Elder 

Summary

An administrative and ecclesiastical office not associated with age.1 The Book of Mormon explained that elders ordained priests and teachers and administered “the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church.”2 The articles and covenants of the church directed elders to hold conferences to conduct church business, “to ordain other elders, priests, teachers and deacons,” to administer the sacrament, to teach and baptize, to give the Holy Ghost, and to “take the lead” at all meetings.3 By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as the first and second elders of the church.4 In September 1832, a revelation designated the office of elder as an appendage to the high priesthood.5 An 1835 revelation further explained that the “office of an elder comes under the priesthood of Melchizedek.”6 All bearers of the Melchizedek Priesthood could be referred to as elders, regardless of the specific priesthood office they held.7 The term was also used to signify proselytizing missionaries.8