Ward Aaronic Priesthood Leadership

• Bishopric

  The bishopric is the presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood in the ward (see D&C 107:15). Members of the bishopric watch over and nurture each Aaronic Priesthood holder, helping him accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood. They work closely with parents and other leaders in this effort.

  • Bishop

    The bishop as quorum president (1) promotes a spirit of love and unity in the quorum, (2) regularly attends and presides over quorum presidency meetings and Sunday quorum meetings, (3) regularly participates in quorum service and activities, (4) builds quorum leadership by overseeing and instructing his assistants, and (5) interviews his assistants regularly to discuss, among other things, the progress of each quorum member.

    Although the bishop delegates many responsibilities to his assistants, he should serve personally and actively as quorum president. In his absence, he designates one of his assistants to assume quorum leadership responsibilities. In branches, the branch president acts as the president of the priests quorum.

    The bishop also oversees Aaronic Priesthood ordinations and presides over the ward Aaronic Priesthood committee and the bishopric youth committee.

  • Bishop and His Counselors

    The bishop is assisted by his counselors in the following responsibilities: (1) oversee the deacons and teachers quorums, (2) regularly attend quorum presidency meetings and Sunday quorum meetings, (3) regularly participate in quorum service and activities, (4) build quorum leadership by overseeing and instructing quorum presidencies, (5) interview quorum presidents regularly to discuss, among other things, the progress of each quorum member, (6) call and instruct quorum leaders, (6) interview young men, (7) oversee the ward Young Men organization, (8) instruct the ward Young Men presidency in their responsibilities, (9) oversee Scouting, and (10) assign teachers and priests to serve as home teachers.

• Ward Young Men Presidency (Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Advisers)

  Under the direction of the bishopric, members of the ward Young Men presidency (Aaronic Priesthood quorum advisers) (1) minister to individual young men in the ward, helping them grow spiritually by loving, serving, and teaching them, (2) give special attention to new members and less-active young men, (3) strengthen young men in their families, (4) encourage young men to seek their parents' counsel and to support their families' wholesome activities, (5) should support the parent-child relationship, not compete with it or substitute for it, (6) direct the efforts of the ward Young Men organization to accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood and ensure that it is organized and functioning properly, (7) give gospel instruction in Sunday quorum meetings, (8) complete the Teaching the Gospel course and plan and participate in teacher improvement meetings, (9) help the bishopric build quorum unity, (10) build quorum leadership by teaching quorum presidencies their duties, (11) attend quorum presidency meetings, (12) work with quorum leaders to plan and carry out weekly Mutual activities for the quorum, (13) if Scout units are organized, serve as adult Scout leaders unless the bishopric has called assistant quorum advisers to do so, (14) work with quorum leaders to plan monthly combined activities with the young women, (15) hold regular presidency meetings, and (16) meet regularly with a counselor in the bishopric.

  The ward Young Men president serves on the ward priesthood executive committee, ward council, ward welfare committee, and bishopric youth committee. All members of the presidency serve on the ward Aaronic Priesthood committee. For more information, see "Gospel Teaching and Leadership," section 16 of the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders (1998), 317-19.

  The ward Young Men president oversees the records, reports, and finances of the ward Young Men organization. He ensures that attendance reports are accurate, complete, and on time. He and his counselors recommend a detailed ward Young Men budget to the bishopric before the beginning of the year. They ensure that approved funds are spent wisely and according to Church policy.

• Assistant Quorum Advisers

  The bishopric may call assistant advisers for each quorum as needed. Assistant advisers serve under the direction of quorum advisers and may be asked to share many of the advisers' responsibilities. The bishopric may also call assistant advisers to serve as adult Scout leaders.

  Assistant advisers should complete the Teaching the Gospel course. They also should participate in teacher improvement meetings.

• Scout Leaders

  If Scout units are organized, the bishopric generally calls members of the ward Young Men presidency to serve as Scout leaders (such as Scoutmaster, Varsity coach, and Venturing adviser, in the United States). Or instead, the bishopric may call assistant quorum advisers to serve as adult Scout leaders. For more information, see the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders (1998), 187, and the Scouting Handbook.

• Ward Young Men Secretary

  The ward Young Men secretary assists the presidency as needed. He (1) consults with the presidency to prepare agendas for their meetings, (2) attends these meetings and keeps minutes, (3) oversees quorum secretaries in keeping quorum attendance records, (4) may help the presidency prepare the annual ward Young Men budget and account for expenditures of approved funds, (5) serves on the ward Aaronic Priesthood committee, (6) as invited, attends stake priesthood leadership meetings, and (7) instructs quorum secretaries.

• Quorum Presidencies

  Aaronic Priesthood quorum presidents are given the keys to administer the work of the quorums over which they preside. Quorum leaders should follow the counsel and instruction of the bishopric and the quorum adviser. They report regularly to the bishopric on the progress of each quorum member.

  Quorum leaders (1) preside over the quorum, (2) teach quorum members their duties and help them accomplish the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood (see D&C 107:85-87), (3) watch over and fellowship quorum members and other young men of quorum age, (4) strive to develop love, brotherhood, and loyalty among quorum members, (5) provide opportunities for priesthood assignments, leadership experiences, and spiritual growth, (6) have a special responsibility to watch over and fellowship new quorum members, unordained young men of quorum age, less-active quorum members, and members who have disabilities or other special needs, (7) preside over quorum presidency meetings and Sunday quorum meetings, (8) help plan quorum activities, (9) serve on committees, (10) visit the Primary class for 11-year-old boys, and (11) keep records.