GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES
Ordain, Ordination
See also Authority; Call, Called of God, Calling; Hands, Laying On of; Office, Officer; Priesthood

To appoint or confer authority or office. To use authority in the Lord's Church, a person must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority (A of F 1: 5). Although a person may receive authority by ordination, he uses it under the direction of those who hold the particular keys for that authority.

I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations, Jer. 1: 5. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, John 15: 16. Having authority from God, Alma ordained priests,Mosiah 18: 18. Men are ordained unto the high priesthood with a holy ordinance, Alma 13: 1-9. Jesus called and ordained twelve disciples, 3 Ne. 12: 1. Elders ordain priests and teachers by the laying on of hands, Moro. 3: 1-4. Wait yet a little while, for ye are not yet ordained, D&C 5: 17. Joseph Smith was ordained an Apostle of Jesus Christ, D&C 20: 2 (D&C 27: 12). No person is to be ordained without the vote of the Church, D&C 20: 65. It shall not be given to any one to preach my gospel, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, D&C 42: 11. Elders are ordained to preach my gospel, D&C 50: 13-18. It is the duty of the Twelve to ordain and set in order all the other officers of the Church, D&C 107: 58. I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained, Abr. 1: 2. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery ordained one another to the Aaronic Priesthood, JS-H 1: 68-72.