Aaronic Priesthood

"The Aaronic Priesthood helps God’s children prepare to return to His presence. It holds “the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism” (Doctrine and Covenants 13; see also 3.3.2 in this handbook)." (General Handbook Section 10.1)

The Year Before

For parents of young men, we invite you to use the year preceding your son's ordination as a time to prepare them to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. For parents of young women, we invite you to use your daughter's last year of primary as a wonderful time to help them learn more about the role of priesthood power, authority, and keys and their lives.

To help parents teach their children about the Aaronic Priesthood, we encourage them to use the following resources:

• Appendix A: For Parents--Preparing Your Children for a Lifetime on God's Covenant Path, found in the back of the Come, Follow Me manual

• Gospel Study Guide: Aaronic Priesthood in the Gospel Library

• General Handbook Section 3: Priesthood Principles

The Month Before

While your son is preparing to be ordained to the Aaronic priesthood, please complete the following steps:

• Contact the Ward Executive Secretary to let him know you'd like to schedule an appointment with the Bishop for your child to be interviewed to receive the Aaronic Priesthood

• With your son, meet with the Bishop to discuss your child's preparation to the Aaronic priesthood; note that this interview may correspond with their interview to receive their first temple recommend to perform proxy baptisms and confirmations

• Work with the appropriate member of the bishopric to schedule a time and place for your son to be ordained

• Determine who will ordain your son, who "must be authorized by the bishop ... [and] must be a priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder" (GH 18.10.4)

• Introduce your son to their quorum president, typically the deacons quorum president

Because the ordination takes place after being sustained in the ward, if you desire to attend the temple as soon after January 1st as possible, please work with your Bishopric to be sustained at the end of December so that you can be ordained soon after January 1st.

The Day Of

• • Encourage your son to be ready to stand as he is sustained in sacrament meeting

  • Gather your family to the appointed place at the appointed time for your ordination

  • Afterwards, take a moment to record your experiences of the day

We hope you enjoy and honor the sacred privilege to represent the Lord as you exercise his priesthood power.