D&C 20:38-45 An Apostle is an Elder, and it is his calling to baptize; and to ordain other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons; and to administer bread and wine...and to confirm thos who are baptized into the church...and to teach, expound, exhort, baptize and watch over the church...and to take the lead in all meetings. The Elders are to conduct the meetings as they are led by the Holy Ghost, according to the commandments and revelations of God. Fairly straightforward, except that it gives a lot of the responsibilities that I associate with the Priests to the Elders. Specifically, baptizing, ordaining other priests, teachers, and deacons, and blessing the sacrament all belongs to priests. When it lists the duties of the priests in verses 46-52, he gets those, but they are moderated with the line, but when there is an elder present, he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize. And visit the house of each member...[and]...assist the elder if occasion requires.
20:53 The teacher's duty is to watch over the church always, and be with and strengthen them. (Emphasis added). so the teacher's duty is to actually be with the church, as though the others will not be, either because of duty, or by virtue of his calling, he will not feel as close to the balance of the members. In some ways, I am like this at work, that is, the team might feel more comfortable approaching one of the managers who report to me than to me, considering them more of a peer than I am.
20:61 The several elders composing this church of Christ are to meet in conference once in three months. I assume that general conference counts as half of this and Stake Conference is the other half.
20:68 The elders or priests are to have a sufficient time to expound all things concerning the church of Christ to their understanding, previous to their partaking of the sacrament and being confirmed by the laying on of the hands of the elders so that all things may be done in order. Last week, the Elders' Quorum President read an excerpt from the Church Handbook of Instructions, Although the sacrament is for Church members, the bishopric should not announce that it will be passed to members only, and nothing should be done to prevent nonmembers from partaking of it. Is the second in conflict with the first? I went to Mass a couple of times as a teenager with a girl I was dating. Her parents were quite helpful to me as they talked about what to expect and made it clear that I would not be alone in abstaining from participation in the Eucharist, even among a congregation of Catholics, and were able to suggest (without being offensive) that I probably ought not participate in that portion of the service. I think that is what our own members (and missionaries) may need to do. Prepare anyone who comes to church with them for the experience and have the conversation about what the sacrament means to them and to the church as a whole prior to shoving a tray full of bread or water in their face 15 minutes into the meeting.
