LDS Church Structure

The organizational structure of the Mormon Church is based on the early Christian Church. It’s led by a President, who is viewed as a prophet, along with two counselors and a group of 12 Apostles. The Church has no professional clergy. Lay people fill these positions at the local stake and ward level.

Members of the Church believe the structure is divinely inspired and reflects the original ministry established by Jesus Christ.

President

Worldwide, the Mormon Church’s business structure is highly centralized, with the President at the top of the organization. Church members view the President as a prophet led by Jesus Christ. The President sets policy, interprets doctrine, manages Church programs and oversees the Church’s large financial interests.

The President and his counselors are called the First Presidency and are the highest level of authority in the LDS Church structure. They govern the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, the second-highest governing body. The senior Apostle is the member of the Quorum who has served the longest.

When the current President dies, the Apostles meet to receive confirmation from God that the senior Apostle should become the new President and Prophet. Once confirmed, the new President selects two Apostles from the Twelve as his counselors. These men become the next First Presidency, the highest governing body in the LDS Church. Choosing the senior Apostle as President ensures the new prophet has extensive spiritual experience and a long career in Church leadership.

Joseph Smith created the structure of the First Presidency and was the first Prophet and President. Members of the First Presidency are considered “special witnesses” of Jesus Christ.

Quorum of Twelve Apostles

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the second-highest leadership body in the LDS Church.

The President, in his role as prophet, calls a new Apostle to the Quorum when there is a vacancy due to a higher appointment or death. The President then submits the Apostle’s name to Church members at the next general conference. The general conference is the worldwide gathering of the LDS Church that happens twice a year.

“Everyday men” make up the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and no women serve in this role. Members can be from anywhere, but usually have served in lower-tier Church leadership. Typically, they are older and successful in occupations outside the Church.

The Twelve Apostles help set Church policy and oversee business interests. The Quorum is viewed as “equal in authority and power” to the First Presidency. When a President dies and a new First Presidency must be organized, the Quorum acts with the authority of the First Presidency until a new one is formed. The Apostles also confirm the new President.

Quorum members, along with the President and First Presidency, are seen as “prophets, seers, and revelators” by Church members. However, the term “the prophet” refers only to the President.

The Twelve Quorums and the Presidency of the Seventy

The Seventy is the governing body below the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the LDS Church leadership structure. It’s made up of the General Authority Seventies, the Area Seventies and the Presidency of the Seventy.

All Seventies have the same authority, and all are called by the First Presidency to:

• Act as “special witnesses”
• Build up the church
• Preach and administer the gospel
• Regulate Church affairs

Those chosen are male, usually well educated, successful in their careers and long-standing Church members.

The General Authorities Seventies

The First and Second Quorums of the Seventy are the General Authorities Seventies. They serve in the Church full-time, usually until age 70. They assist with humanitarian aid, missionary work, temple building and other Church efforts.

Some General Authorities Seventies serve in the Presidency of the Seventy or in Area Presidencies.

The Area Seventies

The remaining Quorums of the Seventy are Area Seventies divided by geographic region. They include the:

• Third Quorum of the Seventy: Africa Central, Africa South and West Africa
• Fourth Quorum of the Seventy: Asia and Asia North
• Fifth Quorum of the Seventy: Brazil
• Sixth Quorum of the Seventy: Caribbean, Central America and Mexico
• Seventh Quorum of the Seventy: Central Europe, Eurasia, Northern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa
• Eighth Quorum of the Seventy: The Pacific and the Philippines
• Ninth Quorum of the Seventy: South America Northwest and South America South
• Tenth Quorum of the Seventy: North America Central, North America Northeast and North America Southeast
• Eleventh Quorum of the Seventy: North America Southwest and North America West
• Twelfth Quorum of the Seventy: Utah

Area Seventies usually serve for five years. They meet and counsel with local Church leaders to help them fulfill their responsibilities to the Church.

The Presidency of the Seventy

The Presidency of the Seventy is a group of seven General Authorities Seventies members. They preside over the Seventy and are chosen by the First Presidency. Additionally, one of the seven is chosen to preside over the other six.

