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What Is the First Presidency?

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The First Presidency is the highest governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of three presiding High Priests.

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The First Presidency is the highest governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of three men who serve as presiding High Priests and lead the Church in accordance with divine revelation 1. It is not an administrative committee but the central authority through which the Church receives, interprets, and implements living revelation 2. The presidency’s authority is rooted in the New Testament model of apostolic leadership and was formally restored in the modern era when the three presiding High Priests were appointed by the Lord 3. This office ensures continuity, unity, and doctrinal integrity across the global Church 4.

The First Presidency operates through a system of shared responsibility and clear lines of succession 3, designed to preserve stability during times of transition and growth. Its members do not merely oversee programs; they are the primary conduits of prophetic direction, responsible for guiding the Church in all its work 1. While the presidency coordinates with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other general authorities 2, its unique role is to embody the highest level of divine guidance, ensuring that the Church remains aligned with the will of God.

For members of the Church, the First Presidency’s work is felt in everyday life: in the preparation for temple ordinances, the organization of ward activities, and the doctrinal clarity provided through official statements 5. Understanding the presidency is not about studying distant leadership but recognizing how divine guidance flows into the daily lives of ordinary Latter-day Saints.

The First Presidency: The Church’s Highest Governing Office

The First Presidency is the central governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, composed of the President of the Church and his two counselors, who together form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church 6. This three-member council presides over all affairs of the Church, directing both spiritual and administrative matters 7. The President of the Church is the senior member of the quorum and holds the authority to receive revelation and declare the will of God for the entire Church 7. His counselors assist him in this work, and together they act as the highest council of the Church 8. As Elder Ezra Taft Benson explained, “In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord refers to the First Presidency as 'the highest council of the Church' (107:80) and says, 'whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent' (112:20) 8.”

The authority of the First Presidency is rooted in divine appointment and scriptural precedent. The Lord established this council to guide the Church in the last days, entrusting it with the power of the priesthood 9. Elder Mark E. Petersen emphasized that “The First Presidency is the presiding council of the Church. These Brethren preside over all things. They hold all the keys, powers, gifts, and blessings of this dispensation” 2. Their role extends to final authority over membership restrictions and withdrawal 4, reflecting their responsibility to maintain the integrity and unity of the Church. The First Presidency does not merely administer; it leads the Church in accordance with divine revelation, ensuring that its work aligns with the will of God 1.

Biblical Roots and Modern Revelation

The scriptural foundation of the First Presidency extends back to the New Testament model of apostolic leadership, where Jesus Christ appointed the Twelve Apostles as his representatives on earth. After his ascension, the apostles continued to exercise authority through councils and shared governance, establishing a precedent for collaborative, revelatory leadership. This pattern finds its direct fulfillment in modern revelation, which explicitly identifies the First Presidency as the presiding council of the Church. Elder Mark E. Petersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught that “The First Presidency is the presiding council of the Church. These Brethren preside over all things. They hold all the keys, powers, gifts, and blessings of this dispensation” 2. This authority is not merely administrative; it is rooted in divine appointment and sustained by ongoing revelation.

Modern revelation establishes the First Presidency as a divine institution from the earliest days of the Restoration. Joseph Smith, the first president of the Church, received direct instructions to form a quorum of counselors, creating the original First Presidency. In Doctrine and Covenants 124:126, the Lord states, “I give unto him for counselors my servant Sidney Rigdon and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and First Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church” 10. This establishes the presidency’s role as a channel for divine direction. The presidency’s authority is further clarified in Doctrine and Covenants 120:1, which declares, “Verily, thus saith the Lord, the time is now come, that it shall be disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen” 1. This verse places the First Presidency at the center of Church governance, working in concert with other councils to administer God’s will.

