of the organizational meeting as Fayette, at

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5772-613: The church's first high priests were ordained at a special conference held in June 1831. By 1835, Latter Day Saints began referring to this high priesthood as the Melchizedek priesthood , or, the "Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God". This priesthood was so named, according to a revelation, because Melchizedek "was such a great high priest" and "out of respect or reverence to

5883-443: The church's founding in 1830. However, some recent Mormon historians accept Smith's history as correct and consistent with other historical records showing that other Mormons present at the conference dated the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood to 1831. This conference had been a very significant event in the early church history, coming soon after the conversion of Sidney Rigdon , who believed that Mormon missionaries lacked

5994-473: The church, and a person may be ordained to numerous offices during their lifetime, depending on the needs of the church. That specific ordinations to preach or perform ordinances are made through the laying on of hands was a concept formulated early in Joseph Smith's ministry. He stated the principle as one of the church's articles of faith, that a calling to preach or perform rituals in the name of Christ

6105-427: The church. The death or release of a counselor does not dissolve the First Presidency. Often, the surviving counselors of the late president will be called as counselors in the new First Presidency, but a notably infirm counselor may revert to his place among the Twelve Apostles with a healthier man called as counselor in his place. On the death or release of a first counselor, the second counselor usually succeeds and

6216-527: The church. It usually consists of the President of the Church and two counselors, although up to eight counselors have on occasion been included in the presidency at the same time. The counselors assist the church president and work closely with him in guiding the entire church. Like the church president and President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles , counselors in the First Presidency are referred to by

6327-437: The congregation had visions, prophesied , spoke in tongues , ecstatically shouted praises to the Lord, and fainted. At this meeting, the church formally ordained a lay ministry, with the priesthood offices of deacon , teacher , priest , and elder . Smith and Cowdery, according to their 1831 account, were each ordained as "an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church". This account was edited in 1835 to state that Smith

6438-489: The death of the Prophet-President does not dissolve the First Presidency, which continues on as the church's executive council in the persons of the remaining two presidents until a Prophet-President is called. The two members who were counselors to the Prophet-President, cease to be counselors during this time. Upon ordination of the Prophet-President, the former First Presidency is dissolved, and upon ordination of

6549-419: The event described by Whitmer in 1887 bears more resemblance to Fayette meetings such as the founding of the church's Fayette branch five days later on April 11, 1830. The largest successor organization to the Church of Christ, the LDS Church, accepts Fayette as the official location of the organizing meeting. By later accounts, the April 6 organizational meeting was a charismatic event, in which members of

6660-409: The first public announcement that the priesthood had been conferred by "an angel of God... clothed with glory" on May 15, 1829. Cowdery and Smith later identified the angel as John the Baptist . In 1835, Joseph Smith described the event as follows: [W]e ... went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of

6771-465: The following passage as a revelation following the dedication of the Kirtland Temple : After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north. After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of

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6882-402: The gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before

6993-431: The great and dreadful day of the Lord come—To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors. In the LDS Church, the largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood

7104-460: The healing of sick ( Luke 9:1). Latter Day Saints believe that the Biblical miracles performed by prophets and apostles were performed by the power of priesthood, including the miracles of Jesus, who holds all of the keys of the priesthood. The priesthood is formally known as the "Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God", but to avoid the too frequent use of the name of deity, the priesthood

7215-450: The historical record was muddled a bit when the first edition of the Doctrine and Covenants altered pre-1831 revelations to make a distinction between the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, and to classify the offices of elder and apostle as part of the latter. In addition to the restoration of the Melchizedek priesthood (and the keys of the apostleship), additional priesthood keys were conferred on Joseph Smith and others. Smith dictated

7326-582: The holy order of the son of the living God power and ordinence from on high to preach the Gospel in the administration and demonstration of the spirit the Keys of the Kingdom of God conferred on him [Smith] and the continuation of the blessings of God to him". Though specific details were lacking, by the turn of the 20th century, Latter Day Saint theologians were convinced that such a conferral had occurred prior to

7437-410: The home of Peter Whitmer Sr. The Whitmer home had been the site of many other meetings near the same time period. After 1834, several official church accounts said the meeting was in Manchester and several eyewitnesses said the event took place in Manchester. Independent researcher H. Michael Marquardt argues that the evidence suggests the organization occurred in Manchester, and that the confusion

7548-424: The larger Utah church, at the time in the midst of federal issues related to polygamy . In 2001, the RLDS Church changed its name again to " Community of Christ "—consciously echoing the original "Church of Christ" name. The Sidney Rigdon group dwindled until one of its elders, William Bickerton , reorganized in 1862 under the name " The Church of Jesus Christ ". Other Latter Day Saint denominations returned to