The Presidency of the Seventy oversees the Seventy's work and supports the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. It also assists with:

• Counseling local Church leaders
• Humanitarian work
• Missionary work
• Temple efforts and family history
• Traveling to teach the gospel

The Presiding Bishopric

The Presiding Bishopric works under the direction of the First Presidency. It is a council of three men overseen by the Presiding Bishop. The Presiding Bishopric manages:

• Humanitarian aid
• Membership records
• Physical facilities
• Tithing and offerings
• Welfare programs

The Presiding Bishopric also oversees the Aaronic Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood, also called the preparatory priesthood, is held by young boys ages 12 to 17 and by young men 18 and older who recently joined the Church as they prepare for the higher Melchizedek Priesthood. In this role, the Presiding Bishopric works closely with the Young Men General Presidency.

The General Presidencies

The final piece of the worldwide LDS Church organizational structure is the five General Presidencies. Each General Presidency consists of a president and two counselors who lead an organization within the Church. The General Presidencies include:

• The Primary General Presidency: The Primary is an organization for children ages 18 months to 11 years. The Primary General Presidency supports local Primary presidencies, which direct instruction and activities for children at the congregational level.
• The Relief Society General Presidency: The Relief Society is the Mormon Church’s organization for women. It helps them as they “strive to become true disciples of Jesus Christ.” The Relief Society General Presidency counsels and instructs local Relief Society presidencies.
• The Sunday School General Presidency: The Sunday School General Presidency works with the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve to direct religious instruction in the Church. It oversees local Sunday School presidencies and provides them with teaching materials.
• The Young Men General Presidency: The Young Men organization supports young men ages 12 to 18 as they serve in the Aaronic Priesthood. The Young Men General Presidency works with the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve and the Young Women organization. One of its duties is to find opportunities for young men to lead others, minister and study the gospel.
• The Young Women General Presidency: The Young Women organization promotes growth and development for young women ages 12 to 18 participating in the Church’s Children and Youth Programs. The Young Women General Presidency oversees congregational-level Young Women presidencies.

Most LDS congregants attend worship services near where they live. Local congregations are organized geographically, and Church members run, with oversight and supervision from the Utah base of operations, the local church units. Like the Church’s worldwide structure, there is a hierarchy.

Stakes

A stake is similar in structure to a Catholic Diocese. Five to 12 smaller congregations, called wards or branches, make up each stake. Stake presidents lead the stakes. They manage administrative, service, teaching and leadership positions/responsibilities with help from Church members. The stake president has two counselors.

As of 2024, the First Presidency requires the following to form a stake:

• 150 full-tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders capable of serving in leadership positions
• 500 participating adults
• 2,000 total members

In areas where the LDS is new or has fewer Church members, congregations may be organized into a district instead of a stake.

Wards

Wards are smaller than stakes. They are led by a bishop and two counselors, who are all volunteers from the congregation. Wards offer worship services, activities and classes. Church members carry out the daily business of each ward.

To form a ward, you need:

• 20 full-tithe-paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders capable of serving in leadership positions
• 100 participating adults
• 250 total members

Branches

In locations without enough members to form a ward, congregations are organized into branches that hold Sunday worship services. The leader of the branch is called the branch president. He has two counselors.

Branches are supervised by a stake, district or mission.

Missions

Missions refer to LDS missionary work. This is the Church’s program that places tens of thousands of young people in areas around the world to spread the gospel, aid humanitarian efforts or do other specialized work.

Mission presidents lead each mission. There are more than 400 missions across the globe, with up to 600 missionaries assigned to each area. Mission presidents serve for three years and may train an average of 180 young people during this time.

Missions aim to increase Mormon Church membership, which helps grow branches and districts and creates more wards and stakes. Completing missions can also help young Church members rise in Church leadership.

In the Mormon Church, “priesthood” has two meanings. First, the priesthood is the power and authority of God. Second, the priesthood is the power and authority God gives men to act in “all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children.”

Only Mormon men can hold the priesthood. They are ordained when they are judged worthy by local Church leaders.

