Priesthood

[Guest Kamperfoelie]

Is a person holding the priesthood (one of the priesthoods) automatically considered a priest?

[Maya]

I dont have priesthood so my answer may not be accurate, but: Priesthood is a power, not a position.

In Priesthood there are many different levels.

First the 12 year olds are diacones they can deal out the sacrament (bread and water for wine) and take care of old and sick. Then at 14 they get the Arons priesthood, they see that there is bread and water for sacrament. At 16 Priests and they are to bless the sacrament and are able to babtize people. At 18 usually the active ones get the Melcisedec priesthood and are able to give the Holy Spirit, oil people and give them blessings and they can go on a mission. I cant recall all their tasks, but there was some.

So all of these have priesthood but are not called priests just brother this or brother that. All of them are asked to talk at least once a year in the meeting

[tubaloth]

Maya is pretty close.

The point Maya maid is what is important. The Priesthood is a power of God. There are different degrees/or authority of that power.

Decons, teachers, and Priests are in the Aaronic priesthood.

Then they get the Melchizedek priesthood.

And not every priesthood has to talk each year. and it isn't just priesthood woman given talks also.

[Guest Kamperfoelie]

I understand the above (or think i do :) ).

So, (If i understand correctly) an all-lds family with for instance: a papa and two sons above a certain age will have three priests living under one roof?

[mnn727]

It could, yes

[Finrock]

Good afternoon Kamperfoelie! It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope you are having a great day. :)

Is a person holding the priesthood (one of the priesthoods) automatically considered a priest?

To answer your original question, the answer is no. Having the priesthood does not necessarily or automatically make someone a Priest, which is an office of the Aaronic priesthood, which I describe in more detail below.

You've received some good answers. More precisely there are two priesthoods that we speak about and believe in, although both stem from the same tree or power. There is the Aaronic priesthood and the Melchizedek priesthood. The Melchizedek priesthood is the greater of the two priesthoods and it is the priesthood by which all things in the earth are directed and governed. Instead of levels, more appropriately there are various "offices" within each priesthood. For the Aaronic priesthood there are the offices of a Deacon, Teacher, and Priest. For the Melchizedek priesthood there are the offices of elder, High Priest, patriach, Seventy, and Apostle. Each office of each respective priesthood differs only in which priesthood functions one is authorized to perform.

A Priest is an office of the Aaronic priesthood and under the direction of the presiding priesthood authority they are authorized to perform all of the functions of the Deacon and Teacher, plus they are authorized to bless the sacrament, baptize, and ordain others as Deacons, Teachers, or Priest.

To answer your hypothetical question, it is possible to have 3 Priests living under the same roof.

Regards,

Finrock

[Guest mormonmusic]

When an adult is baptized in the Church, and remains worthy long enough to receive the priesthood, they are usually ordained a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. However, there are exceptions; at the Bishop's discretion, the person might be ordained a deacon or a teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood.

After they hold the Aaronic Priesthood for a while, and remain active and worthy, they can be recommended for advancement to the office of Elder, which is an office in the Melchizedek Priesthood. Certain calling such as Bishopric will require the person to be ordained HIgh Priest which is the next office in the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Hope this answers your question -- the short answer is "No" -- young men and even adults sometimes, are first ordained to lower offices in the Aaronic priesthood such as deacon and teacher before they become a priest.

[bytebear]

The priesthood is divided in two parts. Aaronic and Melchizedek. The Aaronic is a preparatory priesthood and deals more with outward tangible needs of the flock. The Melch is used for the spiritual needs.

A worthy male is confered the priesthood, and ordained to an office within the priesthood. Each office holds certain keys of authority, but you are given additional keys based on the calling you are given.

The Aaronic priesthood has the offices of Deacon, Teacher and Priest. As was said they usually are given at age 12, 14 and 16 respectively. The higher offices inherit the authority of the other offices, so a Priest can act as a Deacon.

The Melchizedek priesthood has three offices as well, Elder, Seventy and High Priest. Elders are generally ordained at age 19. Same inheritance rules here. A Hiigh Priest is also an Elder, and a Deacon, etc.

There are some additional offices as well. A Bishop is a special calling. It is an office of the Aaronic priesthood, but must be held by a High Priest. He is the head of a congregation, like a priest or minister in other faiths. Bishop is a temporary position, and he will be released and the authority of Bishop will go to someone else in the ward.

An Apostle also must be a High Priest, and the president and prophet of the church is an apostle. They are considered special witnesses to Christ. There are usually only 15 apostles at any given time, 12 of them organized in a quorum.

All the priesthood groups are also organized in quorums. Each ward (congregation) has a quorum of Deacons, another of Priests, etc. But there is only one bishop of each ward. There are also some limits to the number of members in a quorum. Deacons quorums can only have 12 members, so if a ward has more than 12 boys, they just make two quorums, with fewer boys.

Similarly the Seventy quorum can only have 70 members (hence the name), Many years ago, 70s was a local calling, but was changed to be global, and we only had one quorum for the whole world. As the church grew, they added another quorum.

There are a few other offices (presiding Bishop and Patriarch).

Each calling and office holds different keys, but only the president of the church holds them all individually. This gives him authority to essentially call and ordain others to any office. The rest of the apostles collectively hold the same power.

But a bishop for example only has authority over his own congregation, so he can call and ordain men to be priests or deacons, and he can grant permission to others to exercise their priesthood as well, so a father may ordain his own son to the priesthood (and often does), and a father will baptize his own children, but only with the bishops permission. You can't just go around baptizing people just because you are a Priest.

The Lord's house is a house of order.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

A Priest is a specific office within the Holy Order of the Son of God (Priesthood); so, not all Priesthood holders are Priests.

[Vanhin]

Is a person holding the priesthood (one of the priesthoods) automatically considered a priest?

Like others have said, for us "priest" is a specific priesthood office of the Aaronic priesthood. But if by priest you mean "minister" then yes, all LDS priesthood holders are priests in that sense.

As a missionary in Finland we would occasionally introduce ourselves as priests of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though our actual priesthood office was elder. In that sense we meant we were ministers of the Church.

But we don't really use the term priest like that amongst ourselves.

Regards,

Vanhin