The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.

Presiding Bishopric

The Presiding Bishop calls two other men to assist him as counselors; the three together compose the Presiding Bishopric of the LDS Church. As well as being ordained to the Aaronic priesthood office of bishop, the members of the Presiding Bishopric are general authorities of the church. Like all other functioning bishops in the church they are ordained high priests in the Melchizedek priesthood. The Presiding Bishopric forms the governing body of the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the legal entity owning the church's assets and holdings.

Duties

The primary duties of the Presiding Bishop and his counselors are to oversee the temporal affairs (buildings, properties, commercial corporations, etc.) of the church and to oversee the bishoprics of congregations throughout the world. Along with the First Presidency

First Presidency (LDS Church)

The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...

 and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presiding Bishopric is a part of the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes

Council on the Disposition of the Tithes

The Council on the Disposition of the Tithes is a leadership body in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Council determines how the tithing funds of the church will be spent...

, a group that oversees and authorizes the expenditure of all tithing

Tithe

A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products...

 funds. The Presiding Bishopric is also responsible for overseeing the Aaronic priesthood of the church, although most of the work in this area is delegated to the general presidency of the Young Men Organization.

The Presiding Bishopric hold the power to join with twelve high priests of the church in convening the Common Council of the Church

Common Council of the Church

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Common Council of the Church is a body of the church that has the power to discipline or remove the President of the Church or one of his counselors in the First Presidency due to misbehavior. Its existence and status are uncertain and...

, the only body of the church which may discipline or remove the President of the Church or one of his counselors in the First Presidency

First Presidency (LDS Church)

The First Presidency is the presiding or governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It is composed of the President of the Church and his counselors. The First Presidency currently consists of President Thomas S. Monson and his two counselors, Henry B...

. However, the Common Council has only been convened twice in the history of the LDS Church, and only once has it disciplined a First Presidency member, when it excommunicated Sidney Rigdon

Sidney Rigdon

Sidney Rigdon was a leader during the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Baptist background:...

 in absentia

In absentia

In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...

 in 1844.

History

The office of Presiding Bishop shares its origin with that of bishop

Bishop (Mormonism)

Bishop is the highest priesthood office of the Aaronic priesthood in the Latter Day Saint movement. A bishop is usually the leader of a local congregation of church members. The Latter Day Saint concept of the office differs significantly from the role of bishops in other Christian denominations,...

. Edward Partridge

Edward Partridge

Edward Partridge was the grandson of Massachusetts Congressman Oliver Partridge, Esq., and a member of a family noted for commercial, social, political, and military leadership in Western Massachusetts. One of the first converts to the Latter Day Saint movement, he was baptized in or near Seneca...

 was the first man ordained to the office of bishop in the early Church of Christ on February 4, 1831. This office became known as the First Bishop and later the "Presiding Bishop" to distinguish the calling from subordinate bishops who began to be called in the Nauvoo

Nauvoo, Illinois

Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...

 period (1839–1844). The first person to be referred to as the "Presiding Bishop" of the church was Newel K. Whitney, who was given the title in 1847 when the First Presidency

First Presidency

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...

 was reorganized.

The current Presiding Bishop of the church is H. David Burton

H. David Burton

Harold David Burton has been the thirteenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992....

. His First Counselor is Richard C. Edgley

Richard C. Edgley

Richard Crockett Edgley has been the first counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. Edgley has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992.Born in Preston, Idaho, Edgley was called to be the second counselor...

 and his Second Counselor is Keith B. McMullin

Keith B. McMullin

Keith Brigham McMullin has been the second counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a general authority of the LDS Church since 27 December 1995....

.

