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.

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

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 stake presidency, stake high council, or bishopric, "or when otherwise determined by the stake president". Ordinations are approved by the member's bishop and stake president and the common consent of the general priesthood membership in the stake. The high priest quorum on the stake level now consists of high priests currently serving in the stake presidency, as a high councilor, in a bishopric, or as a functioning patriarch. High priests not currently serving in those callings are members of their ward's elders quorum.

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.

Since 1995, individuals ordained to the office of seventy are ordained first to the office of high priest.

See also

  • Priesthood (LDS Church)
  • Aaronic priesthood (Latter Day Saints)

References

  • 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.