The First Presidency’s authority is not derived from human tradition but from scriptural precedent and prophetic revelation. Elder David B. Haight, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, noted that the procedure for installing a new First Presidency is “divinely revealed” and has been followed consistently to the present day 3. The presidency’s power to receive and disseminate revelations is a core function. Elder L. Tom Perry, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, emphasized that Revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church, are to come through the [First] Presidency. This is the order of heaven, and the power and privilege of this Priesthood 11. This teaching underscores that the First Presidency serves as a conduit for divine guidance, ensuring that the Church remains aligned with God’s ongoing plan.

The Restoration itself reaffirmed the biblical pattern of shared apostolic authority. In The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2020), the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles declared that “Three of the original twelve Apostles—Peter, James, and John—restored the apostleship and keys of priesthood authority” 12. This proclamation affirms the restoration of apostolic authority, which provides the scriptural precedent for the modern presidency, showing that the presidency’s authority is a continuation of the New Testament order. The presidency’s role is not to replace prophetic guidance but to embody and execute it, ensuring that the Church’s work reflects the will of God.

How the First Presidency Was Organized and Succession Worked

The structure of the First Presidency evolved from a single presiding figure to a three-member body as the Church’s authority was organized in the early days of the Restoration. Initially, Joseph Smith served as the sole President of the High Priesthood 13. However, divine revelation soon clarified that the presidency should consist of three presiding High Priests who together form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church 6. This three-member model was formally established in 1833, marking the beginning of the institutionalized First Presidency 14. The design reflects a principle of shared authority and collective counsel, ensuring that no single individual holds all the keys of the presidency at once, while still maintaining a clear line of leadership.

Succession in the presidency follows a carefully revealed pattern that ensures continuity even when the presidency is temporarily dissolved. When the President of the Church passes away, the First Presidency is dissolved, and leadership passes to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles 3. Bruce R. McConkie explained that “the mantle of leadership—the reins of presidency—go to the senior man left and to the Council of the Twelve as a body; in effect the Council of the Twelve then becomes the First Presidency of the Church” 15. During this transitional period, known as an “apostolic interregnum,” the Twelve jointly hold the keys to administer the Church 16. President Joseph F. Smith taught that “There is always a head in the Church, and if the Presidency of the Church are removed by death or other cause, then the next head of the Church is the Twelve Apostles, until a presidency is again organized” 16. The president of the Quorum of the Twelve serves as the presiding officer until the First Presidency is formally reorganized 17.

This system of succession is not arbitrary but rooted in divine ordinance. Keys of presidency are given to each apostle, but they remain dormant until someone occupies the position of senior apostle 15. The transition is automatic and orderly, designed to prevent any gap in leadership or confusion about authority. The pattern ensures that the Church remains guided by those who have been appointed and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church 6. Once the new First Presidency is organized, the reins of presidency are restored to the three presiding High Priests, and normal Church governance resumes 3. The entire process reflects a design meant to preserve unity, continuity, and divine direction through all seasons of the Church’s growth.

Prophetic Teachings on the Presidency’s Purpose and Responsibility

The First Presidency’s purpose is not merely to manage Church operations but to lead the Church in accordance with divine revelation. From the earliest days of the Restoration, the Lord has directed His people through prophets, and the President of the Church serves as the chief prophet, seer, and revelator for the entire Church 7. This role is deeply rooted in the belief that the keys of the priesthood and the authority to govern the Church rest with those who hold the highest calling 7. President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, taught that “The First Presidency have the ultimate responsibility for the affairs of the kingdom of God on the earth” 18. This ultimate responsibility includes governing the Church, administering its ordinances, expounding its doctrine, and establishing and maintaining its practices 19. The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, together, hold the keys of the priesthood and are called and ordained to carry out these duties 19.

Elder Russell M. Nelson, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, emphasized the continuity and authority of this leadership by repeating the principle that “The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, called and ordained to hold the keys of the priesthood, have the authority and responsibility to govern the Church, to administer its ordinances, to expound its doctrine, and to establish and maintain its practices” 20. This authority is not derived from human opinion but from divine appointment. President Howard W. Hunter, President of the Church, expressed his gratitude for “the revelations which have established the marvelous system by which his church is governed” 21. He affirmed that every member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is sustained as a prophet, seer, and revelator, ensuring that the Church’s direction remains aligned with the will of God 21.