7659-439: The major denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement claim Fayette as the birthplace of the religion, and Smith's official history, begun in 1838, listed Fayette as the founding place. In 1887, one other eye-witness, David Whitmer , recollected that the event occurred in his father's home in Fayette; however, years earlier, in 1875, Whitmer had already told a reporter that the event occurred in Manchester. Marquardt argues that

7770-764: The matter because the case was dismissed. In 1894, a federal United States court in Missouri held again that the RLDS Church was the lawful successor to the original church. However, on appeal the entire case was dismissed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit without any discussion by the court of the issue of legal succession.     * ^  Membership worldwide; generally church-reported; with an occasional exception     ^ Once larger Priesthood (Mormonism) In

7881-499: The movement, which began ordaining women to all of its priesthood offices in 1984. Latter Day Saint theology has recognized at least three orders of priesthood: the Aaronic priesthood , the Melchizedek priesthood ; and the Patriarchal priesthood . Although these are different orders, they are, in reality, all subsumed under the priesthood held by Jesus Christ, that is, the Melchizedek priesthood. The Aaronic priesthood (also called

7992-509: The name "Mormon" derogatory. In May 1834, the church adopted a resolution that the church would be known thereafter as "The Church of the Latter Day Saints". At various times the church was also referred to as "The Church of Jesus Christ", "The Church of God", and "The Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints". In the late 1830s, Smith and those loyal to him founded a new headquarters in Far West, Missouri . At Far West in 1838, Smith announced

8103-689: The name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name". This priesthood was thought to be the order of priesthood held by Jesus, and a distinction was made between the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, which derives in part from the Epistle to the Hebrews , whose author argues that Jesus arose "after the order of Melchizedec, and not ... after the order of Aaron" (Heb. 7:11). Although there were generally considered to be only two orders of priesthood during most of Smith's life,

8214-403: The name of their church. The name "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" was also used by members who recognized Smith's son, Joseph Smith III , as his father's successor. The younger Smith became prophet-president of this group on April 6, 1860. However, the church incorporated in 1872 as the "Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" (RLDS Church), to distinguish it from

8325-690: The name they may currently bear ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Community of Christ , The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) , Church of Christ (Temple Lot) , etc.). This church is unrelated to other bodies bearing the same name, including the United Church of Christ , a Reformed church body, and the Churches of Christ , who have roots in the Restoration movement . Today, there are several Latter Day Saint denominations called "Church of Christ", largely within

8436-465: The necessary power to adequately preach the gospel. Thus, in January 1831, Smith issued a revelation where he wrote that after Mormons relocated to Kirtland, Ohio , they would "be endowed with power from on high" and "sent forth". In a revelation given to an individual, Smith assured the man that "at the conference meeting he [would] be ordained unto power from on high". One of Smith's associates that

8547-427: The office of high priest was not implemented in early Mormonism until some days after Smith was joined in his ministry by Sidney Rigdon , a newly-converted Cambellite minister from Ohio , who merged his congregation with Smith's Church of Christ . Rigdon believed the teachings of the early Mormon missionaries who taught him, but thought the missionaries were lacking in heavenly power. In response to Rigdon's concern,

8658-399: The office of priest (or higher) are able to ordain other worthy members to priesthood offices up to their office. Priesthood keys are conferred upon all the presidents of the quorums . A quorum is a group of priesthood holders who hold the same priesthood office. For a priesthood holder to exercise ecclesiastical power or authority, Latter Day Saints believe that a priesthood holder must have

8769-421: The office. Latter Day Saints also believe that a person may be called to the priesthood by foreordination . The Book of Mormon refers to priests that were "called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works." ( Alma 13:3 ). In the Book of Abraham , Abraham was said to be called to the priesthood in this way: It

8880-399: The only person on the earth authorized to use all priesthood keys . Counselors serve in the First Presidency until their own deaths, until the death of the church president who called them, or until they are released by the church president. The death of a church president dissolves the First Presidency, and leaves the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the senior leader of

8991-468: The organization of the Church of Christ on April 6, 1830. This was largely because the early church organization contained the office of elder , which by 1835 was considered an office of the Melchizedek priesthood. As evidence for such a pre-organization angelic conferral, writers referred to a revelation in which Smith said he heard "[t]he voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on

9102-400: The organization of the "Church of Christ" in 1830, and in several of the revelations Smith said he received, God referred to the church by that name. Smith taught that this church was a restoration of the primitive Christian church established by Jesus in the 1st century AD. Smith also taught that this restoration occurred in the "Latter Days" of the world, that is, the time immediately prior to

