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During the general priesthood session on Saturday, March 31, President Russell M. Nelson announced a “significant” restructuring of ward and stake Melchizedek Priesthood quorums that will help Melchizedek Priesthood holders “accomplish the work of the Lord more effectively. In each ward, the high priests group and the elders quorum will now be combined into one elders quorum,” he said. There will continue to be a stake high priests quorum, but it will based on “current” priesthood callings.
“These modifications have been under study for many months,” President Nelson said. “We have felt a pressing need to improve the way we care for our members and report our contacts with them. To do that better, we need to strengthen our priesthood quorums to give greater direction to the ministering of love and support that the Lord intends for His Saints. These adjustments are inspired of the Lord. As we implement them, we will be even more effective than we have been previously.”
In subsequent talks, Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Elder Ronald A. Rasband, both of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, added further details about the announced changes.
Ward elders quorum
The ward elders quorum will be led by one presidency. The presidency may be comprised of elders and high priests, explained Elder Christofferson. The elders quorum president will report to the stake president and meet regularly with the bishop.
Priesthood offices will remain the same—elders remain elders and high priests remain high priests. “This is not a ‘takeover’ of elders quorums by high priests,” Elder Christofferson said. “We expect elders and high priests to work together in any combination in the quorum presidency and in quorum service.”
To read the full article on LDS.org, click here.
