Quorum (Mormonism)
Encyclopedia
In the Latter Day Saint movement
, a quorum is a group of people ordained or endowed with priesthood authority, and organized to act together as a body. The idea of a quorum was established by Joseph Smith, Jr. early in the history of the movement, and during his lifetime it has included several church-wide quorums, including the First Presidency
, the Presiding High Council
, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
, the Anointed Quorum
, the Council of Fifty
, and the Quorum of the Seventy, as well as numerous local quorums for each congregation.
The concept of a quorum continues to have significant meaning in most modern Latter Day Saint denominations. Quorums are expected to act unanimously, if possible, and are chaired by one person who is designated as the president or presiding officer.
. The size of each quorum depends on the office to which the members are ordained.
.
The Presidency of the Church
(commonly called the First Presidency
) is a quorum consisting of at least one apostle (the President of the Church) and two or more high priest
s. In practice, all members of the First Presidency are usually apostles. The Presidency of the Church presides over the entire church, and only the President of the Church is authorized to use all priesthood keys within the church. The members of this quorum are usually the President of the Church and his first and second counselors. The First Presidency may be expanded to allow for additional counselors, when needed.
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a group of twelve men, ordained to the office of apostle, that have been called as "special witnesses of the name of Christ
in all the world". This quorum is "equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned." Members of this quorum hold priesthood keys, but they are only used under the direction of the First Presidency
.
The Presiding Bishopric
is a quorum consisting of three men who are called to preside over the Aaronic priesthood and some temporal affairs of the church. This quorum consists of the Presiding Bishop
and two counselors, who hold priesthood keys to direct the temporal affairs and finances of the church, in conjunction with the First Presidency and Twelve. They also hold all of the keys of the Aaronic priesthood. In current practice, these men are always high priests and ordained bishops.
The Quorums of the Seventy "are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world". These quorums are "equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named." Each Quorum of the Seventy may consist of up to seventy ordained to the office of Seventy, and is presided over by seven presidents who hold keys to direct the affairs of the quorum. There may be an unlimited number of such quorums that are called to witness in "all the world", but currently only the members of the first and second quorums are general authorities
of the church.
and presided over by the local stake presidency, who holds the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood
with a stake. All Melchizedek Priesthood
members who have been ordained a High Priest and live within the stake are in this Quorum. Full quorum meetings are usually held semiannually; however, each ward also has a High Priest Group Leader who leads weekly meetings and oversees the day-to-day aspects of the High Priest quorum within a ward, under the direction of the quorum president.
All Melchizedek priesthood members who have been ordained to the office of High Priest belong to the High Priests Quorum, even if they hold another office, except for Apostles and Seventies as discussed below. This includes High Priests, Patriarchs and Bishops. This holds true in all Latter Day Saint organizations that do not have a separate "patriarchs quorums", which are unspecified by revelation to Joseph Smith.
As noted before, Apostles generally hold membership in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles or the First Presidency
. Seventies belong to one of the eight Quorums of Seventy. A Seventy called to serve in a quorum other than the First Quorum of Seventy (that is, in the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, or Eighth Quorum of Seventy) is released from that calling after a period of service, and then returns to membership in his home quorum of High Priests.
Historically, a Quorum of Seventy was a local quorum that consisted of up to seventy members in each quorum, and was presided over by seven presidents, each of who have keys and act under the direction and authority of the Stake President. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Quorums of Seventy are no longer organized in local units (stakes and wards).
An Elders Quorum is a local quorum organized in each ward, but presided over by a president with priesthood keys, who acts under the direction and authority of the local stake presidency, and under the direction of the presiding High Priest in the ward who is typically a Bishop. Each quorum consists of up to ninety-six Elders.
A Melchizedek Priesthood Group is formed in a ward or branch where there are not enough High Priests to justify a High Priest group within a ward or branch (usually less than 20). In these cases, a High Priest is called to oversee the direction of both the High Priests and Elders, and is set apart
as the Melchizedek Priesthood Group leader, under the direction of the Stake President.
A Teachers Quorum is a quorum consisting of up to twenty-four members of at least fourteen years of age, ordained to the office of Teacher. If there are more than twenty-four Teachers in the ward, then multiple quorums are to be organized. Teachers Quorums are organized at the ward level and act under the direction of the Aaronic Priesthood president—the ward Bishop—who calls a Teachers Quorum President who holds keys to direct the work of the quorum.
A Deacons Quorum is a quorum consisting of up to twelve members of at least twelve years of age, ordained to the office of Deacon. If there are more than twelve Deacons in the ward, then multiple quorums are to be organized. Deacons Quorums are organized at the ward level and act under the direction of the ward Bishop—who is the Aaronic Priesthood president—who calls a Deacons Quorum President who holds keys to direct the work of the quorum.
An Aaronic Priesthood Group is formed in a ward or branch where there are not enough Aaronic priesthood holder to form multiple quorums (usually less than 10 total). In these cases, a senior Aaronic priesthood holder (a Priest if available, then a Teacher if available) is called to "assist" the Bishop to oversee the direction of Aaronic priesthood holders within the ward. This individual may be called as "Aaronic Priesthood group leader," "Aaronic Priesthood class president," or as an assistant to the bishop depending on circumstances.