Chronology of the Presiding Bishopric

No.	Dates	Presiding Bishop		First Counselor			Second Counselor
1	February 4, 1831 – May 27, 1840	Edward Partridge Edward Partridge Edward Partridge was the grandson of Massachusetts Congressman Oliver Partridge, Esq., and a member of a family noted for commercial, social, political, and military leadership in Western Massachusetts. One of the first converts to the Latter Day Saint movement, he was baptized in or near Seneca... ("Bishop")	Edward Partridge	Isaac Morley Isaac Morley Isaac Morley was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement and a contemporary of both Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. He was one of the first converts to Smith's Church of Christ...  (June 6, 1831 – May 27, 1840)	Isaac Morley		John Corrill John Corrill John Corrill was an early member and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and an elected representative in the Missouri State Legislature...  (June 6, 1831 – August 1, 1837) Titus Billings Titus Billings Titus Billings was an early convert to the Latter Day Saint movement. He served in several positions in the church and was a contemporary of Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young. Billings was a councilor in the first Bishopric of the Church to Edward Partridge. He participated in the Battle of Crooked...  (August 1, 1837 – May 27, 1840)	Titus Billings
	May 27, 1840 – October 7, 1844	None sustained
	October 7, 1844 – April 6, 1847	Newel K. Whitney Newel K. Whitney Newel Kimball Whitney was a prominent leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an American businessman. He served as Bishop of Kirtland, Ohio, Far West, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois. He also served as the second Presiding Bishop of the Church from 1847 until his death... ("First Bishop of the Church")	Newel K. Whitney	George Miller George Miller (Latter Day Saints) -External links:**...  ("Second Bishop of the Church") (October 7, 1844 – latter end of 1846)
2	April 6, 1847 – September 23, 1850	Newel K. Whitney Newel K. Whitney Newel Kimball Whitney was a prominent leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an American businessman. He served as Bishop of Kirtland, Ohio, Far West, Missouri, and Nauvoo, Illinois. He also served as the second Presiding Bishop of the Church from 1847 until his death... ("Presiding Bishop")		None
3	April 7, 1851 – October 16, 1883	Edward Hunter	Edward Hunter	Leonard W. Hardy (October 6, 1856 – October 16, 1883)	Leonard W. Hardy		Jesse Carter Little Jesse Carter Little Jesse Carter Little was a Mormon pioneer and a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....  (October 6, 1856 – Summer 1874) Robert T. Burton Robert T. Burton Robert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1874 until his death...  (October 9, 1874 – October 16, 1883)	Jesse Carter Little	Robert T. Burton
4	April 6, 1884 – December 4, 1907	William B. Preston William B. Preston (Mormon) William Bowker Preston was the fourth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1884 and 1907....	William B. Preston	Leonard W. Hardy (April 6, 1884 – July 31, 1884) Robert T. Burton Robert T. Burton Robert Taylor Burton was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1874 until his death...  (October 5, 1884 – November 11, 1907)	Leonard W. Hardy	Robert T. Burton	John Q. Cannon (October 5, 1884 – September 5, 1886) John R. Winder John R. Winder John Rex Winder was a leader and general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric from 1887 to 1901, and First Counselor in the First Presidency to Church President Joseph F. Smith from 1901 until his death. He was well-known...  (April 8, 1887 – October 17, 1901) Orrin P. Miller Orrin P. Miller Orrin Porter Miller was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1901 to his death....  (October 24, 1901 – December 4, 1907)	John R. Winder	Orrin P. Miller
5	December 4, 1907 – May 28, 1925	Charles W. Nibley Charles W. Nibley Charles Wilson Nibley was the fifth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1925 and a member of the church's First Presidency from 1925 until his death....	Charles W. Nibley	Orrin P. Miller Orrin P. Miller Orrin Porter Miller was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1901 to his death....  (December 4, 1907 – July 7, 1918) David A. Smith David A. Smith (Mormon) David Asael Smith was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1938 and was the first president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir....  (July 18, 1918 – May 28, 1925)	Orrin P. Miller	David A. Smith	David A. Smith David A. Smith (Mormon) David Asael Smith was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1938 and was the first president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir....  (December 4, 1907 – July 7, 1918) John Wells John Wells (Mormon) John Wells was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1918 to 1938....  (July 18, 1918 – May 28, 1925)	David A. Smith	John Wells
6	June 4, 1925 – April 6, 1938	Sylvester Q. Cannon Sylvester Q. Cannon Sylvester Quayle Cannon was the sixth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1925 and 1938 and a member of church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from October 6, 1939 until his death. He was the son of George Q...	Sylvester Q. Cannon	David A. Smith David A. Smith (Mormon) David Asael Smith was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1907 and 1938 and was the first president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir....	David A. Smith		John Wells John Wells (Mormon) John Wells was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1918 to 1938....	John Wells
