Gospel Principles
Unit 5: The Church of Jesus Christ
Chapter 14: Priesthood Organization
Concept 3: The Offices and Duties of the Aaronic Priesthood
"When the Aaronic Priesthood is conferred on a man or boy, he is ordained to an office in that priesthood. The offices in the Aaronic Priesthood are deacon, teacher, priest, and bishop. Each office carries duties and responsibilities. Each group or quorum is presided over by a group leader or quorum president who teaches the members their duties and ask them to fill assignments.
Some men join the Church or become active after they have passed the usual age to receive the offices of this priesthood. They are usually ordained to an office in the Aaronic Priesthood and can soon be advanced to higher offices if they are worthy.
DEACON
A boy who has been baptized and confirmed a member of the Church and is worthy may be ordained to the office of deacon when he is twelve years old. The deacons are usually assigned to pass the sacrament to members of the Church, act as ushers, keep Church buildings and ground in good order, act as messengers for priesthood leaders, and fulfill special assignments such as collecting fast offerings.
TEACHER
A worthy boy my be ordained a teacher when he is fourteen years or older. Teachers have all the duties, rights and powers of the office of deacon plus additional ones. Teachers in the Aaronic Priesthood are to help Church members live the commandments (D&C 20:53-59 "53 The teacher's duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them;
54 And see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking;
55 And see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.
56 And he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest
57 And is to be assisted always, in all his duties in the church, by the deacons, if occasion requires.
58 But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands;
59 They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.").
To help fulfill this responsibility, they are usually called as home teachers. They visit the homes of Church members and encourage them to live the principles of the gospel. They have been commanded to teach the truths of the gospel from the Scriptures (D&C 42:12 "And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel."). Teachers also prepare the bread and water for the sacrament service.
PRIEST
A worthy boy may be ordained a priest when he is sixteen years old or older. Priest have all the duties, rights, and powers of the offices of deacon and teacher plus some additional ones (D&C 20:46-51 "46 The priest's duty is to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament,
47 And visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties.
48 And he may also ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons.
49 And he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present;
50 But when there is an elder present, he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize,
51 And visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties.").
A priest may baptized. He may also administer the sacrament. He may ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons. A priest may take charge of meetings when there is no Melchizedek Priesthood leader present. He is to preach the gospel to those around him.
BISHOP
A bishop is ordained and set apart to preside over the Aaronic Priesthood in a ward. He is the president of the priests quorum (D&C 107:87-88 "87 Also the duty of the president over the Priesthood of Aaron is to preside over forty-eight priests, and sit in council with them, to teach them the duties of their office, as is given in the covenants
88 This president is to be a bishop; for this is one of the duties of this priesthood.").
When he is acting in his Aaronic Priesthood office, a bishop deals primarily with temporal matters, such as administering finances and records and directing care for the poor and needy. (D&C 107:68 "Wherefore, the office of a bishop is not equal unto it; for the office of a bishop is in administering all temporal things;").
A bishop is also ordained a high priest so he can preside over all members in the ward. (D&C 107:71-73 "71 Nevertheless, a high priest, that is, after the order of Melchizedek, may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things, having a knowledge of them by the Spirit of truth;
72 And also to be a judge in Israel, to do the business of the church, to sit in judgment upon transgressors upon testimony as it shall be laid before him according to the laws, by the assistance of his counselors, whom he has chosen or will choose among the elders of the church.
73 This is the duty of a bishop who is not a literal descendant of Aaron, but has been ordained to the High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.").
A bishop is a judge in Israel (D&C 107:74 "thus shall he be a judge, even a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion, or in a stake of Zion, or in any branch of the church where he shall be set apart unto this ministry, until the borders of Zion are enlarged and it becomes necessary to have other bishops or judges in Zion or elsewhere.") and interviews members for temple recommends, priesthood ordinations, and other needs. It is his right to have the gift of discernment.
Discussion
Discuss the duties of the deacon, teacher, priest, and bishops."