Deacon
Summary
An ecclesiastical and priesthood office. The “Articles and Covenants” directed deacons to assist teachers in their duties. Deacons were also to “warn, expound, exhort, and teach and invite all to come unto Christ.” Although deacons did not have the authority to baptize or administer the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, they could sign letters certifying the good standing of Saints who moved from one congregation to another and assist elders in keeping current lists of members. The first recorded mention of ordained deacons is in the minutes of the 25–26 October 1831 conference in Orange, Ohio. A November 1831 revelation called for a president to preside over twelve deacons. In September 1832, a revelation designated the office of deacon as an appendage to the lesser priesthood, later called the Aaronic priesthood, and directed deacons to serve as “ministers unto the church.” Various revelations also designated the office of deacon as the lowest office within the priesthood.
Links
- History, 1838–1856, volume A-1 [23 December 1805–30 August 1834]
- Appendix 2: Letter to the Saints Scattered Abroad, June 1835
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830 [D&C 20]
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830, as Recorded in Coltrin, Diary [D&C 20]
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830, as Recorded in Gilbert, Notebook [D&C 20]
- Articles and Covenants, circa April 1830, as Recorded in Hyde and Smith, Notebook [D&C 20]
- Discourse, 6 April 1837
- Instruction on Priesthood, between circa 1 March and circa 4 May 1835 [D&C 107]
- Journal, 1835–1836
- Journal, March–September 1838
- Kirtland Elders’ Certificates
- Letter from Heber C. Kimball, 9 July 1840
- Letter from Oliver Cowdery, 28 January 1832
- Letter to Church Officers in Clay County, Missouri, 31 August 1835
- Letter to Moses Daley, circa 8 October 1834
- Letter to Quorum of the Twelve, 4 August 1835
- Letterbook 1
- Letters to John Burk, Sally Waterman Phelps, and Almira Mack Scobey, 1–2 June 1835
- License for Allen Rothburn, between circa 28 and circa 29 September 1838, Extract
- License for Andrew Tyler, 25 May 1836
- License for Didemick Westfall, 23 May 1836
- License for Frederick G. Williams, 25 February 1834
- License for Isaiah Call, 4 June 1840, Extract
- License for Isaiah Williams, 6 July 1836
- License for John Whitmer, 9 June 1830
- License for John S. Higbee, 26 July 1838
- License for John Sagers, 11 May 1836
- License for Joseph Smith Sr., 9 June 1830
- License for Moses Tracy, 14 June 1836
- License for Phineas R. Bird, 3 March 1841, Extract
- License for Robert Bidwell, 21 May 1836
- License for William Burgess, 2 April 1836
- License, 21 March 1836
- Minutes and Discourse, circa 7 July 1834
- Minutes and Discourses, 17 March 1842
- Minutes, 15 January 1836
- Minutes, 17 August 1835
- Minutes, 17 February 1834
- Minutes, 2 May 1833
- Minutes, 22 December 1836
- Minutes, 25–26 October 1831
- Minutes, 3 March 1836
- Minutes, 30 March 1836
- Minutes, 7–8 April 1838
- Minutes, 9 February 1834
- Minutes, circa 3–4 June 1831
- Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book
- Plan of the House of the Lord, between 1 and 25 June 1833
- Plat of the City of Zion, circa Early June–25 June 1833
- Recommendation from Quincy, Illinois, Branch, between 20 October and 1 November 1839
- Revelation Book 1
- Revelation Book 2
- Revelation, 11 November 1831–B [D&C 107 (partial)]
- Revelation, 19 January 1841 [D&C 124]
- Revelation, 22–23 September 1832 [D&C 84]
- Revelation, 3 January 1833 [D&C 88:127–137]
- Revelations printed in Evening and Morning Star, January 1835–June 1836
- Revelations printed in The Evening and the Morning Star, June 1832–June 1833
- Revised Plan of the House of the Lord, circa 10 August–circa 4 September 1833