The spiritual significance of the First Presidency is further illuminated by its scriptural designation as “the highest council of the Church” 8. Ezra Taft Benson, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught that “whosoever receiveth me, receiveth those, the First Presidency, whom I have sent” 8. This means that to receive the President of the Church is to receive the entire First Presidency and the divine authority they represent 8. The First Presidency is also described as “the presiding council of the Church” by Elder Mark E. Petersen, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who noted that “These Brethren preside over all things. They hold all the keys, powers, gifts, and blessings of this dispensation” 2. These teachings underscore the belief that the First Presidency serves as the central conduit of divine direction, ensuring that the Church remains guided by living revelation and maintains unity in doctrine and practice 2.

The First Presidency in Relation to Other Church Offices

The First Presidency functions as the central coordinating authority for all other general leadership bodies in the Church. It does not merely oversee them from a distance; rather, it actively directs and unifies their work. The President of the Church, as the senior member of the presidency, presides over the entire organization and is recognized as the only person on earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys 7. This foundational authority flows directly to the Council of the Twelve Apostles, which operates under the direction of the First Presidency. President N. Eldon Tanner, who served as First Counselor in the First Presidency, explained this relationship clearly: “Under the direction of the First Presidency, the Council of the Twelve is responsible for all the ecclesiastical matters of the Church and for the administration of the ecclesiastical affairs of the Church carried on by members of the First Quorum of the Seventy” 22.

This hierarchical structure ensures that the work of the Twelve Apostles and the Seventy remains aligned with divine guidance. The Twelve are not independent in their authority; they answer directly to the presidency. As President N. Eldon Tanner noted, quoting Joseph Smith, the Twelve are not subject to any other than the First Presidency, … ‘and where I am not [meaning the President of the Church], there is no First Presidency over the Twelve’ 22. This principle extends to the administration of the Church’s ordinances and doctrine. Elder Russell M. Nelson emphasized that the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, together, “have the authority and responsibility to govern the Church, to administer its ordinances, to expound its doctrine, and to establish and maintain its practices” 20.

Furthermore, the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles hold the keys of the priesthood collectively. Elder L. Tom Perry explained that Revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church, are to come through the [First] Presidency. This is the order of heaven, and the power and privilege of this Priesthood 11. This means that while individual officers may receive revelation for their specific duties, the highest level of doctrinal and administrative direction flows through the presidency and the Twelve. Elder Mark E. Petersen summarized the presidency’s overarching role: “The First Presidency is the presiding council of the Church. These Brethren preside over all things. They hold all the keys, powers, gifts, and blessings of this dispensation” 2.

In practice, this means that every general authority body—whether it is the Council of the Twelve, the Council of the Seventy, or other general authority bodies—operates in harmony under the direction of the presidency. The First Presidency sets the vision and priorities, and the Twelve Apostles implement them. This structure ensures unity and clarity in the Church’s global operations. As Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin observed, “The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, called and ordained to hold the keys of the priesthood, have the authority and responsibility to govern the Church, to administer its ordinances, to expound its doctrine, and to establish and maintain its practices” 23.

This coordinating role is not merely administrative; it is deeply spiritual. The First Presidency serves as the living conduit of divine direction, ensuring that the Church remains guided by revelation. Elder Mark E. Petersen taught that “These Brethren preside over all things. They hold all the keys, powers, gifts, and blessings of this dispensation” 2. This means that the presidency’s work is not isolated from the rest of the Church; rather, it shapes and unifies every aspect of Church life. The First Presidency’s authority is thus both practical and spiritual, ensuring that the Church remains focused on its divine mission.

