High priest 

Summary

An ecclesiastical office.1 The Book of Mormon used the term high priest to denote one appointed to lead the church.2 However, the Book of Mormon also discussed an order of high priests who were called to teach the commandments of God and serve as leaders in the Church.3 At a church conference on 3 June 1831, several elders were ordained to the high priesthood.4 By late 1831, those ordained to the high priesthood were referred to as high priests.5 A November 1831 revelation stated that those ordained as high priests had the responsibility “to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God.”6 An 11 November 1831 revelation specified that a president of the high priesthood should be called to preside over both the high priesthood and the church.7 Further revelations stated that high priests had “a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the presidency, in administering spiritual things” and that they could serve as bishops or bishops’ counselors, officiate in all lesser offices, constitute high councils, and serve in the church’s presidency.8 By 1836, high priests were organized into a quorum, with JS’s brother Don Carlos Smith sustained as president of the high priests, an office distinct from JS’s role as “president of the high priesthood.”9 See also “High priesthood” and “Presidency of the high priesthood.”