Young Men (organization) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Young Men is a youth organization

Youth ministry

Youth ministry, also commonly referred to as Youth group, is an age-specific religious ministry and is the way in which a faith group, or other religious organization involves and engages with the young people who attend its place of worship, or live in its community...

and an official auxiliary

Auxiliary organization (LDS Church)

An auxiliary organization is a secondary body of church government within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is "established for moral, educational, and benevolent purposes." As their name suggests, LDS Church auxiliary organizations are ancillary to the governing power of the...

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The purpose of the organization is to assist the Aaronic Priesthood in promoting the growth and development of male Latter-day Saints ages 12 to 18.

History

The first official youth association of the church—the Young Gentlemen’s and Young Ladies’ Relief Society—was organized by church founder Joseph Smith in February 1843. In 1854, Apostle Lorenzo Snow

Lorenzo Snow

Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:...

organized the Polysophical Society and encouraged young Latter-day Saints to join. In 1875, Church President Brigham Young

Brigham Young

Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...

organized the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA) and intended that it act as a male equivalent of the Young Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association, which was renamed the Young Ladies' National Mutual Improvement Association in 1877. The purpose was to "help young men develop their gifts, to stand up and speak, and to bear testimony.".

A central committee of the YMMIA led by Junius F. Wells

Junius F. Wells

Junius Free Wells was the first head of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, an organization which is today the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

was formed in 1876 to oversee the organization, conduct missionary work, and issue general instructions. A YMMIA general superintendency (later renamed general "presidency") was formed by Church President John Taylor

John Taylor (1808-1887)

John Taylor was the third president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1880 to 1887. He is the only president of the LDS Church to have been born outside of the United States....

in 1880.

In 1901, the YMMIA was divided into junior and senior classes. In 1911, the church followed the pattern developed by the Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...

and created the YMMIA Scouts. The organization was officially integrated into the Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...

on May 21, 1913.

In the 1970s, the YMMIA was briefly merged with the church's Aaronic priesthood organization and the church's organization for young women and officially renamed the Aaronic Priesthood MIA Young Women. In June 1974, this consolidation was reversed: an independent Young Women Organization was restored and the name of the Young Men organization was changed to Aaronic Priesthood. Also in 1974, the church eliminated the YMMIA General Presidency, placing the organization under the direction of 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:...

. The organization's name was changed to simply Young Men in May 1977 and a general presidency was reinstated.