9213-542: The original name or a variation of the name, including the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) , the Church of Jesus Christ (Cutlerite) , and the now-extinct Church of Christ (Whitmerite) . Virtually every Latter Day Saint denomination claims to be the rightful successor to the original Church of Christ and claims Joseph Smith as its founding prophet or first president. For example, the LDS Church, Community of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite), Church of Christ (Temple Lot), and Church of Christ with

9324-478: The plates, The Book of Mormon. ... While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us, he ordained us, saying: Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for

9435-551: The president of the church and his two counselors are elected by the general priesthood in conference and selected from amongst the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. The president of the church, while being an ordained apostle, functions as the chief operating officer, overseeing the general operations of the church.     * ^  Membership worldwide; generally church-reported; with an occasional exception     ^ Once larger Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints) The Church of Christ

9546-483: The priesthood can pass it to another. Thus, in 1829, Smith and his associate claimed that the Aaronic priesthood was given to him by John the Baptist , who was thought to have authority through the lineage of his father Zacharias , who was an Aaronic priest. Later, Smith also claimed to have received the Melchizedek priesthood from the apostles Peter , James , and John , who were given their authority by Jesus. The most common and well-recognized manner through which

9657-456: The priesthood exercised by Latter Day Saints. Latter Day Saints believe that ancient prophets and apostles conferred the priesthood directly upon Smith and other early members of the movement. Church members initially viewed priesthood as a charismatic authority. By 1832, however, Smith indicated for the first time, in an unpublished history, that the priesthood had been received by the "ministering of Angels" In 1834, Oliver Cowdery provided

9768-422: The priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began." In addition, Smith taught that the Patriarchal priesthood descended from father to son. One who has the right and calling to hold these positions through lineage must still be ordained by the church hierarchy before officiating in

9879-448: The priesthood is "by prophecy". In his Wentworth letter , Smith stated, "We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands, by one who is in authority... to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof." ( See also Fifth Article of Faith .) In the early church, many callings came as direct scriptural revelations by Smith. Since Smith's death, most Latter Day Saint denominations consider

9990-484: The priesthood, there are many offices, each of which represents a category of positions within the clerical hierarchy of the church. The number and nature of these offices have changed over time, and may differ between sects of Mormonism; however, by the death of Joseph Smith , these offices included at least the following: Ordination to an office does not necessarily mean ordination to a position of leadership. Priesthood holders are organized into quorums , which each have

10101-475: The purpose was to effect a legal organization, it may have had no legal effect since no records of incorporation have been found in either the Manchester–Palmyra area, the Fayette area, or in several other counties around this time period, as required by state law at the time: the church evidently did not follow the required legal formalities. Prior to 1834, all church publications and documents stated that

10212-478: The recipient the Aaronic or Melchizedek priesthood. While most Latter Day Saints recognize that priesthood may be conferred as part of an ordination ceremony, some feminist Mormons understand the endowment ceremony to be an endowment of priesthood authority. In the washing and anointing portion of the endowment, men are washed and anointed (by men) "to become kings and priests", while women are washed and anointed (by women) "to become queens and priestesses". Later in

10323-607: The remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. He said this Aaronic Priesthood had not the power of laying on hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, but that this should be conferred on us hereafter; and he commanded us to go and be baptized, and gave us directions that I should baptize Oliver Cowdery, and that afterwards he should baptize me. Accordingly we went and were baptized. ... The messenger who visited us on this occasion and conferred this Priesthood upon us, said that his name

10434-409: The reorganization of the First Presidency, Joseph Smith III became the second Prophet-President of this church and also President of a new First Presidency. William Marks became Smith's First Counselor. The First Presidency of Community of Christ differs from the First Presidency of the LDS Church, where the church president is always the senior-most member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles . In

10545-532: The same is not of me, but is against me: therefore, he is not of my church." Smith's further dictation of the Book of Mormon also stated that there were "two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil". Also in May 1829, Smith and Oliver Cowdery said they were visited by John the Baptist in angelic form, who conferred the Aaronic priesthood on them, which included

10656-429: The title "President"; he and his counselors are referred to as President Russell M. Nelson , President Dallin H. Oaks , and President Henry B. Eyring . All members of the First Presidency are "sustained" by the membership of the church as prophets, seers, and revelators . Any worthy high priest within the church may serve as a counselor in the First Presidency, though most of its members have been chosen from among

10767-469: The two he calls to be his counselors, to the office of president, the First Presidency is then deemed reorganized. Members of the First Presidency are not generally considered to be members of the Council of Twelve Apostles or holding the priesthood office of apostle, regardless of previous calling. Prior to 1996, all prophet-presidents were descendants of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith . This pattern