There are two divisions of the priesthood, both named after priests in the Bible: The Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood.

Those holding the Melchizedek Priesthood have the full power and authority to lead the Church and preach its gospel worldwide. The Aaronic Priesthood is a lesser priesthood held by boys ages 12 to 17 or by members aged 18 or older who recently joined the Church.

Levels of priesthood in the Mormon Church

When a man or boy is ordained into the Aaronic Priesthood, they can hold an office. This places male members of the church above their female peers, as women cannot hold the priesthood in the Church. Levels of office in the priesthood include:

• Deacons: Young men who have been baptized and confirmed can serve as deacons starting at age 12. Deacons help maintain the Church’s buildings and grounds, pass the sacrament and act as messengers for priesthood leaders.
• Teachers: A boy can become a teacher at age 14. Teachers have all the duties of deacons, as well as additional responsibilities. They visit Church members in their homes to teach and encourage them to live the gospel.
• Priests: Young men deemed worthy can become priests at age 16. Priests can baptize people and administer the sacrament. They can ordain other deacons, teachers and priests. They can also lead meetings when no Melchizedek Priesthood holder is present.
• Elders: All Melchizedek Priesthood holders are elders. They can teach, baptize, administer to the sick and bless children. They can also preside over Church meetings when no priest is present.

“Brother” and “sister” are also common terms in LDS circles. The colloquial term refers to members who have completed a mission.

What do Mormon priests do?

Once an Aaronic Priesthood holder is ordained as a priest, they have the following responsibilities and spiritual privileges:

• Administer the sacrament: Priests can bless the water and bread for the sacrament and give it to church members during the sacrament meeting. This activity is similar to Catholic communion.
• Assist in missionary work: Priests help with missionary work by making appointments and preparations for elders.
• Baptize: Priests can baptize new members into the LDS Church.
• Ordain others to the Aaronic Priesthood: Priests can ordain other priests, teachers and deacons.
• Teach the gospel: Priests study and teach the gospel.
• Visit Church members: Priests visit members’ homes to teach, pray, and encourage them to live the gospel.

Women are not ordained into the Mormon priesthood. They do not serve in the Church’s highest offices, such as the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or the Seventy.

Instead, all women in the Church are members of the Relief Society and can lead and serve in this organization and the Young Women and Primary organizations. Women can hold General Presidencies and Area Presidencies in these groups. However, the Church’s highest offices, and those with greater authority, are reserved for male members only.

The LDS Church's structure can be hard for people outside the religion to understand. Find answers to common questions about how the Church is organized below:

Can women serve as LDS missionaries?

Yes, women can serve as missionaries. Missionaries can be male or female. Most missionaries are single, under age 25 and paired with someone of the same gender. However, married couples of opposite genders can serve together.

Are all LDS male members considered priests?

No, not all Mormon males are priests.

Most young men can hold the Aaronic priesthood and be ordained to an office of the priesthood at age 12 if their local leaders determine that they are worthy. This includes becoming a deacon or teacher. Men cannot become official priests until age 16.

Does the LDS Church have a hierarchy?

Yes, the hierarchical structure of the LDS Church is a main feature of its organization. Worldwide, the President is the head of the Church, assisted by the First Presidency. Beneath the First Presidency is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Seventy and local, congregational leaders.

When can the LDS Church be liable for sexual abuse?

The LDS Church can be held liable if Church leadership covered up or refused to acknowledge allegations of sexual abuse such that other children were subsequently victimized. People who were harmed as adults or children can file claims. In many states, the statute of limitations for these cases has opened up, allowing a lookback window.

Motley Rice attorneys have been involved in sexual abuse litigation against institutions and organizations. We provide trauma-informed representation to survivors and their families. We understand how challenging coming forward about abuse and sexual violence can be, and we are here to offer compassionate legal support.

We have handled cases involving:

• Sexual abuse and religion
• Sexual abuse in schools
• Sexual abuse on campus

If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse in the Mormon Church, contact Motley Rice to discuss your legal options. Fill out our online form or call 1.800.768.4026.

Read more about our sexual abuse litigation experience.