. This quorum consists of the Stake President and two counselors who are each ordained to the office of high priest.
A Stake High Council
is an administrative quorum consisting of twelve called that assist in the administration of a stake. Each of the members is ordained to the office of high priest, and also belongs to the High Priests Quorum in the stake.
A Bishopric is a quorum consisting of three to administer a church congregation or ward. This quorum consists of the Bishop
and two counselors. While the Bishop and his counselors are typically High Priests, counselors may hold other priesthood offices. Typically, the Bishop is also set apart as the quorum president of the Priests Quorum, and therefore the bishopric is the presidency of that quorum.
A Quorum Presidency is an administrative quorum consisting of a quorum president who holds keys to direct the affairs of the quorum, and two counselors who he has selected to assist him. In most cases, the president will also select a secretary whom he will delegate authority to as needed.
Auxiliary presidencies and groups such as the Relief Society
, Primary, Sunday School and Young Men's and Young Women's programs do not form quorums as they are auxiliary to the priesthood.
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
, a quorum is a group of people ordained or endowed with priesthood authority, and organized to act together as a body. The idea of a quorum was established by Joseph Smith, Jr. early in the history of the movement, and during his lifetime it has included several church-wide quorums, including 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...
, the Presiding High Council
Presiding High Council
In the Latter Day Saint movement, there are two Presiding High Councils, one said to be "standing," and the other "traveling." The Traveling High Council is generally known as the Quorum of Twelve Apostles...
, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies in the church hierarchy...
, the Anointed Quorum
Anointed Quorum
The Anointed Quorum, also known as the Quorum of the Anointed, or the Holy Order, was a select body of men and women who Joseph Smith, Jr. initiated into Mormon temple ordinances at Nauvoo, Illinois, which gave them special standing in the early Latter Day Saint movement...
, the Council of Fifty
Council of Fifty
The Council of Fifty was a Latter Day Saint organization established by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, and the Quorum of the Seventy, as well as numerous local quorums for each congregation.
The concept of a quorum continues to have significant meaning in most modern Latter Day Saint denominations. Quorums are expected to act unanimously, if possible, and are chaired by one person who is designated as the president or presiding officer.
Quorums in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Quorum is a body (group) of those ordained to the same office of the priesthoodPriesthood (Mormonism)
In the Latter Day Saint movement, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority of God, including the authority to act as a leader in the church and to perform ordinances, and the power to perform miracles. A body of priesthood holders is referred to as a quorum.Priesthood denotes elements...
. The size of each quorum depends on the office to which the members are ordained.
General Authority Quorums
There are certain quorums of the Church that are called to preside over the entire Church. These quorum members are called General AuthoritiesGeneral authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
.
The Presidency of the Church
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...
(commonly called 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...
) is a quorum consisting of at least one apostle (the President of the Church) and two or more high priest
High priest (Mormonism)
In most denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, a high priest is a member of the priesthood within the Melchizedek priesthood order. High priests are typically older and more seasoned leaders within the priesthood. The term derives in part from the Epistle to the Hebrews which describes...
s. In practice, all members of the First Presidency are usually apostles. The Presidency of the Church presides over the entire church, and only the President of the Church is authorized to use all priesthood keys within the church. The members of this quorum are usually the President of the Church and his first and second counselors. The First Presidency may be expanded to allow for additional counselors, when needed.
The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a group of twelve men, ordained to the office of apostle, that have been called as "special witnesses of the name of Christ
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in all the world". This quorum is "equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned." Members of this quorum hold priesthood keys, but they are only used under the direction of 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...
.
The Presiding Bishopric
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
is a quorum consisting of three men who are called to preside over the Aaronic priesthood and some temporal affairs of the church. This quorum consists of the Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)
The Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a priesthood calling with church-wide authority. The Presiding Bishop is the highest leadership position within the church's Aaronic priesthood.-Presiding Bishopric:...
and two counselors, who hold priesthood keys to direct the temporal affairs and finances of the church, in conjunction with the First Presidency and Twelve. They also hold all of the keys of the Aaronic priesthood. In current practice, these men are always high priests and ordained bishops.
The Quorums of the Seventy "are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world". These quorums are "equal in authority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles just named." Each Quorum of the Seventy may consist of up to seventy ordained to the office of Seventy, and is presided over by seven presidents who hold keys to direct the affairs of the quorum. There may be an unlimited number of such quorums that are called to witness in "all the world", but currently only the members of the first and second quorums are general authorities
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of the church.
