WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF PRIESTHOOD IN THE
GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH?

          The call to ministry originates with God, and this call is expressed through previously ordained ministers. Only authorized officers of the church in their various administrative spheres may express this call to ministry. In the local branch the pastor is the only administrative officer in this sense. Others may give witness to but may not initiate the call of any man.

          Nevertheless, the membership has full right to approve or to disapprove, to accept or refuse the ministry of one so called. After approval by higher administrative officers, all such calls are presented to the body within whose area the ordination would immediately take effect, and the principle of common consent here operates. When this approval is given by a branch or district, etc., the rights and duties outlined in the doctrines of the church are conferred upon the one so called, by ordination. The minister then carries the right to officiate anywhere in the world within the bounds of his calling.

          Members of the church should look to the priesthood for guidance and direction in the matters of the church, and the Doctrine and Covenants particularly enjoins respect for this function. See Doctrine and Covenants 125:14.

          Thus the church to this degree is governed by revelation.

ARE ALL OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH CALLED BY
REVELATION OR HAS THE MEMBERSHIP THE
RIGHT OF APPOINTING SOME?

          All officers requiring ordination to the ministry are governed as stated in the previous paragraphs, but there are numerous officers chosen for other than ministerial work. These are nominated and voted upon by the common consent of the membership. These officers are those of local treasuries and secretarial work and those of the church school and its departments. Such officers are not necessarily ordained ministers although they frequently are.

          The pastor of the local church is elected by common consent and may be nominated as a rule by a member or some minister having higher jurisdiction. Unless there is some grave reason for a departure from this principle, he should be sustained by majority vote. Any variation of this procedure would be protected by the right of appeal. The only restriction being placed upon the appointment of the pastor is that he must be chosen from the ranks of the priesthood, normally of the high priesthood or eldership.

ARE THERE MATTERS OF GOVERNMENT WHERE
THE COMPLETE PRIVILEGE OF INITIATION
RESTS WITH THE MEMBERSHIP?

          There is a large field of legislation that may be initiated by the membership of the church, quite apart from priesthood responsibility. The principle of common consent operates throughout the church in the various conferences of branches, districts, and missions and in the General Conference of the whole world organization. Each held has certain restrictions of responsibility, all of necessity being subject to the General Conference. In all such meetings and conferences, the right is there exercised to discuss, amend, assent to or dissent from all proposed enactments that would govern the future conduct of the church."

          It is important that each member become familiar with church law which is definite as to where the fields of membership action and administrative functions shall operate. This involves a study of the Doctrine and Covenants and of General Conference Resolutions.

WHAT DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY RESTS UPON A
MEMBER EXERCISING HIS PRIVILEGE OF
COMMON CONSENT?

          A great responsibility rests upon the membership in this respect. To get a full democratic vote is impossible, for that would involve equality of understanding by each voter, require that every member of the church be present, and each would have to have an equal ability to express a point of view. With these facts in mind, it is essential that each person should be careful to use his voting privilege as a stewardship and avoid the use of his vote in ignorance or without due respect for the principles of justice and honesty of purpose.

HOW OFTEN ARE MEETINGS FOR THE CONDUCT
OF BUSINESS CONVENED?

          In most branches these meetings are held annually, and it is the duty of every member to attend such with previous preparation having been made throughout the year by interest in and understanding of all the activities of the church both local and general. It is not reasonable or just for consistently non-attending members to turn up at business meetings to vote on an equal basis with those who will be expected to be governed by the adoptions of these "absentees." District and mission conferences are also convened periodically where such organizations exist, and these are constituted on the delegate system, the branches appointing delegates when required. The General Conference meets at intervals set by the vote of the business session, and all organized branches or districts are represented there by their chosen delegates.

AVENUES OF SERVICE

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES OF SERVICE ARE THERE FOR
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH?

          The great missions of the church are to redeem men and to build the kingdom of God. The accomplishment of these missions calls for a great many kinds of consecrated abilities from the membership. Every good gift bestowed upon men and women can be used to serve humanity and the work of the church. It is the opportunity of each member to discover his own talents, and to find joy in the service of God and his follow mortals by contributing to the great work of the church and of the kingdom of God.

          Outside of the lines of service that are the special responsibility of the priesthood, there are many things needed by the church and the people that can be done or given by a consecrated membership. Indeed, the work of the church could not succeed without the consecrated efforts of talented and loyal members. The best that every member can do or give is needed.

