High priest (Latter Day Saints)
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High Priest is a priesthood office in the Melchizedek Priesthood of denominations within the Latter Day Saint movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the LDS Church, High Priests are primarily responsible for the spiritual welfare of the members and the administration of local church units called wards and stakes.
Like other priesthood offices in the LDS Church, High Priests are organized into quorums. The High Priests Quorum, however, is organized at the stake level, with the president of the quorum being the stake president. In contrast, Priesthood quorums for the offices of Deacon, Teacher, Priest, and Elder are organized at the ward level. In consultation with the bishop, the stake president organizes a High Priests Group in each ward. Each group is provided with a group leader who typically selects two assistants and a secretary to assist him. Assignments made to the group include home teaching and assisting adult males who are not yet Elders prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. High Priests are also responsible for temple and family history work within a ward.
In a district, there is no high priests quorum. Men holding the office of high priest join the elders quorum of the branch that they live in.
There are a number of positions in the LDS Church which may only be filled by a High Priest. Among these are bishop, stake president and counselor to a stake president, member of a stake high council, and mission president. A bishop's two counselors are also high priests, except in the case where the counselors are unmarried adult members in a single adults ward. A branch president and his counselors need not be high priests, but they must be holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Any High Priest in the Church is eligible to be called as an Apostle or as a member of the First Presidency of the Church.