Chronology of the general superintendencies and presidencies of the Young Men

No.	Dates	General President (General Superintendents in Italics) (Church general authorities in bold)	First Counselor (First Assistants in Italics) (Church general authorities in bold)	Second Counselor (Second Assistants in Italics) (Church general authorities in bold)	Additional Assistant (Church general authorities in bold)
1	1876–1880	Junius F. Wells Junius F. Wells Junius Free Wells was the first head of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association, an organization which is today the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...	Milton H. Hardy Milton H. Hardy Milton Henry Hardy was an American educator and was the founder of and a member of the inaugural general superintendency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . From 1876 to 1880, Hardy was the first assistant to Junius F...	Rodney C. Badger Rodney C. Badger Rodney Carlos Badger was an inaugural member of the general superintendency of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
2	1880–1898	Wilford Woodruff Wilford Woodruff Wilford Woodruff, Sr. was the fourth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1889 until his death...	Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...	Moses Thatcher Moses Thatcher Moses Thatcher was an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
3	1898–1901	Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow Lorenzo Snow was the fifth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1898 to his death. Snow was the last president of the LDS Church in the nineteenth century.-Family:...	Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...	Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...	B. H. Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts was a Mormon leader, historian, and politician who published a six-volume history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was denied a seat as a member of United States Congress because of his practice of plural marriage.- Early life :Roberts was born in...
4	1901–1918	Joseph F. Smith Joseph F. Smith Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...	Heber J. Grant Heber J. Grant Heber Jeddy Grant was the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was ordained an apostle on October 16, 1882, on the same day as George Teasdale...	B. H. Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts was a Mormon leader, historian, and politician who published a six-volume history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was denied a seat as a member of United States Congress because of his practice of plural marriage.- Early life :Roberts was born in...
5	1918–1921	Anthony W. Ivins Anthony W. Ivins Anthony Woodward Ivins born in Toms River, New Jersey, was a high-ranking official of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life and family :...	B. H. Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts was a Mormon leader, historian, and politician who published a six-volume history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was denied a seat as a member of United States Congress because of his practice of plural marriage.- Early life :Roberts was born in...	Richard R. Lyman Richard R. Lyman Richard Roswell Lyman was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1918 to 1943. He was excommunicated in 1943 for unlawful cohabitation, a result of a polygamous relationship. In 1954 Lyman was rebaptized. His full priesthood blessings were restored posthumously in 1970...
6	1921–1935	George Albert Smith George Albert Smith George Albert Smith, Sr. was the eighth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...	B. H. Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts Brigham Henry Roberts was a Mormon leader, historian, and politician who published a six-volume history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was denied a seat as a member of United States Congress because of his practice of plural marriage.- Early life :Roberts was born in...	Richard R. Lyman Richard R. Lyman Richard Roswell Lyman was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1918 to 1943. He was excommunicated in 1943 for unlawful cohabitation, a result of a polygamous relationship. In 1954 Lyman was rebaptized. His full priesthood blessings were restored posthumously in 1970... Melvin J. Ballard Melvin J. Ballard Melvin Joseph Ballard was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was born in Logan, Utah Territory. His grandson, M. Russell Ballard, was also ordained an apostle.Prior to his birth, his mother had an experience that led her to believe...
7	1935–1937	Albert E. Bowen Albert E. Bowen Albert Ernest Bowen was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....	George Q. Morris George Q. Morris George Quayle Morris was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1954 until his death....	Franklin L. West Franklin L. West Franklin Lorenzo Richards West was an American educator and a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
8	1937–1948	George Q. Morris George Q. Morris George Quayle Morris was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1954 until his death....	Joseph J. Cannon Joseph J. Cannon Joseph Jenne Cannon was a Utah politician and newspaper editor and was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was a member of the prominent Cannon political family.-Biography:... John D. Giles	Burton K. Farnsworth Lorenzo H. Hatch
9	1948–1958	Elbert R. Curtis Elbert R. Curtis Elbert Raine Curtis was the ninth general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1948 to 1958. He was succeeded in the leadership of the YMMIA by Joseph T...	A. Walter Stevenson	Ralph W. Hardy David S. King David S. King David Sjodahl King was a representative from Utah. He was a member of the Democratic Party.- Early life and education :...
10	1958–1962	Joseph T. Bentley Joseph T. Bentley Joseph Taylor Bentley was the tenth general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1958 to 1962....	Alvin R. Dyer Alvin R. Dyer Alvin Rulon Dyer was an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a member of the church's First Presidency from 1968 to 1970.... (1958) G. Carlos Smith G. Carlos Smith George Carlos Smith Jr. was the eleventh general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1962 to 1969.-Biography:... (1958–1961 Marvin J. Ashton Marvin J. Ashton Marvin Jeremy Ashton was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1971 until his death.... (1961–1962)	Marvin J. Ashton Marvin J. Ashton Marvin Jeremy Ashton was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1971 until his death.... (1958–1961) Verl F. Scott (1961) 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.... (1961–1962)
11	1962–1969	G. Carlos Smith G. Carlos Smith George Carlos Smith Jr. was the eleventh general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , serving from 1962 to 1969.-Biography:...	Marvin J. Ashton Marvin J. Ashton Marvin Jeremy Ashton was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1971 until his death....	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.... (1962–1967) George R. Hill III George R. Hill III George Richard Hill III was an American chemist and a world authority on coal. In his retirement, Hill was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1987 to 1992.... (1967–1969)
12	1969–1972	W. Jay Eldredge W. Jay Eldredge Walter Joshua "Jay" Eldredge Jr. was the thirteenth general superintendent of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1969 to 1972.-Biography:...	George R. Hill III George R. Hill III George Richard Hill III was an American chemist and a world authority on coal. In his retirement, Hill was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1987 to 1992.... (1969–1971) George I. Cannon George I. Cannon George Ivins Cannon was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a general authority of the church from 1986 to 1991.... (1972)	George I. Cannon George I. Cannon George Ivins Cannon was a leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a general authority of the church from 1986 to 1991.... (1969–1972) Robert L. Backman Robert L. Backman Robert LeGrand Backman was a Utah lawyer and politician and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1978.... (1972)
