|
Bishop is an office of the priesthood in the Latter Day Saint or Mormon tradition. The Mormon conception of the office differs significantly from the role of bishops in other Christian denominations. In Mormonism, each bishop serves with two counselors, which together form a quorum known as a bishopric.
History of the Office
Edward Partridge became the first man ordained to the office of bishop in the early Latter Day Saint church on February 4, 1831. The duties of the office were to oversee the temporal affairs and accounts of the church. Partridge emigrated to the church's growing colony in Jackson County, Missouri and continued to act as "First Bishop" of the church there. Newell K. Whitney was then called to be "Second Bishop" to oversee the temporal affairs of the church in Kirtland, Ohio.
When the Latter Day Saints were headquartered in Nauvoo, Illinois, the membership was separated into "wards" or geographical precincts and a bishop was called to oversee the temporal affairs of each ward. The role of the "First Bishop" was expanded to preside over bishops of the various wards (and thus became known as the office of the Presiding Bishop).
After the 1844 succession crisis, the offices of bishop and Presiding Bishop evolved separately in the various resulting denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement.
Bishops in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In the largest Latter Day Saint denomination, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), local congregations throughout the world are still known as wards. Each has a bishop with two counselors, who together form a "bishopric." (The exception, according to Latter Day Saint doctrines, is that a Bishop does not need counselors if he is a Levite and a direct descendant of Aaron, Moses' brother.) In addition to their historical role overseeing the ward's temporal affairs, bishops today function as the chief priesthood leader or "lay-minister" of each ward. Bishops also usually serve as presiding high priest and as president of the ward's priest's quorum.
Among Latter-day Saints, the Bishop is considered "the father of the ward" and is usually the leader most intimately involved with Church membership.
The LDS church also has a Presiding Bishopric which oversees the various ward bishoprics.
| 