Common Misunderstandings About the First Presidency

One frequent misconception is that the First Presidency functions merely as an administrative committee or a managerial board. This view reduces the presidency to a purely practical office, overlooking its spiritual authority and its role as the presiding council of the Church 2. The First Presidency is not simply the Church’s executive branch; it is the highest council, the central authority through which the Lord directs His people 8. The doctrine is clear: the presidency holds all the keys, powers, gifts, and blessings of the current dispensation 2. This means that every decision, policy, and teaching that flows from the presidency carries the weight of divine authorization, not just human consensus.

Another misunderstanding is that the First Presidency replaces prophetic guidance. Some assume that once the presidency makes a decision, that settles the matter independently of ongoing revelation. In reality, the presidency’s authority is inseparable from the role of the President of the Church as a prophet, seer, and revelator 7. The presidency does not operate apart from divine guidance; it is the channel through which the Lord’s will is received and applied. As the Church manual explains, the President of the Church “has authority to receive revelation and declare the will of God for the whole Church” 7. This prophetic dimension means the presidency is not a static administrative body but a living, revelatory authority that responds to the Lord’s direction in each season.

A third common error is thinking the presidency is self-sufficient and never dependent on other authorities. While the First Presidency presides over all Church affairs 2, it works in harmony with the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and other general authorities 7. Joseph F. Smith clarified that the Twelve are not subject to any other than the First Presidency, … and where I am not [meaning the President of the Church], there is no First Presidency over the Twelve 15. This statement emphasizes that the presidency is the central coordinating authority, but it also acknowledges that leadership is shared and that succession plans ensure continuity. The presidency is not isolated; it is the focal point of a broader system of prophetic and apostolic leadership designed to serve the Church effectively and faithfully.

How the First Presidency Shapes Members’ Daily Lives

The First Presidency’s authority does not remain confined to general conferences or administrative announcements; it permeates the daily routines of members worldwide. Because the presidency holds the keys to the priesthood, its decisions directly shape how ordinances are performed and how doctrine is taught. Elder Russell M. Nelson explained, “The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, called and ordained to hold the keys of the priesthood, have the authority and responsibility to govern the Church, to administer its ordinances, to expound its doctrine, and to establish and maintain its practices” 20. This means that when the presidency issues guidance on temple procedures or baptismal standards, local wards and families are expected to follow those instructions as part of faithful stewardship.

One of the clearest ways the presidency impacts ordinary life is through changes to priesthood and temple blessings. In early June of 1976, the First Presidency announced that a revelation had been received by President Spencer W. Kimball extending priesthood and temple blessings to all worthy male members of the Church 24. That decision required careful preparation: after President Kimball received the revelation in the sacred rooms of the temple, he presented it to his counselors, who approved it, then to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and finally to all other General Authorities 24. The result was immediate and practical: men who had previously been excluded from temple worship could now receive endowment and sealing blessings, transforming how thousands of families experienced their faith.

The presidency also shapes how members approach their homes and families. Church manuals reflect presidential direction by stating, “The home is the basis of a righteous life” 25. This principle, originating from a First Presidency letter, encourages members to hold weekly home evening, study the gospel together, and honor the Sabbath day. By elevating the home as a sacred space, the presidency ensures that salvation and exaltation are not only pursued in temples and congregations but are cultivated in daily family life.

Beyond ordinances and home practices, the presidency’s role extends to succession and continuity, which protect members from disruption during leadership transitions. Elder David B. Haight reminded audiences, “In 1835 the Lord gave a revelation on this matter that provides for orderly succession. The revelation states that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a body equal in authority to the First Presidency. (See D&C 107:24.) That means that when the President of the Church dies, the First Presidency is dissolved and the Quorum of the Twelve automatically becomes the presiding body of the Church. That pattern was established with the death of the Church’s first President, Joseph Smith” 3. This built-in plan assures members that leadership remains steady even when unexpected changes occur, preserving stability in worship, teaching, and community service.

Ultimately, the First Presidency shapes members’ daily lives by providing the doctrinal foundation, administrative guidance, and succession structure that allow the Church to function cohesively. Whether a family prepares for temple work, a ward organizes its lessons, or a new leader steps into the presidency, the influence of the presidency is felt in the concrete actions of ordinary Latter-day Saints.