GOD CALLS ACCORDING TO OUR TALENTS,
LATENT AND DEVELOPED

          Men have the responsibility and privilege of preparing to fulfill the functions of ministry in one of the priesthoods of the church. While we are definite in our belief as a church that God calls men by revelation, so are we definite in our recognition of the fact that God calls according to preparation and readiness to serve.

          Thus, men with souls developed to the condition where they are receptive to the prophetic spirit (that is the expression of the truth of the power of Christ in a life which is more than word only) are awaited by God.

SERVICE THROUGH EVANGELISM OR MISSIONARY
WORK

          Missionary work provides the widest avenue of service in the church and the world, and is open to all within the areas of their calling and qualification. To work effectively in this avenue of service, one must be qualified by knowledge of the church and the truths that it has been commissioned to teach. All members, both priesthood and membership, are urged to share in this great task of converting the world. Attendance at all church study classes and preaching services will help to qualify one to this end. "Let him that is warned warn his neighbor" is the motto of all true Saints. We may not all be commissioned to preach from the pulpit nor to administer the ordinances of the church, but all can tell the good news to men.

THROUGH PASTORAL ACTIVITY

          The shepherding of souls is a great opportunity open to men and, in some spheres, to the women of the church. The guiding, nourishing, and healing of souls is the most rewarding and satisfying of activities for the Master. More and more is the need for such leadership becoming evident. There is here a channel of service open to many in both ministry and counseling. Preparation through study of human nature and the relation of the gospel thereto will enable the call of God to be fulfilled in us more fully. While pastoral ministry is a function of priesthood, there is an ever-expanding field of social service for women temperamentally fitted and qualified.

THROUGH THE TEACHING SERVICE OF THE
SCHOOL

          The teaching service of the church is open to both men and women of suitable type and preparation. Large staffs of consecrated men and women are continually required for the work of the church school And its departments. Opportunity to train for teaching and group leadership is offered regularly through the church schools and by the Department of Religious Education. These courses are open to all who desire to qualify.

THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP
ABILITY

          Groups and societies of the church membership in adult, young people's, and children's divisions of the church are in need of a constant supply of developing leaders who are willing to specialize in ministering to the needs of these sections. Leadership of women and of men, Zion's League and Scouts, Orioles and Blue Birds and Cubs, etc., offers a fine field of service for consecrated workers of the church. These departments continue to increase in numbers with consequent need for leadership.

THROUGH THE AVENUE OF CHURCH LITERATURE

          There are a number of ways of spreading the gospel story and of helping those already in the church to a fuller understanding of the message. Not least of these ways is writing. The consecration of one's pen to the service of the church both for publication of suitable material and by private and personal letter is within the gift and calling of many Saints.

THROUGH THE AVENUE OF MUSICAL ABILITY

          The ministry of preaching and teaching is one avenue that has found the need of a companion ministry and that is the ministry of music. Few meetings of the church in our day do not find need for this particular service of music and song. The Spirit of God is often brought to the realization of people through this channel of art. Here then is an avenue of service which might be regarded as second only to the ministry of the spoken word. If one has this gift of music it is a duty to cultivate it and give of that cultivation to the services of the church. Instruction is given in the Scripture concerning this responsibility.

          "Let the young men and maidens cultivate the gifts of music and of song; let not the middle-aged and the old forget the gladsomeness of their youth and let them aid and assist so far as their cares will permit."-Doctrine and Covenants 119:6.

THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC SPHERES

          As the church enters more fully into the practical application of the principle of Zionic Stewardship, avenues of service in the technical and industrial fields as well as those of economics will become more and more important. Trained and useful participation in the great project of industrial Zion will be required in the years to come, and preparation for the acceptance of this great challenge opens an expanding avenue for those so minded. Zion cannot be established without such consecrated servers.

BY CONTRIBUTING ACCORDING TO OUR MATERIAL
BLESSINGS FOR THE CHURCH WORK

          One may feel limited by qualification in many of the tasks open for the developing membership of the modern church organization, but the field of personal giving to the funds of the church is one where very few are not privileged to serve. To study and know one's obligations to the financial department of the church is to become aware of a vast field of need, To obey the law is to make possible much of that progress of which we dream in less practical moments.

IN THE HUMBLE ROLE OF A GOOD MEMBER
OF THE CHURCH

          Quite apart from the special avenues of service dealt with in this chapter there is the most fundamental need of all, and that is to support those who are called and selected to carry forward the work of the church in the entire field of ministerial and departmental labor. This need not be an inactive service but one of constructive support of every activity connected with the kingdom of God. Each should seek to find his gift and magnify it for the service of his fellow man and God.

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