Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)

In the Latter Day Saint movement, patriarch (also called evangelist) is an office of the priesthood. It is considered to be either an office of the patriarchal priesthood or the Melchizedek priesthood.

In the early days of Joseph Smith's Church of Christ and the Latter Day Saint movement, a single patriarch, known as the Presiding Patriarch or Patriarch to the Church, exercised his office throughout the whole church. The first patriarch was Joseph Smith, Sr.; after his death, his oldest living son Hyrum Smith became the patriarch. Some denominations continue the practice of a single Presiding Patriarch, who in some cases holds the highest office of the church organization; others have multiple patriarchs who hold more general positions in the organization.

While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) originally continued to have a single church-wide position of "Presiding Patriarch", this practice was discontinued on October 4, 1979. Within the LDS Church today, patriarch is an office in the Melchizedek priesthood.

A patriarch is ordained and called to serve the members of a particular stake organization. He is recommended by the stake presidency, with each recommendation approved by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The selected man must be married, hold the Melchizedek priesthood, have received a patriarchal blessing, and normally be at least 55 years old. He must be ordained to the office of patriarch by the laying on of hands by an apostle or by the stake president (when authorized by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). Patriarchs are not set apart. A patriarch retains the priesthood office of patriarch for life. Prior to ordination, the proposed ordination of a patriarch must be approved by the common consent of the priesthood holders (or alternatively, the entire membership) in the stake.

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