Melchizedek Priesthood Quorums
A High Priests Quorum is a local quorum organized in each stakeStake (Mormonism)
A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations...
and presided over by the local stake presidency, who holds the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood
Melchizedek priesthood
The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two orders of priesthood recognized in Mormonism. The others are the Aaronic priesthood and the rarely recognized Patriarchal priesthood...
with a stake. All Melchizedek Priesthood
Melchizedek priesthood
The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two orders of priesthood recognized in Mormonism. The others are the Aaronic priesthood and the rarely recognized Patriarchal priesthood...
members who have been ordained a High Priest and live within the stake are in this Quorum. Full quorum meetings are usually held semiannually; however, each ward also has a High Priest Group Leader who leads weekly meetings and oversees the day-to-day aspects of the High Priest quorum within a ward, under the direction of the quorum president.
All Melchizedek priesthood members who have been ordained to the office of High Priest belong to the High Priests Quorum, even if they hold another office, except for Apostles and Seventies as discussed below. This includes High Priests, Patriarchs and Bishops. This holds true in all Latter Day Saint organizations that do not have a separate "patriarchs quorums", which are unspecified by revelation to Joseph Smith.
As noted before, Apostles generally hold membership in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles or 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...
. Seventies belong to one of the eight Quorums of Seventy. A Seventy called to serve in a quorum other than the First Quorum of Seventy (that is, in the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, or Eighth Quorum of Seventy) is released from that calling after a period of service, and then returns to membership in his home quorum of High Priests.
Historically, a Quorum of Seventy was a local quorum that consisted of up to seventy members in each quorum, and was presided over by seven presidents, each of who have keys and act under the direction and authority of the Stake President. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Quorums of Seventy are no longer organized in local units (stakes and wards).
An Elders Quorum is a local quorum organized in each ward, but presided over by a president with priesthood keys, who acts under the direction and authority of the local stake presidency, and under the direction of the presiding High Priest in the ward who is typically a Bishop. Each quorum consists of up to ninety-six Elders.
A Melchizedek Priesthood Group is formed in a ward or branch where there are not enough High Priests to justify a High Priest group within a ward or branch (usually less than 20). In these cases, a High Priest is called to oversee the direction of both the High Priests and Elders, and is set apart
Setting apart
Setting apart is an ordinance or ritual in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whereby a person is formally chosen and blessed to carry out a specific calling or responsibility in the church....
as the Melchizedek Priesthood Group leader, under the direction of the Stake President.
Aaronic Priesthood Quorums
A Priests Quorum is a quorum consisting of up to forty-eight members of at least sixteen years of age, ordained to the office of Priest. If there are more than forty-eight Priests in the ward, then multiple quorums are organized. Priests Quorums are organized at the ward level and presided over by the ward Bishop, with the Bishop being the president of the quorum(s) and holding the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood in the ward. The Bishop typically calls two "assistants" to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the quorum.A Teachers Quorum is a quorum consisting of up to twenty-four members of at least fourteen years of age, ordained to the office of Teacher. If there are more than twenty-four Teachers in the ward, then multiple quorums are to be organized. Teachers Quorums are organized at the ward level and act under the direction of the Aaronic Priesthood president—the ward Bishop—who calls a Teachers Quorum President who holds keys to direct the work of the quorum.
A Deacons Quorum is a quorum consisting of up to twelve members of at least twelve years of age, ordained to the office of Deacon. If there are more than twelve Deacons in the ward, then multiple quorums are to be organized. Deacons Quorums are organized at the ward level and act under the direction of the ward Bishop—who is the Aaronic Priesthood president—who calls a Deacons Quorum President who holds keys to direct the work of the quorum.
An Aaronic Priesthood Group is formed in a ward or branch where there are not enough Aaronic priesthood holder to form multiple quorums (usually less than 10 total). In these cases, a senior Aaronic priesthood holder (a Priest if available, then a Teacher if available) is called to "assist" the Bishop to oversee the direction of Aaronic priesthood holders within the ward. This individual may be called as "Aaronic Priesthood group leader," "Aaronic Priesthood class president," or as an assistant to the bishop depending on circumstances.
Administrative Quorums
A Stake Presidency is a quorum consisting of three to administer a unit of church organization called a stakeStake (Mormonism)
A stake is an administrative unit composed of multiple congregations in denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. A stake is approximately comparable to a diocese in the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations...
. This quorum consists of the Stake President and two counselors who are each ordained to the office of high priest.
A Stake High Council
High council (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, a high council is one of several different governing bodies that have existed in the church hierarchy on many Latter-day Saint denominations...
is an administrative quorum consisting of twelve called that assist in the administration of a stake. Each of the members is ordained to the office of high priest, and also belongs to the High Priests Quorum in the stake.
A Bishopric is a quorum consisting of three to administer a church congregation or ward. This quorum consists of the 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,...
and two counselors. While the Bishop and his counselors are typically High Priests, counselors may hold other priesthood offices. Typically, the Bishop is also set apart as the quorum president of the Priests Quorum, and therefore the bishopric is the presidency of that quorum.
A Quorum Presidency is an administrative quorum consisting of a quorum president who holds keys to direct the affairs of the quorum, and two counselors who he has selected to assist him. In most cases, the president will also select a secretary whom he will delegate authority to as needed.
Auxiliary presidencies and groups such as the Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
, Primary, Sunday School and Young Men's and Young Women's programs do not form quorums as they are auxiliary to the priesthood.