13	1972–1974	Robert L. Backman Robert L. Backman Robert LeGrand Backman was a Utah lawyer and politician and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1978....	LeGrand R. Curtis	Jack H. Goaslind Jack H. Goaslind Jack H. Goaslind, Jr. was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 to his death. He was the seventeenth general president of the Young Men organization of the church from 1990-98.-Early life and local church service:Goaslind was born in Salt Lake City,...
	1974–1977	None (Under jurisdiction of 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:... ) 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.... (Presiding Bishop)	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.... (Presiding Bishopric)	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.... (Presiding Bishopric)
14	1977–1979	Neil D. Schaerrer Neil D. Schaerrer Neil Dean Schaerrer was the fourteenth general president of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1977 to 1979....	Graham W. Doxey	Quinn G. McKay
15	1979–1985	Robert L. Backman Robert L. Backman Robert LeGrand Backman was a Utah lawyer and politician and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1978....	Vaughn J. Featherstone	Rex D. Pinegar Rex D. Pinegar Rex Dee Pinegar has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1972. He has twice served as a member of the church's seven-man Presidency of the Seventy....
16	1985–1990	Vaughn J. Featherstone	Rex D. Pinegar Rex D. Pinegar Rex Dee Pinegar has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1972. He has twice served as a member of the church's seven-man Presidency of the Seventy.... (1985–1989) Jeffrey R. Holland Jeffrey R. Holland Jeffrey Roy Holland is an American educator and religious leader. He served as the ninth President of Brigham Young University and is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Holland is accepted by... (1989–1990)	Robert L. Simpson (1985–1986) Hartman Rector Jr. (1986–1988) Robert B. Harbertson (1988–1989) Monte J. Brough Monte J. Brough Monte James Brough was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1988 until his death. He was a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy in 1988 and 1989 and from 1991 to 2007 and was a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 1989 to 1991... (1989–1990)
17	1990–1998	Jack H. Goaslind Jack H. Goaslind Jack H. Goaslind, Jr. was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1978 to his death. He was the seventeenth general president of the Young Men organization of the church from 1990-98.-Early life and local church service:Goaslind was born in Salt Lake City,...	LeGrand R. Curtis (1990–1991) Robert K. Dellenbach Robert K. Dellenbach Robert Kent Dellenbach was an American educational administrator and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990. He was the eighteenth general president of the Young Men organization of the LDS Church from 1998 to 2001.Dellenbach was born in Salt... (1991–1992) Stephen D. Nadauld Stephen D. Nadauld Stephen Douglas Nadauld is an American academic and a former president of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Nadauld was also a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1991 to 1996.... (1992–1996) Vaughn J. Featherstone (1996–1997) F. David Stanley (1997) Robert K. Dellenbach Robert K. Dellenbach Robert Kent Dellenbach was an American educational administrator and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990. He was the eighteenth general president of the Young Men organization of the LDS Church from 1998 to 2001.Dellenbach was born in Salt... (1997–1998)	Robert K. Dellenbach Robert K. Dellenbach Robert Kent Dellenbach was an American educational administrator and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990. He was the eighteenth general president of the Young Men organization of the LDS Church from 1998 to 2001.Dellenbach was born in Salt... (1990–1991) Stephen D. Nadauld Stephen D. Nadauld Stephen Douglas Nadauld is an American academic and a former president of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Nadauld was also a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1991 to 1996.... (1991–1992) L. Lionel Kendrick (1992–1993) Vaughn J. Featherstone (1993–1996) F. David Stanley (1996–1997) Robert K. Dellenbach Robert K. Dellenbach Robert Kent Dellenbach was an American educational administrator and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990. He was the eighteenth general president of the Young Men organization of the LDS Church from 1998 to 2001.Dellenbach was born in Salt... (1997) F. Melvin Hammond F. Melvin Hammond Floyd Melvin Hammond was an Idaho politician and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989. He was the nineteenth general president of the church's Young Men organization from 2001 to 2004.Hammond was born in Blackfoot, Idaho... (1997–1998)
18	1998–2001	Robert K. Dellenbach Robert K. Dellenbach Robert Kent Dellenbach was an American educational administrator and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1990. He was the eighteenth general president of the Young Men organization of the LDS Church from 1998 to 2001.Dellenbach was born in Salt...	F. Melvin Hammond F. Melvin Hammond Floyd Melvin Hammond was an Idaho politician and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989. He was the nineteenth general president of the church's Young Men organization from 2001 to 2004.Hammond was born in Blackfoot, Idaho...	John M. Madsen John M. Madsen John Max Madsen is an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since 1992....
19	2001–2004	F. Melvin Hammond F. Melvin Hammond Floyd Melvin Hammond was an Idaho politician and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989. He was the nineteenth general president of the church's Young Men organization from 2001 to 2004.Hammond was born in Blackfoot, Idaho...	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... (2001–2003) Lynn G. Robbins Lynn G. Robbins Lynn Grant Robbins was a co-founder of Franklin Quest Company and has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1997.... (2003–2004)	Spencer J. Condie Spencer J. Condie Spencer Joel Condie has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1989. Condie has previously worked as a professor at Brigham Young University and served for three years as mission president over the LDS Church in most of Eastern Europe... (2001–2003) Donald L. Hallstrom Donald L. Hallstrom Donald Larry Hallstrom has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2000. On 4 April 2009, he became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy of the church.- Biography :... (2003–2004)
20	2004–2009	Charles W. Dahlquist II Charles W. Dahlquist II Charles Winston Dahlquist II was the general president of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2004 to 2009. He was the twentieth head of the LDS Church's Young Men organization....	Dean R. Burgess Dean R. Burgess Dean Reid Burgess was a counselor to Charles W. Dahlquist II in the general presidency of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2004 to 2009....	Michael A. Neider Michael A. Neider Michael Antone Neider was a counselor to Charles W. Dahlquist II in the general presidency of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2004 to 2009....
21	2009–	David L. Beck David L. Beck David LeRoy Beck has been the general president of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2009. He is the 21st president in the history of the Young Men....	Larry M. Gibson Larry M. Gibson Larry Miner Gibson is an American businessman and has been a member of the general presidency of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 2009....	Adrián Ochoa Adrián Ochoa Adrián Ochoa Quintana has been the second counselor in general presidency of the Young Men organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2009....