10878-413: The work" and "whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God". In addition to being called by God, Latter Day Saint theology holds that a person must be given priesthood authority by one who currently holds it. While calling represents a general call to receive priesthood authority, a person is not thought to actually possess the priesthood to which they have been called until it

10989-608: Was John, the same that is called John the Baptist in the New Testament, and that he acted under the direction of Peter, James and John, who held the keys of the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which Priesthood, he said, would in due time be conferred on us, and that I should be called the first Elder of the Church, and he (Oliver Cowdery) the second. ... Immediately on our coming up out of the water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father. No sooner had I baptized Oliver Cowdery, than

11100-463: Was broken by Wallace B. Smith , who designated W. Grant McMurray church president. McMurray, in turn, resigned the church presidency in 2004 without designating a successor. A joint council of church leaders led by the Council of Twelve Apostles announced in March 2005 the name of Stephen M. Veazey as Prophet-President. Veazey had been serving as president of the Council of Twelve. Delegates elected to

11211-477: Was called the " Articles of the Church of Christ ", and it indicated that the church should ordain priests and teachers "according to the gifts & callings of God unto men". The church was to meet regularly to partake of bread and wine . Cowdery was described as "an Apostle of Jesus Christ". According to David Whitmer , by April 1830, this informal "Church of Christ" had about six elders and 70 members. On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith , Oliver Cowdery , and

11322-470: Was known to hold that authority or keys. Moreover, Latter Day Saints believe that the priesthood authority was absent from the earth during the Great Apostasy , and that priesthood had to be restored through Joseph Smith . Catholic and Orthodox Christians do not believe that such a complete apostasy ever took place when defending the validity of their priesthoods, and these churches do not recognize

11433-414: Was likely due to the effect of memory tending to conflate memories of several meetings in Manchester and Fayette years earlier. Critics suggest that the location of the organization was intentionally changed in 1834 around the same time the church's name was changed to the "Church of the Latter Day Saints", in order to make it seem like the new church organization was different from the "Church of Christ", as

11544-419: Was nothing preached in all the churches except it were repentance and faith in God." In addition to priests, the book mentions that the clergy of these churches also included teachers. Nevertheless, in May 1829, a revelation by Smith described the "church" in informal terms: "Behold, this is my doctrine: whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church: whosoever declareth more or less than this,

11655-622: Was ordained the "First Elder", and Oliver Cowdery was ordained the "Second Elder". According to the LDS Church, the first six members of the Church of Christ were: Early membership also included the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon and members of the extended Whitmer and Smith families . Other early members included friends and acquaintances of the Smith and Whitmer families, such as Porter Rockwell . Smith's revelations authorized and commanded

11766-453: Was present at the conference expressed the view that this ordination "consisted [of] the endowment—it being a new order—and bestowed authority", and later that year, an early convert who had left the church claimed that many of the Saints "have been ordained to the High Priesthood, or the order of Melchizedek; and profess to be endowed with the same power as the ancient apostles were". In 1835,

11877-449: Was the "Aaronic, or Levitical priesthood". By early 1831, Latter Day Saint theology also recognized a higher order of priesthood, or the high priesthood. This high priesthood had been foreshadowed in the Book of Mormon , which referred to men holding the unique position of high priest in the church organization described in that book, holding the "high priesthood of the holy order of God" ( Alma 4:20 , Alma 13:8 ); however,

11988-419: Was the lawful successor to Smith's original Church of Christ. The court also explicitly held that the LDS Church was not the lawful successor because it "has materially and largely departed from the faith, doctrines, law, ordinances and usages of the said original Church". These holdings were preliminary findings of fact based on the RLDS Church's unopposed legal submissions; the court issued no final judgment on

12099-416: Was the original name of the Latter Day Saint church founded by Joseph Smith . Organized informally in 1829 in upstate New York and then formally on April 6, 1830, it was the first organization to implement the principles found in Smith's newly published Book of Mormon , and thus its establishment represents the formal beginning of the Latter Day Saint movement . Later names for this organization included

12210-497: Was to be made through "prophecy and the laying on of hands by those who are in authority" (see Fifth Article of Faith in The Wentworth Letter ). A Book of Mormon example of ordination by the laying on of hands is found in the Book of Alma , where Alma "ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church". Modern day priesthood holders ordained to

12321-598: Was to exercise authority over the entire church, whereas the jurisdictions of the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy were the outlying areas outside of the gathering places where the church had been organized on a more permanent basis. After the death of Smith in 1844, First Presidencies were reorganized by Brigham Young for the LDS Church, by Rigdon for the Rigdonites (now defunct), by Joseph Smith III for

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