AOF!!!! 5 of 13

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

When Jesus Christ was on the earth he had what is known today as the Priesthood. Now the priesthood has 2 parts to it. The Aaronic Priesthood or the "Lesser" priesthood. The duties of this priesthood are:
1) Deacon: Worthy brethren may receive the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained deacons when they are at least 12 years old. The deacons duties are to pass the sacrament, assist the bishop in temporal things, watch over the church and warn,expound, exhort and teach, fellowship quorum members and other young men.
2) Teacher: Worthy brethren may be ordained teachers when they are at least 14 years old. A teacher has all the responsibilities of a deacon. He also has the following responsibilities: watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them, see that there is no iniquity in the church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking, see that the church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty.
3) Priest: Worthy brethren may be ordained priests when they are at least 16 years old. A priest has all the responsibilities of a deacon and teacher. He also has the following responsibilities: preach, teach, expound, exhort, … and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties, When authorized by the bishop, he performs baptisms, confers the Aaronic Priesthood, and ordains deacons, teachers, and priest, He may administer the sacrament by officiating at the sacrament table and offering the sacrament prayers when authorized.
4) Bishop: The bishop is the presiding high priest in the ward. He is also the president of the priests quorum

In the leadership of the priests quorum, the bishop serves with two assistants, both of whom are priests. Although the bishop delegates many responsibilities to his assistants, he serves personally and actively as quorum president. He promotes a spirit of love and unity in the quorum. He regularly attends and presides over quorum presidency meetings and Sunday quorum meetings. He participates in quorum service and activities. In his absence, he designates one of his assistants to assume quorum leadership responsibilities. When a bishop is released, his assistants are also released.

The bishop interviews young men who are preparing to be ordained to the office of priest.

The second part of the Priesthood is the Melchezidek priesthood. The duties that come with this priesthood are as followed: 

The offices in the Melchizedek Priesthood are elder, high priest, patriarch, Seventy, and Apostle. Each priesthood office has rights and responsibilities of service, including authority to administer priesthood ordinances.  

1) Elder: Worthy brethren may receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and be ordained elders when they are at least 18 years old. Elders also hold the authority of deacons, teachers, and priests.
2) High Priest: Brethren are ordained high priests when they are called to a stake presidency, high council, or bishopric or when otherwise determined by the stake president. The rights and responsibilities of high priests are to preside and to hold all the authority of elders.

     During Jesus ministry, he gave the holy priesthood to his 12 disciples. After his death the 12 disciples kept teaching the glorious word with the sacred priesthood until all of them were murdered and the holy and sacred priesthood was taken from the earth until a young boy named Joseph Smith restored the gospel. By restoring the fullness of the gospel to the earth again he also restored the priesthood. John the Baptist who baptized Jesus Christ gave the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery ( A scribe for Joseph when he was translating the Book of Mormon) and a month later, Peter, James and John descended from Heaven to earth and bestowed the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood to Joseph Smith. 
    Brother's and sister's and I would like to testify today that the Priesthood is true and it has been brought back to earth in this last dispensation by a prophet called from Heavenly Father himself, Joseph Smith. I can not tell how much the priesthood has blessed my life in just this one short year of being a member. It's brought so much joy and peace into my family and the people around me and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.