Age of Elders?

[curtishouse]

I was just about to put in a request for missionaries to contact me from over at mormon.org and just a pretty insignificant question entered my mind but still wanted to know if anybody could shed some light on it. Why are some Elders so young? It would seem that Elders would be in their latter years but over at the missionaries page, one of the missionaries pictured says Elder so and so on his name tag and he can't be more than 23. Thoughts?

Also I will keep all of you updated on how my meetings with the missionaries go this week as well. God bless.

Curtis

[Jamie123]

I've always thought "Elder" was a bit of a misnomer. As I understand it boys of 19+ who know enough doctrine and are judged to be "worthy" are eligible to be ordained "Elders" of the Melchizedek priesthood. When they reach mature age (mid/late forties) they are usually promoted to "High Priest", so "Elder" is more indicative of youth than of seniority.

There are (as far as I know) only two circumstances in which "Elder" is prefixed to a person's name. Firstly full-time male missionaries are called "Elder [surname]" and are rarely if ever referred to by their first names. Quite why this is I don't know. I once asked a young "Elder" (who couldn't have been more than 20!) who replied "it's just a title". The best explanation I've ever heard is that it indicates that a person is set aside to serve and is therefore different from the regular Church members - who are usually called "Brother [Firstname or Surname]".

The other case is for members of the quorum of 12 Apostles, who are usually styled "Elder [Firstname] [surname]".

Edited October 4, 2010 by Jamie123

[pam]

An office of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Also used as a title for male missionaries or General Authorities of the Church. Elders have authority to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands and to bestow priesthood blessings.

Really has nothing to do with age. Other than males have to be 19 to be ordained to the office of an Elder. It has more to do with the authority that is given to them to perform certain Priesthood functions.

[jayanna]

Elders give 2 years of their time to serve their mission. They do not get paid for it. They do this before they get married. They cannot go on a mission if they are married and/or have children, who should depend on them for income and support. Usually, that means that they are pretty young.

There are older couple missionaries, but they are not available in all areas. The couple missionaries are usually retired. Remember, the men in the church have jobs, so going on a mission means taking off time from a career if you are older, unless you are retired.

Don't let the age fool you. Elders taught me when I joined the church, they taught my husband. My missionaries were very kind, and did a lot of service, which is what I needed. My husband's missionaries were very very knowledgeable about the Bible, which was what he needed.

In the ward you are in there is a ward mission leader. There are other adults in the ward who are ward missionaries. You can ask if one or two of them can come with the Elders if you want, but the Elders are still responsible for the gospel discussions. They are the ones that will be answering most of your questions.

Don't worry...I'm sure you will find them kind, and humble, and very studious.

[curtishouse]

I guess it all just comes down to the secular definition of an elder. You think of the adage that we are supposed to show respect to our elders. I've just never thought of an elder as a young kid who is close to 15 years my junior. A good example of this, though, is Timothy in the Bible. He was a young kid as well but he knew his stuff like no other and I believe it was Paul that wrote the letter and had a discussion pretty much like this one. Even though he is young, don't treat him any different. When they show up, I will be listening with an open heart even though I'm on board with the faith already. I sent in my request last night and I am supposed to hear from them in the next few days according to mormon.org.

[pam]

And then of course don't get things mixed up like people would with a friend of mine growing up. His last name was Elder...so he was Elder Elder.

[tubaloth]

There can be some confusion over the term Elder. We are not talking about age, as has been stated but as a title in the church. It is also an office in the priesthood.

Elders that serve a mission are from the age of 19-26. 19 years old and out of High school is when Men in the LDS church get the melchizedek priesthood and office of Elder. But even that isn't why they get that title. When they go on a mission they are set appart to reperest the Church. This is when they use the title of Elder. When they come back home from there Mission they don't use the title of Elder any more.

Later Leaders of the church that are called to Seventy (again not really an age thing) or the 12 apostles are then again called Elder so and so. Again this is more because they are representing the church as part of there calling and so get they title.

Being called Elder has nothing to do with age, its about the calling they have.

[Dravin]

And then of course don't get things mixed up like people would with a friend of mine growing up. His last name was Elder...so he was Elder Elder.

Heck, my mission had a Sister Elder.

[Mahonri]

I've seen young men ordained to the "office" of Elder as young as 17, but the handbook suggests age 18 at the earliest.

[mnn727]

"Elder" is an office in the Priesthood, not a statement of age nor an honorary title given to someone because they are older and been a Church member for a while, nor is it a position in a Church similar to a director of a company.

From the Gosple Priniples manual LDS.org - Lessons Chapter - Priesthood Organization

Elder

Elders are called to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the Church (see D&C 20:42). All Melchizedek Priesthood holders are elders. They have the authority to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (see D&C 20:43). Elders should conduct meetings of the Church as they are led by the Holy Ghost (see D&C 20:45; 46:2). Elders may administer to the sick (see D&C 42:44) and bless little children (see D&C 20:70). Elders may preside over Church meetings when there is no high priest present (D&C 107:11).

Hope that helps

Edited October 5, 2010 by mnn727

[mnn727]

And then of course don't get things mixed up like people would with a friend of mine growing up. His last name was Elder...so he was Elder Elder.

My current ward at one point had a Brother whose last name was Bishop -- who was called to be the Bishop hence "Bishop Bishop"

[Jamie123]

And then of course don't get things mixed up like people would with a friend of mine growing up. His last name was Elder...so he was Elder Elder.

Sounds a bit like poor Major Major Major Major.

[beefche]

My current ward at one point had a Brother whose last name was Bishop -- who was called to be the Bishop hence "Bishop Bishop"

I would just call him Bishop Squared.