Aaronic Priesthood and the Young Men Organization

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the basic organization for males ages 12 through 17 is the Aaronic Priesthood. The Young Men organization serves as an auxiliary to this priesthood. The Young Men program is designed to assist the Aaronic Priesthood organization in achieving the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood, which are to assist each young male Latter-day Saint to:

Become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and live its teachings;
serve faithfully in priesthood callings and fulfill the responsibilities of priesthood offices;
give meaningful service;
prepare and live worthily to receive 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...

and temple
Temple (LDS Church)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a temple is a building dedicated to be a House of the Lord, and they are considered by Church members to be the most sacred structures on earth. Upon completion, temples are usually open to the public for a short period of time...

ordinances;
prepare to serve an honorable full-time mission
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...

;
obtain as much education as possible;
prepare to become a worthy husband and father; and
give proper respect to women, girls, and children.

Local structure

In each local congregation of the church, males ages 12 to 17 are assigned to the Aaronic Priesthood and the Young Men organization. The Aaronic Priesthood is headed by a 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,...

or branch president

Branch President

A branch president is a leader of a "branch" congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The calling of branch president is very similar to the calling of bishop, except that instead of presiding over a ward, the branch president presides over a branch...

and his counselors. The Young Men is headed in each congregation by an adult man who is called the Young Men President. The president is assisted by two counselors, who are also adult men. The presidency may also ask an adult man to be the secretary to the presidency.

