Deacon (Latter Day Saints)

[6] Deacons are assigned various tasks, including distributing the sacrament among the congregation,[1][5] assisting the elderly and disabled,[7] maintaining order in church buildings,[1] and (in some cases) collecting fast offerings.

[1] The creation of a new quorum of deacons within a ward falls under the bishop's authority, who is required to consider the impact of such a division on the formation of young priests.

[2] He nonetheless gave these primarily administrative factors a significant theological foundation, viewing them as confirmed by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through those who hold the keys of the priesthood.

[2][14] McConkie further noted that during the dispensation corresponding to the meridian of time, a period close to the life and earthly ministry of Christ,[15] adults were ordained as deacons.

[5] The office of deacon, like other elements of the church's organizational structure, is rooted in the Mormon canon, specifically in the Doctrine and Covenants.

[7] After the church officially ended its association with scouting organizations in 2019, it launched its own program for children and youth with similar functions and goals.

[7] It has been noted that, chronologically speaking, the deaconate predates the formal establishment of the Aaronic Priesthood, to which it doctrinally belongs.

[33] The modern form of the deaconate, including its specific age range and clearly defined responsibilities,[34] is the result of a priesthood reform movement that took place between 1908 and 1922.

[36] It is anticipated that the international expansion of the church, generational shifts, and changing social expectations will necessitate further restructuring of the Aaronic Priesthood in the future, including the office of deacon.

[37] As an integral part of Mormonism's history, the office of deacon appears in various religious organizations that trace their origins back to Joseph Smith.

It was part of the priesthood hierarchy in the Church of Christ, a short-lived community founded in 1848 by James C. Brewster and Hazen Aldrich.

It exists in the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ, a Mormon denomination with roots in the United Kingdom, founded in 2006 by Matthew Philip Gill.