Saints Alive Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Why are apostles referred to as "elder"?
zerinus Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Why are apostles referred to as "elder"?Because The Lord has said so in the D&C.
thesometimesaint Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Because they are usually older gentlemen.
SamIam Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Why are apostles referred to as "elder"?****************************************************************************************************************************************Titles Arising from Office. In several instances, officers of the two Priesthoods bear the title of their respective offices, for example: Bishop; Elder; Apostle; Patriarch . The term Elder is a fitting and pleasing title for all officers of the Melchizedek Priesthood.—CG 29.(John A. Widtsoe, Priesthood and Church Government [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939], 106.)****************************************************************************************************************************************THE ELDERSThe Term "Elder." The term "Elder" as used in the Church is both a specific and a general one. In its specific use, it is applied to the first office in the Melchizedek Priesthood. But in its general meaning, it is used to refer to any degree of that Priesthood. Thus, we often hear an Apostle spoken of as Elder Smith or Elder Woodruff. So with Seventies and High Priests. The general title, "Elder" is often applied to them in giving an account of their labors.—PM 29-30.Power. Whoever is ordained to the office of an Elder to a certain degree possesses the keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood; and suppose only one Elder should be left on the earth, could he go and set in order the Kingdom of God? Yes, by revelation.—D 139.(John A. Widtsoe, Priesthood and Church Government [salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1939], 112.)**************************************************************************************************************************************Harold B. Lee (Quorum of the Twelve)The term "elder," which is applied to all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood, means a defender of the faith. That is our prime responsibility and calling. Every holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood is to be a defender of the faith. (Conference Report, April 1970, 54-57)**************************************************************************************************************************************Elder as Title: The title "Elder" can be used for any holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood. As a title it is typically used to refer to male Mormon missionaries (e.g. Elder Smith or Elder Jones) or to General Authorities (such as Elder Russell M. Nelson or Elder Merrill J. Bateman).Elder as Office: Men are ordained as elders beginning at either age 18 or 19. The duties of an elder are to baptize, confirm members of the Church and give the gift of the Holy Ghost, administer the sacrament, give blessings of comfort and healing, and generally watch over the Church. (http://www.mormonwiki.com/Priesthood ) Edited September 23, 2012 by SamIam
MormonMason Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 The Missionary "White Handbook" answers that question (I have read one but I do not recall the page number of the year the one I saw was printed; ask a local full-time Elder or Sister to see one). The answer is: Revelation.The Doctrine and Covenants also states that "an apostle is an Elder" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:38). I do not recall the text of the revelation (not in the Doctrine and Covenants) but in it the Lord insisted that they refer to each other using the respective titles.
CV75 Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Possibly "El-" for God; the suffix "-der" to signify that the position is an agent duly authorized to go forth and administer in behalf of God.
MormonMason Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) Possibly "El-" for God; the suffix "-der" to signify that the position is an agent duly authorized to go forth and administer in behalf of God.That only works for English--and even then, it is strained. Edited September 23, 2012 by MormonMason
Kenngo1969 Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 It doesn't really answer your question (I know: "Then why are you posting it, Ken?!" ) but I still like Elder Bruce R. McConkie's "Only an Elder."http://www.lds.org/new-era/2003/01/only-an-elder
ksfisher Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Mark L Staker in his excellent book "Hearen, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations" offers the following explanation: In the earliest New England churches, Americans often called ministers "elders" or "teaching elders," but Noah Webster, by 1828, defined "elder" as connoting a general administrator: "In the first christian churches, elders were persons who enjoyed offices or ecclesiastical functions, and the word includes apostles, pastors, teachers, bishops or overseers."...This understanding certainly influenced early Ohio Church meetings where "elder" frequently referred to all priesthood leaders irrespective of office.
ksfisher Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Not sure why it decided to indent only every other line.
CV75 Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 That only works for English--and even then, it is strained. Hmmm... the D&C was given in English, but the prefix and suffixes aren't from English roots at all!
Calm Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Not sure why it decided to indent only every other line.Looks fine to me.
volgadon Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Possibly "El-" for God; the suffix "-der" to signify that the position is an agent duly authorized to go forth and administer in behalf of God.Please tell me that this is an example of very dry, sly, humour. 1
ksfisher Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Looks fine to me.When I view it lines 1,3,5, and 7 are indented, as I intended the entire quote to be. The others are not. Perhaps it's just my iPad.
Calm Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) I am using a laptop, there are four quoted lines and all are indented. Your ipad probably cuts off the end of the line and thus you get a staggered look. Edited September 23, 2012 by calmoriah
Bob Crockett Posted September 23, 2012 Posted September 23, 2012 Why are apostles referred to as "elder"?Likely a throwback to the Disciples of Christ.
CV75 Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 Please tell me that this is an example of very dry, sly, humour.Well, I did say "Possibly..."
hagoth7 Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 Today at the temple dedication Elder Nelson referred to himself as Brother Nelson. 1
Duncan Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 As a sign of respect just like young missionary elders are called Elder or young sisters are called Sister 1
MormonMason Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 Likely a throwback to the Disciples of Christ.I am not sure about that. It might seem a coincidental proposition but I recall reading about a revelation that was not published in the Doctrine and Covenants but which insisted that the Lord was displeased because they were not addressing each other with the proper title as they should. I just do not recall at the moment where I read it, the actual content of the revelation, or the circumstances that led up to it. I lack access to most of my resources at the moment, being away, so I cannot even look to post a source.
Cobalt-70 Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 Likely a throwback to the Disciples of Christ.This practice of calling apostles "elders" pre-dates the conversion of Sidney Rigdon and his Disciples of Christ congregation.The reason we refer to apostles as "elders" is that in 1830, the office of "elder" and the office of "apostle" were the same thing, and the terms were used interchangeably. The Quorum of the Twelve was not formed until 1835, but before that, the terms "apostle" had the same meaning that the term "missionary" has in the church today. (Which is why male missionaries are also called "elders," even if they are high priests.
MormonMason Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 But, the reason why it is done today is a revelation that it is to be done.
Cobalt-70 Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 The Doctrine and Covenants also states that "an apostle is an Elder" (Doctrine and Covenants 20:38). I do not recall the text of the revelation (not in the Doctrine and Covenants) but in it the Lord insisted that they refer to each other using the respective titles.D&C 20:38 only reflects the church organization circa 1830, in which the office of apostle and elder were one and the same. When the Quorum of the Twelve was organized in 1835, they were dubbed "apostles," but actually most of them were high priests, so the offices of apostle and elder diverged. Although elders were no longer routinely called apostles much after the Melchizedek (high) priesthood was introduced 1831, the new 1835 apostles were still called "elders," at least informally.
MormonMason Posted September 25, 2012 Posted September 25, 2012 D&C 20:38 only reflects the church organization circa 1830, in which the office of apostle and elder were one and the same. When the Quorum of the Twelve was organized in 1835, they were dubbed "apostles," but actually most of them were high priests, so the offices of apostle and elder diverged. Although elders were no longer routinely called apostles much after the Melchizedek (high) priesthood was introduced 1831, the new 1835 apostles were still called "elders," at least informally.Information source? When the Church was first organized and incorporated, there were those who were elders but who also were not apostles.
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