In the Aaronic Priesthood, the young men are sub-divided into three aged-based priesthood

Priesthood (LDS Church)

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God for the salvation of humankind...

offices, which also serve as classes on Sunday:

Deacon
Deacon (Mormonism)
Deacon is a priesthood office in the Aaronic Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Deacons in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:...

(ages 12 and 13)
Teacher
Teacher (Mormonism)
Teacher is a priesthood office in the Aaronic priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Teachers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:...

(ages 14 and 15)
Priest
Priest (Mormonism)
Priest is a priesthood office in the Aaronic Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Priests in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:...

(ages 16 and 17)

When a young man reaches the age of 18, he is encouraged to begin attending the elders quorum

Quorum (Mormonism)

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...

. In certain instances, such as when a man turns 18 but is still in secondary school, an 18 year old will be encouraged to continue to attend the priests

Priest (Mormonism)

Priest is a priesthood office in the Aaronic Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Priests in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:...

quorum

Quorum (Mormonism)

and the activities of the Young Men organization.

Generally, each age group will hold a separate class for instruction during Sunday meetings after all adult and youth holders of the priesthood meet together for a brief opening prayer and hymn

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns

This article is about LDS church hymns in general, for the book, see Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Latter-day Saint hymns come from many sources, and there have been numerous hymn books printed by the Church since its organization in 1830...

. Each class has a quorum president drawn from the members of the class, who in turn chooses two counselors to assist him. The bishop or branch president

Branch President

is the president of the priest quorum.

The adult Young Men President assists the priest

Priest (Mormonism)

quorum

Quorum (Mormonism)

, while the First and Second Counselors assist the teacher

Teacher (Mormonism)

Teacher is a priesthood office in the Aaronic priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Teachers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:...

quorum

Quorum (Mormonism)

and the deacon

Deacon (Mormonism)

Deacon is a priesthood office in the Aaronic Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.-Deacons in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:...

quorum

Quorum (Mormonism)

, respectively. Additional adult men may be asked to prepare class lessons.

Church-wide supervision

On a church-wide level, the Aaronic Priesthood is supervised by the Presiding Bishopric

Presiding Bishop (LDS Church)

and the local units of the Young Men organization are supervised by the General Presidency of the Young Men. Historically, the Presidency of the Young Men have been Seventies and 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. However, in the April 2004 general conference of the church

General conference (Mormonism)

In the Latter Day Saint movement, a general conference is a meeting for all members of the church for conducting general church business and instruction....

, Thomas S. Monson

Thomas S. Monson

Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...

of 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...

announced that "a recent decision [has been made] that members of the Quorums of the Seventy [will] not serve in the general presidencies of the Sunday School and Young Men."

Duty to God

All members of the Young Men are encouraged to participate in Aaronic Priesthood Duty to God program. Duty to God is a goal-setting and achievement program that helps young men make progress in four areas of personal development:

Spiritual development;
physical development
educational, personal, and career development; and
citizenship and social development.

Scouting and other non-church programs

The Young Men organization has been involved in Scouting

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

since 1913. Today, the organization is involved with Boy Scouts of America

Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...

in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

and Scouts Canada

Scouts Canada

Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...

in Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. Units of the church in other countries are not formally involved in Scouting

Scouting

. In the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

and in other Commonwealth countries

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

, many church units participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme or its equivalent.

Mutual and camps

In addition to Sunday meetings, the members of the Young Men organization meet on a weekday evening for "Mutual", an hour to ninety minute activity. In the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

and Canada

Canada

, Mutual is integrated with the weekly Scouting

Scouting

activity. Once per month, a Mutual activity is held in conjunction with the members of the Young Women organization. Whether or not the local organization is involved in Scouting

Scouting

, most congregations also organize annual or biannual Young Men Camps.

External links

Official Aaronic Priesthood / Young Men webpage

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History

Chronology of the general superintendencies and presidencies of the Young Men

Aaronic Priesthood and the Young Men Organization

Local structure

Church-wide supervision

Duty to God

Scouting and other non-church programs

Mutual and camps

See also

External links