7	April 6, 1938 – April 6, 1952	LeGrand Richards LeGrand Richards LeGrand Richards was a prominent missionary and leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as the seventh presiding bishop of the LDS Church from 1938 to 1952, and was then called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles by Church President David O. McKay...	LeGrand Richards	Marvin O. Ashton Marvin O. Ashton Marvin Owen Ashton was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1938 until his death. Prior to becoming a general authority, Ashton was a prominent local leader of the LDS Church in Salt Lake City, Utah.Ashton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory to Mormon...  (April 6, 1938 – October 7, 1946) Joseph L. Wirthlin Joseph L. Wirthlin Joseph Leopold Wirthlin was the eighth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....  (December 12, 1946 – April 6, 1952)	Joseph L. Wirthlin		Joseph L. Wirthlin Joseph L. Wirthlin Joseph Leopold Wirthlin was the eighth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....  (April 6, 1938 – October 7, 1946) Thorpe B. Isaacson Thorpe B. Isaacson Henry Thorpe Beal Isaacson was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving as a counselor in the First Presidency to church president David O. McKay from 1965 to 1970....  (December 12, 1946 – April 6, 1952)	Joseph L. Wirthlin	Thorpe B. Isaacson
8	April 6, 1952 – September 30, 1961	Joseph L. Wirthlin Joseph L. Wirthlin Joseph Leopold Wirthlin was the eighth presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....	Joseph L. Wirthlin	Thorpe B. Isaacson Thorpe B. Isaacson Henry Thorpe Beal Isaacson was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving as a counselor in the First Presidency to church president David O. McKay from 1965 to 1970....	Thorpe B. Isaacson		Carl W. Buehner Carl W. Buehner Carl William Buehner was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1952 to 1961 and was the Republican Party candidate for governor of Utah in the 1968 election....	Carl W. Buehner
9	September 30, 1961 – April 6, 1972	John H. Vandenburg John H. Vandenburg John Henry Vandenberg was the ninth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1961 and 1972. He also served as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles between 1972 and 1976 and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy between 1976 and 1978...	John H. Vandenburg	Robert L. Simpson			Victor L. Brown Victor L. Brown Victor Lee Brown was the tenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1972 and 1985. He was a general authority of the LDS Church from 1961 until his death....	Victor L. Brown
10	April 6, 1972 – April 6, 1985	Victor L. Brown Victor L. Brown Victor Lee Brown was the tenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1972 and 1985. He was a general authority of the LDS Church from 1961 until his death....	Victor L. Brown	H. Burke Peterson H. Burke Peterson Harold Burke Peterson has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1972....			Vaughn J Featherstone Vaughn J Featherstone Vaughn J Featherstone is an emeritus general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He has also been the president of the Logan Utah Temple in Logan, Utah....  (April 6, 1972 – October 1, 1976) J. Richard Clarke J. Richard Clarke John Richard Clarke has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1976. He has been a member of the church's presiding bishopric and a member of the Presidency of the Seventy....  (October 1, 1976 – April 6, 1985)
11	April 6, 1985 – April 2, 1994	Robert D. Hales Robert D. Hales Robert Dean Hales is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Currently, he is the eighth most senior apostle among the ranks of the Church...		Henry B. Eyring Henry B. Eyring Henry Bennion Eyring is an American educational administrator, author, and religious leader. In 2008 Eyring became First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . Eyring was the Second Counselor to Gordon B. Hinckley in the First Presidency from October...  (April 6, 1985 – October 3, 1992) H. David Burton H. David Burton Harold David Burton has been the thirteenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992....  (October 3, 1992) – April 2, 1994)			Glenn L. Pace Glenn L. Pace Glenn Leroy Pace has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1985. He as served as a member of the presiding bishopric and the First Quorum of Seventy and in 2010 became an emeritus general authority...  (April 6, 1985 – October 3, 1992) Richard C. Edgley Richard C. Edgley Richard Crockett Edgley has been the first counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. Edgley has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992.Born in Preston, Idaho, Edgley was called to be the second counselor...  (October 3, 1992) – April 2, 1994)
12	April 2, 1994 – December 27, 1995	Merrill J. Bateman Merrill J. Bateman Merrill Joseph Bateman is an emeritus general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . From 2003 to 2007, Bateman was a member of the Presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy of the church...		H. David Burton H. David Burton Harold David Burton has been the thirteenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992....			Richard C. Edgley Richard C. Edgley Richard Crockett Edgley has been the first counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. Edgley has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992.Born in Preston, Idaho, Edgley was called to be the second counselor...
13	December 27, 1995 –	H. David Burton H. David Burton Harold David Burton has been the thirteenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992....		Richard C. Edgley Richard C. Edgley Richard Crockett Edgley has been the first counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. Edgley has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992.Born in Preston, Idaho, Edgley was called to be the second counselor...			Keith B. McMullin Keith B. McMullin Keith Brigham McMullin has been the second counselor in the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a general authority of the LDS Church since 27 December 1995....