The Presiding Bishopric

Grampa Bill's General Authority Pages

Edward Partridge, First Bishop of Zion

THE PRESIDING BISHOPRIC

    Just as the the Melchizedek Priesthood is presided over by a Presiding High Priest, the President of the Church, even so, the Aaronic or lesser priesthood also has a General Presiding Officer. And just as the Presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood in the ward is the Bishopric, even so the the General Presidency of the Aaronic Priesthood in all the Church is the Presiding Bishopric.
    Like a Ward Bishop, the Presiding Bishop is assisted by two counselors. Unlike a ward in which there is only one sitting Bishop whose counselors are properly called "Brother So-and-so," each member of the Presiding Bishopric, both the Bishop and his counselors, is an ordained Bishop and each is properly addressed as "Bishop So-and-so." Just as a Ward Bishopric serves under the direction of a Stake Presidency, even so the Presiding Bishop serves under the direction of the First Presidency.
      Since its formation, the Presiding Bishopric has been responsible for many of the temporal affairs of the Church. These have included involvement in receiving, distributing, and accounting for member tithes, offerings, and contributions; administration of programs to assist the poor and needy; design, construction, and maintenance of places of worship; and auditing and transferring records of membership. Men chosen to be Presiding Bishops have been recognized for their business and management skills as well as their religious commitment. Historically, the Presiding Bishopric has presided over the Aaronic Priesthood. As General Authorities, members of the Presiding Bishopric regularly speak at general conferences, often specifically addressing the young men of the Church.
    At first, Presiding Bishops held office for life, but in the twentieth century they have been released and replaced as circumstances and Church needs have dictated.
    Presiding Bishoprics are not sustained as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators.

NAME SELECTOR

Edward Partridge*, (1831-1840) *Not sustained or set apart as Presiding Bishop; use link for explanation..

First Counselor
Isaac Morley, (1831-1840)

    Second Counselor
        John Corrill, (1831-1837)
        Titus Billings, (1837-1840)

Newell K. Whitney*, (1844-1850)

George Miller*, (1844-1847)

Edward Hunter, (1851-1883)

First Counselor
Leonard W. Hardy, (1856-1883)

    Second Counselor
        Jesse Carter Little, (1856-1874)
        Robert T. Burton, (1874-1883)

William B. Preston, (1884-1907)

    First Counselor
        Leonard W. Hardy, (1884)
        Robert T. Burton, (1884-1907)

    Second Counselor
        John Quayle Cannon, (1884-1886)
        John Rex Winder, (1887-1901)
        Orrin Porter Miller, (1901-1907)

Charles W. Nibley, (1907-1925)

    First Counselor
        Orrin Porter Miller, (1907-1918)
        David A. Smith. (1918-1925)

    Second Counselor
        David A. Smith, (1907-1918)
        John Wells, (1918-1925)

Sylvester Q. Cannon, (1925-1938)

First Counselor
David A. Smith (1925-1938)

Second Counselor
John Wells, (1925-1938)

LeGrand Richards, (1938-1952)

    First Counselor
        Marvin O. Ashton, (1938-1946)
        Joseph L. Wirthlin, (1946-1952)

    Second Counselor
        Joseph L. Wirthlin, (1938-1946)
        H. Thorpe B. Isaacson, (1946-1952)

Joseph L. Wirthlin, (1952-1961)

First Counselor
H. Thorpe B. Isaacson, (1952-1961)

Second Counselor
Carl William Buehner, (1952-1961)

John H. Vandenburg, (1961-1972)

First Counselor
Robert L. Simpson, (1961-1972)

Second Counselor
Victor L. Brown, (1961-1972)

Victor L. Brown, (1972-1985)

First Counselor
H. Burke Peterson, (1972-1985)

    Second Counselor
        Vaughn J. Featherstone, (1972-1976)
        J. Richard Clarke, (1976-1985)

Robert D. Hales, (1985-1994)

    First Counselor
        Henry B. Eyring, (1985-1992)
        H. David Burton, (1992-1994)

    Second Counselor
        Glen L. Pace, (1985-1992)
        Richard C. Edgley, (1992-1994)

Merrill J. Bateman, (1994-1995)

First Counselor
H. David Burton, (1994-1995)

Second Counselor
Richard C. Edgley, (1994-1995)

H. David Burton, 1995-2012)

First Counselor
Richard C. Edgley, (1995-2012)

Second Counselor
Keith B. McMullin, (1995-2012)

Gary E. Stevenson, (2012 - present)

First Counselor
Gerald Jean Caussé , (2012 - present)

Second Counselor
Dean Myron Davies , (2012 - present)

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