Outlines of Ecclesiastical History

by B. H. Roberts

17. Territorial Division of the Church.—The church in relation to the territory it occupies, for convenience in government, is divided into stakes of Zion, wards and branches.

I. Stakes.—A stake of Zion is a division of the church territorially that embraces several wards and branches. There is no set number of wards or branches necessary to constitute a stake. That is arranged according to convenience. The stake is presided over by a president, who is a high priest, assisted by two other high priests as counselors. They constitute the presidency of the stake, and preside over the organizations in that stake much in the same way that the president of the church presides over the entire church; but is subject of course to the general authorities of the church.

In each stake is a standing high council, over which the presidency of the stake—or the president or either one of the counselors, when circumstances render it impossible or inconvenient for all to be present—preside. This forms the highest judicial tribunal in the stake.

One or more patriarchs are appointed to confer upon the people patriarchal blessings within the stake.

The high priests are organized into a quorum with a presidency over them as already explained.^[[134]]

The elders are organized into one or more quorums, according as they are numerous enough for one or a number of quorums;^[[135]] and with the high priests constitute the standing ministry in the stake.

II. Wards.—The stakes are divided into ecclesiastical wards, presided over by a bishopric, consisting of a bishop aided by two high priests as counselors unless the bishop is a literal descendant of Aaron, in which event he has authority to act as bishop without counselors.^[[136]] The bishopric has a direct general presidency over the quorums of the lesser priesthood in his ward; and presides even over those holding the higher priesthood as members of his ward; but not over the quorums of the higher priesthood as quorums. The bishopric of a ward, like the bishopric of the church, has to do chiefly with temporal affairs; but in nearly all cases, in fact, so far as we know, in all cases at present in the church, the bishops are high priests acting in that capacity; and since in acting as bishops they do not lose their position as high priests they have a right to minister in both temporal and spiritual affairs. It may be well to remark, however, in passing, that wherein bishops do take the lead in spiritual concerns they do it by virtue of the high priesthood which they hold, which is the proper authority to act in spiritual matters.

The ward officers consist of a quorum of priests, of teachers and of deacons. Their powers and duties have already been explained.^[[137]] They labor under the direction of the bishop, and are the standing ministers within the ward, to be with and watch over the church to see that each member thereof does his duty and that no iniquity is allowed to creep into the church, to corrupt it. At present in many wards there are not enough men to fill up the quorums of the lesser priesthood, and members of the high priesthood are frequently found officiating as teachers, etc.

Each ward is divided up into teachers' districts, and two teachers appointed to take charge of each district, and visit every family and member within it, to see that all are doing their duty; that they live, so far as may be, in peace with all men; that they are prayerful; diligent in attending public worship; and that they are honest, sober and hold no hardness against their neighbors.

III. Branches.—Branches are organizations established chiefly out in the world where there are no regularly organized stakes. The elders while abroad on missions in order to preserve in the faith those who receive the gospel, organize branches, set apart elders or priests to preside, and also ordain as many other elders, priests, teachers and deacons to assist the president of the branch as may be deemed necessary. These officers discharge the same duties in a branch that they would in a fully organized ward. Branches are also sometimes organized in outlying districts of large wards where there are not enough people to justify a complete ward organization, and yet the district is too far removed from the ward to permit the members living there to enjoy the advantages of the adjacent ward organization. In such an event the branch is usually placed under the care of the neighboring ward.