The Sacrament of the Ministry is a Sacrament of Service
Every Elder, Priest or Priestess, Teacher, or Deacon is to be ordained according to the gifts and callings of God unto them by the Power of the Holy Ghost which is in the one who ordains them.” –Doctrines of the Saints 2:56
In entering and with advancement in the Priesthood, the same questions are asked and answered as before baptism.
- Do you desire to come into the ministry of God?
- Have you confessed your sins to the Lord, and repented of them?
- Are you obedient to the laws of the land?
- Are you willing to bear another’s burdens, that they may be light?
- Are you willing to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort?
- Are you willing to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that you may be in, even until death, that you may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that you may have eternal life?
- Are you willing to continue in obedience to the Laws of God and Jesus Christ as you understand them?
After these, a perspective Officer will receive their Initiatories and be properly Endowed after their ordination before being further ordained.
To ordain one to an office of the Priesthood, the person performing the ordination must be properly ordained themselves. In the Fellowship of Christ, for example, a Priest or Priestess, or member of the High Priesthood may ordain others to the Levitical Priesthood, under the direction of the local Pastor or Bishopric. An Elder, High Priest or High Priestess may ordain one to the High Priesthood, under the direction of the area Patriarch and Matriarch. In the various Latter Day Saint churches, each has their own guidelines on how they are organized, and how new clergy are ordained.
In the Fellowship, a perspective member of the Levitical Priesthood is first washed, anointed, given their new name, and presented with the Garments of the Holy Priesthood. When ordaining one to the High Priesthood, one should be wearing the Robes of the Priesthood, as instructed up to that point.
Once authorized, the person performing the ordination will lay their hands upon the individual’s head, along with any others invited to stand in the circle, and state the perspective officer’s full name. They will then ordain them to the desired office, bestowing the rights, powers, and authority of that office. Following this, they may bless them, as directed or moved by the Holy Spirit. To conclude, they will close in the name of Jesus Christ, as directed in the Book of Mormon:
The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers—After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said: In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest (or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen. And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them.” –Moroni 3
Example ordination:
(State their full name); in the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a (Deacon/Teacher/Priest or Priestess/Elder/High Priest or High Priestess/etc.), to preach repentance (or teshuvah) and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end.”
(Blessing, as moved by the Holy Spirit)
“These things I leave with you (or say, or prophesy), in the name of Jesus Christ, so mote it be: Amen.”
Those witnessing this may then state, “Amen,” to seal the ordination.
This is a sample ordination, and does not have to be read exactly, but may be.
The person being ordained may invite up to 12 persons to stand in the circle. Family members should get priority, but it is up to the individual being ordained. A member of the local Bishopric should stand in the circle, to show support, and/or an Evangelist from local the High Council representing the Patriarch and Matriarch. A member of the Seventy may step in in cases where there are no Evangelists.
If the number of persons is limited, then those participating should merely place both hands on the person’s head. However, if there are more than three and all of those in the circle, they should use an Order of Prayer or the True Order of Prayer based on the level of Endowments those in the circle have received. Again, other ministries may proceed differently. Please consult your church’s guidelines in these matters.