Deacon (Mormonism)
Encyclopedia
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.
in the Aaronic Priesthood or a holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood
is able to perform the ordination of a Deacon.
Deacons are organized in quorums
. The Doctrine and Covenants
states that a president of a Deacons Quorum can preside over no more than twelve members. As a result, in some large wards, this means that there may be two or more Deacons Quorums. From the members of the Deacons Quorum, a president, first counselor, second counselor, and secretary are called by the bishopric and set apart
to serve in their respective roles. The president and his two counselors constitute the Deacons Quorum presidency. The president of the Deacons Quorum is given priesthood keys to preside over the members of his quorum.
The duties of a Deacon are to assist the Teachers
in taking care of the temporal needs of the Church, and "to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ". In modern practice, one of the Deacons' primary duties is to pass the sacrament
to the members of the congregation during sacrament meeting
. Deacons also may receive fast offerings
from the members on fast Sunday
, and are the only persons aside from the members of the bishopric that are permitted to handle Church donations. A Deacon may often sit beside the bishopric during sacrament meeting to act as the bishop's messenger.
As the Church in the United States
and Canada
sponsors troops of the Boy Scouts of America
and Scouts Canada
programs, many Deacons participate in these Scouting
programs as well. The adult ward leaders of the Young Men Organization are frequently also leaders in the Scout troop, but the priesthood quorums and the Scouts are not otherwise connected.
An adult advisor is called to the Deacons Quorum. Although he is an advisor, he often ends up as the de facto leader of the quorum due to the inexperience of the Deacons Quorum presidency. Sometimes an assistant advisor is called to assist.
After an interview with the bishop, Deacons who are deemed worthy are ordained to the office of Teacher
at the age of fourteen, whereupon they will become members of the Teachers Quorum.
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...
, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Deacons in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
At the age of twelve, young Latter-day Saint males are integrated into the Deacons Quorum. Twelve year-olds that are deemed worthy by a Bishop are given the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of Deacon. A person who holds the office of PriestPriest (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:...
in the Aaronic Priesthood or a holder 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...
is able to perform the ordination of a Deacon.
Deacons are organized in quorums
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...
. The Doctrine and Covenants
Doctrine and Covenants
The Doctrine and Covenants is a part of the open scriptural canon of several denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement...
states that a president of a Deacons Quorum can preside over no more than twelve members. As a result, in some large wards, this means that there may be two or more Deacons Quorums. From the members of the Deacons Quorum, a president, first counselor, second counselor, and secretary are called by the bishopric and 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....
to serve in their respective roles. The president and his two counselors constitute the Deacons Quorum presidency. The president of the Deacons Quorum is given priesthood keys to preside over the members of his quorum.
The duties of a Deacon are to assist the Teachers
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:...
in taking care of the temporal needs of the Church, and "to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ". In modern practice, one of the Deacons' primary duties is to pass the sacrament
Sacrament (Mormonism)
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, most often simply referred to as the sacrament, is the sacrament in which participants partake of bread and drink water in remembrance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ...
to the members of the congregation during sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting is the weekly worship service held on Sunday in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Sacrament meetings are held in individual wards or branches in the chapel of the meetinghouse. The bishop or branch president of the ward or branch presides, unless a higher authority...
. Deacons also may receive fast offerings
Fast offering
Fast offering is the term used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to denote money or usable commodities donated to that church, which are then available to provide financial help to those in need...
from the members on fast Sunday
Fast Sunday
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fast Sunday is a Sunday set aside for fasting.- Overview :...
, and are the only persons aside from the members of the bishopric that are permitted to handle Church donations. A Deacon may often sit beside the bishopric during sacrament meeting to act as the bishop's messenger.
As the Church 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
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...
sponsors troops of 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 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...
programs, many Deacons participate in these 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....
programs as well. The adult ward leaders of the Young Men Organization are frequently also leaders in the Scout troop, but the priesthood quorums and the Scouts are not otherwise connected.
An adult advisor is called to the Deacons Quorum. Although he is an advisor, he often ends up as the de facto leader of the quorum due to the inexperience of the Deacons Quorum presidency. Sometimes an assistant advisor is called to assist.
After an interview with the bishop, Deacons who are deemed worthy are ordained to the office of 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:...
at the age of fourteen, whereupon they will become members of the Teachers Quorum.