For those who wish to explore the First Presidency more deeply, the Church offers a variety of resources that illuminate its doctrine, history, and practical impact. Scriptural foundations begin with Doctrine and Covenants 94:3, in which the Lord designates a sacred space for “the building of a house for the presidency, for the work of the presidency, in obtaining revelations” 26. This divine charge frames the presidency not as a bureaucratic office but as a center of revelation, a theme echoed throughout modern Church history.

The Living Christ, published in 2000, contains the January 1, 2000 statement from the First Presidency 27. That document reflects the presidency’s role in guiding the Church through times of doctrinal clarity and administrative change, while maintaining a tone of pastoral care. For historical context, Official Declarations 2 and 5 preserve the exact wording of revelations received by President Spencer W. Kimball and presented by President N. Eldon Tanner 2424. These records demonstrate how the First Presidency receives, examines, and communicates divine instructions to the entire Church.

Leaders have long emphasized the presidency’s central responsibility. President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, taught that “The First Presidency have the ultimate responsibility for the affairs of the kingdom of God on the earth” 18. That responsibility includes both spiritual direction and practical oversight, ensuring that the Church’s work remains aligned with revelation. Similarly, Ezra Taft Benson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, pointed to the doctrine of the priesthood, noting that the Lord calls the First Presidency “the highest council of the Church” and that those who receive the Lord also receive the presidency 8.

Elder David B. Haight, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained that the installation of the First Presidency follows a divinely revealed procedure, sustained by the faith and prayer of the Church 3. This principle reminds members that the presidency is not self-established but upheld by the people. For those interested in how the presidency’s policies affect individual lives, the statement on Patriarchal Blessings issued by the First Presidency in 1980 provides a clear example of doctrinal guidance 5. Each of these resources invites further study, grounding abstract authority in tangible practice and revealing how the First Presidency continues to shape the Church’s mission.

Footnotes

  1. Doctrine and Covenants 120:1. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  2. Petersen, Mark E. (1981-10-01). "Follow the Prophets". ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  3. Haight, David B. (1986-04-01). "A Prophet Chosen of the Lord". ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  4. "32. Repentance and Church Membership Councils". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ↩ ↩2

  5. Faust, James E. (1980-03-30). "Patriarchal Blessings". ↩ ↩2

  6. Doctrine and Covenants 107:22. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. "5. General and Area Leadership". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  8. Benson, Ezra Taft (1980-02-26). "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet". ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  9. Doctrine and Covenants 112:30. ↩

  10. Doctrine and Covenants 124:126. ↩

  11. Perry, L. Tom (2003-10-01). "We Believe All That God Has Revealed". ↩ ↩2

  12. Saints, The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day (2020-04-05). "The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ↩

  13. Doctrine and Covenants 107:65. ↩

  14. Packer, Boyd K. (1996-10-01). "The Twelve Apostles". ↩

  15. McConkie, Bruce R. (1974-01-08). "Succession in the Presidency". ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  16. Stevenson, Gary E. (2018-04-01). "The Heart of a Prophet". ↩ ↩2

  17. Hales, Robert D. (1994-06-05). "A Testimony of Prophets". ↩

  18. Faust, James E. (1995-04-01). "Responsibilities of Shepherds". ↩ ↩2

  19. Hinckley, Gordon B. (1994-04-01). "God Is at the Helm". ↩ ↩2

  20. Nelson, Russell M. (2014-10-01). "Sustaining the Prophets". ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  21. Hunter, Howard W. (1994-10-01). "“Exceeding Great and Precious Promises”". ↩ ↩2

  22. Tanner, N. Eldon (1979-10-01). "The Administration of the Church". ↩ ↩2

  23. Wirthlin, Joseph B. (1994-09-04). "“Choose the Right”". ↩

  24. Official Declaration 2. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  25. "2. Supporting Individuals and Families in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ↩

  26. Doctrine and Covenants 94:3. ↩

  27. Saints, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day (2000-01-01). "The Living Christ". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ↩