Bishops come from all walks of life. In an organization where there are no paid clergy, Bishops give freely of their time, talents, skills and resources to serve their congregation for a certain length of time. This means they do all of that while still working to earn a living to support their individual families.

So what is different about Mormon bishops when compared to most other ecclesiastical leaders?

Mormon Bishops are Chosen From Out of the Congregation

Mormons believe that leaders of the Church receive inspired information – in answer to sincere prayer – as to who they should call to the position of bishop. There are no qualifications of educational attainment or income bracket. They look at the worthiness of male members in a specific geographic area. A bishop must be someone who adheres to the standards of the Church and is striving to live them. He must also have a willingness to serve. The wife of a prospective Bishop is also consulted by leaders, to make sure that she is also willing and able to support him in his duties and obligations to the members of the ward.

Mormon Bishops Serve For a Limited Amount of Time

A Mormon Bishop only serves for an average of five years. Within that span of time, there are numerous things he has to preside over. Some of the most important ones include making sure that the members are “nourished by the good word of God”. He oversees church meetings, especially those on Sunday like Sacrament meeting. He sees to it that correct principles are being taught in classes and everyone is united in doctrine. The Bishop also attends to the welfare of the members. He makes sure that help is available and organizes committees to make sure members’ needs are met. A Bishop is also responsible for the finances of the congregational unit they are serving. He receives tithes and offerings, distributes funds where they are needed and keeps proper records.

Mormon Bishops Are Not the Only Spiritual Teachers

Bishops are expected to delegate. That means he will also get inspiration from the Lord to call other members to help him. First and foremost, he is to recommend two other worthy male members to be his counselors. Most members of the congregation serve others in some capacity. Some teach the children, the youth, the adult women or the adult men to name a few. He will then oversee these groups by conducting meetings. Training and followups are important tools for a Bishop.

Mormon Bishops Serve Without Payment

Bishops serve without any personal compensation, beyond their love for the Lord and the joy of serving their neighbors in love as Christ would serve them. It takes a great deal of faith but they hold onto the promise that “in the service of (their) fellow beings (they) are in the service of (their) God.” Service is a way of life expected from all disciples of Jesus Christ. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught, “They are totally uncompensated by the coin of mortality. For the reward of their labors, all rely on the Lord’s deferred compensation plan.”

Bishops are men who are “about (their) Father’s business;” men who serve their loving Father in Heaven so His spirit children will be blessed. Perhaps even the true meaning of charity and service are in their “worthy heart and willing hands”.

Being a Bishop is not easy. It is tiring, daunting and requires more than what meets the eye. They give not just time, effort and resources but patience, integrity and a sterling character. Bishops get by with help from the members in their respective units and other Church leaders. But even more important, they get divine help from above, without which, the whole work would be impossible.

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If you have a Mormon friend in your circle, perhaps you’ve heard her talk about going to “general conference” and listening to “prophets and apostles”. Possibly, questions like the ones above have circled in your mind. A unique belief that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have is the knowledge that God, to this day, still communicates with His children through His servants, which you may know as Mormon prophets.

Some may have assumed that God has stopped communicating with us. This has since sparked long debates with various religious groups, historians, and ecclesiasticals alike about whether or not revelation from God still occurs to this day.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland testified that indeed, God still does. “Are the heavens open? Does God reveal His will to prophets and apostles as in days of old? That they are and that He does is the unflinching declaration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to all the world.” He continually speaks to us through revelations received by prophets, seers and revelators of the church.

MORMON PROPHETS AND APOSTLES

Since the time of Adam, the Lord has given authority to numerous prophets to speak and act in His name. In the scriptures, we read of prophets like Moses, Elijah, and Isaiah who received special instructions from God face-to-face, or if not, close encounters with Heavenly messengers who directly told them what needed to be done. These prophets of old were given priesthood keys and authority to carry out the Lord’s work. Today, latter-day prophets might not always publicize face-to-face encounters like the ones recorded about Moses and the others, but, they carry the same divine authority to act and speak in His name.

Latter-day, or Mormon, prophets are men who are called of God to receive commandments, prophecies and revelations from God. Their responsibility is to “make known God’s will and true character to mankind and to show the meaning of His dealings with them.” They preach His gospel, and lead His church on Earth.

Today, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God’s living prophet in the world today. Members of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles are sustained as prophets, seers and revelators.

HOW PROPHETS ARE CALLED

Elder Neil L. Andersen explained that “The selection of a prophet is made by the Lord Himself. There is no campaigning, no debates, no posturing for position, no dissension, distrust, confusion, or commotion.”

In a divine process of selection, the Lord chooses His prophet. When the President of the Church passes away, the First Presidency, a group of leaders made up of the President and his two counselors, is immediately dissolved. They return to their places in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The senior apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve has always been the successor to the President of the Church.

The newly-called President of the Church is then set apart officially to that position. With guided inspiration from the Lord, he chooses his counselors who will serve with him in the First Presidency. In a solemn assembly carried out after a new prophet is called, members of the church are given the chance to sustain them.

Today, President Russell M. Nelson holds the office of President of the church and he is assisted by two counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President Dallin H. Oaks along with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who perform tasks similar to the apostles who served with Jesus during His ministry. Like them, these men bear witness of Christ.

WHY WE HAVE PROPHETS TODAY

In Ezekiel, we read of “watchmen who raise the warning voice”. Mormon prophets are our watchmen on the tower. We are sent here to Earth to be tried and tested, and surely the Lord will not leave us alone to battle these challenges ourselves. Through His prophets, we are guided by heavenly instructions to steer us to the path of righteousness, if we are willing to follow their inspired counsel.

Heavenly Father’s love and care for us are demonstrated through the words He speaks through the mouth of the prophets. He knows we are here to experience a myriad of trials and temptations, and so He sent us servants to raise a voice of warning. “A prophet’s greatest responsibility is to show us his sure witness that Jesus is the Christ” and to “point us the way” to Him.

Elder Andersen taught, “Anchoring our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ requires listening to those He sends. Following the prophet in a world of commotion is like being wrapped in a soothing, warm blanket on a freezing cold day.” During times of unrest, anxiety and fear, we can be reminded that the Lord has never left our side. He has not neglected or forgotten about us. He speaks to us through the mouth of His servants to this day and will continue to do so in these latter days.

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