Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office 

18.10

Conferring the Priesthood and Ordaining to an Office 

18.10.2

Instructions 

To confer the priesthood and ordain a person to a priesthood office, one or more authorized priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the one acting as voice: 

1. Calls the person by his full name.

2. States the authority he holds to perform the ordinance (Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood).

3. Confers the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood, unless it has already been conferred.

4. Ordains the person to an office in the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood and bestows the rights, powers, and authority of that office. (Priesthood keys are not bestowed when conferring the priesthood or ordaining to an office, except when ordaining a bishop.)

5. Gives words of blessing as guided by the spirit.

6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ. 

To ordain a person to a priesthood office after he has already had the appropriate priesthood conferred upon him, the person who performs the ordination omitsstep3.

 

An ordination is an opportunity to give a blessing. Detailed counsel and instruction about a person’s duties are given before and after the ordination. They should not be the focus of the blessing. It is not necessary to have prayers, testimonies, or instruction when someone is ordained.