Editing Clergy (section)

===Latter-day Saints===
{{Main|Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)}}
{{Primary sources section|date=November 2023}}

[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) has no dedicated clergy, and is governed instead by a system of lay priesthood leaders. Locally, unpaid and part-time [[Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|priesthood holders]] lead the church; the worldwide church is supervised by full-time [[General authority|general authorities]], some of whom receive modest living allowances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1985/11/questions-and-answers?lang=eng|title=Questions and Answers - ensign|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org|access-date=2019-07-15|archive-date=2020-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219193137/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1985/11/questions-and-answers?lang=eng|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/General_Authorities "General Authorities,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111085647/http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/General_Authorities |date=2014-11-11 }} [[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]], p. 539</ref> No formal theological training is required for any position. The church believes that all of its leaders are called by [[revelation (Latter Day Saints)|revelation]] and the [[laying on of hands]] by one who holds authority. The church also believes that [[Jesus Christ]] stands at the head of the church and leads the church through revelation given to the [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|President of the Church]], the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]], and [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Twelve Apostles]], all of whom are recognized as [[prophet, seer, and revelator|prophets, seers, and revelators]] and have lifetime tenure. Below these men in the hierarchy are [[quorum (Latter Day Saints)|quorums]] of [[Seventy (LDS Church)|seventy]], which are assigned geographically over the [[Area (LDS Church)|areas]] of the church. Locally, the church is divided into [[stake (Latter Day Saints)|stakes]]; each stake has a [[stake president|president]], who is assisted by two counselors and a [[high council (Latter Day Saints)|high council]]. The stake is made up of several individual congregations, which are called "[[ward (LDS Church)|wards]]" or "branches". Wards are led by a [[Bishop (Latter Day Saints)|bishop]] and his counselors and branches by a [[branch president|president]] and his counselors. Local leaders serve in their positions until released by their supervising authorities.<ref>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [http://www.mormon.org/faq/no-paid-clergy "Why Don't Mormons Have Paid Clergy?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061814/http://www.mormon.org/faq/no-paid-clergy |date=2014-05-08 }}, mormon.org.</ref>

Generally, all worthy males age 12 and above receive the [[priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood]]. Youth age 12 to 18 are ordained to the [[Aaronic priesthood (LDS Church)|Aaronic priesthood]] as [[deacon (Latter Day Saints)|deacons]], [[teacher (Latter Day Saints)|teachers]], or [[Priest (Latter Day Saints)|priests]], which authorizes them to perform certain [[ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinances]] and sacraments. Adult males are ordained to the [[Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Melchizedek priesthood]], as [[elder (Latter Day Saints)|elders]], seventies, [[high priest (Latter Day Saints)|high priests]], or [[Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)|patriarchs]] in that priesthood, which is concerned with spiritual leadership of the church. Although the term "clergy" is not typically used in the LDS Church, it would most appropriately apply to local bishops and stake presidents. Merely holding an office in the priesthood does not imply authority over other church members or agency to act on behalf of the entire church.