A bishop who is a first-born descendant of Aaron can sit as a common judge in the Church without counselors, except when a president of the High Priesthood is tried. But a bishop from the High Priesthood must not sit as a judge without his two counselors. In both cases the jurisdiction of bishops is original, but not exclusive.
Over all the other bishops in the Church there is a presiding bishop, with two counselors. William B. Preston is the present presiding bishop, and Robert T. Burton and John R. Winder are his counselors.
The duties of a priest are "to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and administer the sacrament, and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties; and he may ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons; and he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present; but when there is an elder present he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties. In all these duties the priest is to assist the elder, if occasion requires."
The duties of a teacher are "to watch over the Church always, and be with and strengthen them, and see that there is no iniquity in the Church, neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking; and see that the Church meet together often, and also see that all the members do their duty; and he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest."
The duties of a deacon are to assist the teacher in his duties in the Church, if occasion requires. But deacons have more especially to do with temporalities and are expected to see that the meeting houses are in comfortable condition for the use of the officers and members of the Church in their various meetings. It is also the duty of the deacons, under the direction of the bishops, to look after the welfare of the poor, and endeavor to supply their necessities.
Teachers and deacons are "appointed to watch over the Church, to be standing ministers unto the Church." "But neither teachers nor deacons have authority to baptize, administer the sacrament, or lay on hands. They are, however, to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ."
No man can hold any office in the Priesthood, in either kind, unless by authoritative call and ordination, or by special appointment of God.
As a general rule, though with some limitations, an officer in the Priesthood has power to ordain men to the same office that he holds, when the candidates are properly called and vouched for.
ORGANIZATION.
The First Presidency of the Church, also known as the First Presidency of the High Priesthood, consists of a president and two counselors. Wilford Woodruff is the present president, and George Q. Cannon and Joseph F. Smith are his two counselors. It is the duty of the First Presidency to preside over the affairs of the Church, and they can officiate in any or all of its offices. "Of the Melchisedek Priesthood, three presiding high priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the Church, form a quorum of the presidency of the Church." "The duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole Church, and to be like unto Moses." "Yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the Church."