Men
Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office

“Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office,” Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings (2018).

“Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office,” Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings.

Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office

man receiving priesthood

Performance of this ordinance requires authorization from a priesthood leader who holds the appropriate keys or who functions under the direction of a person who holds those keys.

When the necessary interviews and approvals are completed:

  1. The stake president (or someone under his direction) may ordain the person to the office of elder, or he may authorize another Melchizedek Priesthood holder to do so. Only Melchizedek Priesthood holders may stand in the circle.

  2. The stake president (or someone under his direction) may ordain the person to the office of high priest, or he may authorize another high priest to do so. Only high priests may stand in the circle.

  3. The bishop (or someone under his direction) may ordain the person to the office of deacon, teacher, or priest. Only priests and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may act as voice or stand in the circle.

To participate in an ordination, a person must (1) be a priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder and (2) have equal or higher priesthood authority than is to be given in the ordinance. For instance, an elder should not stand in the circle when a high priest is ordained or when a man is set apart to an office that requires him to be a high priest.

To perform a priesthood ordination, one or more authorized priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the priesthood holder who performs the ordination:

  1. Calls the person by his full name.

  2. States the authority by which the ordination is performed (Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood).

  3. Confers the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood, unless it has already been conferred.

  4. Ordains the person to an office in the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood and bestows the rights, powers, and authority of that office. (Priesthood keys are not bestowed in conferring the priesthood or ordaining to one of these offices.)

  5. Gives words of blessing as the Spirit directs.

  6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

An ordination is an opportunity to give a blessing. Detailed counsel and instruction are normally provided when a person is taught his duties rather than during the ordination.

An ordination should not be expanded into a formal meeting. It is not necessary to have prayers, testimonies, or instruction when someone is ordained.