Question for the LDS?

Question

Why are the Deacons of the Mormon Church, just little boys?

Is 1 Timothy 3:8-13 another mis transelated scripture?

Savyy Did you read the question or the scripture?

moonman No I didnt say it, but I think God did.

Answer 1

:People who work within the bonds of Mormonism don't get paid. Not even bishops. They call their young boys priests, when God's Word tells us that Jesus is our Prophet, Priest and King, not young boys and particularly not these days.

Deacons and Elders in a Christian church are ALWAYS mature men with excellent reputations in the community. Mormonism, not being Christian, uses the same words, but they all have different meanings, including the Mormon Jesus.

Answer 2

Let me help you out a little bit. Male converts to the Church, no matter what age, are not automatically ordained to the highest Priesthood office. Deacon is still the first office in the Aaronic Priesthood, from 12 on up. So the older members who first joined the Church (then and now) could very well be married. I believe that scripture may be referring to that fact, that they must be "proved" before being ordained to any further office. Have a happy day, and I send you a gummy bear.
P.S. Oh, and if 12 seems too young to you, why would the Jews continue to have bar mitzvahs for 13 year old boys? There's not a whole lot of difference between 12 and 13.

Answer 3

There are deacons of all ages in the LDS Church. While one can receive the Aaronic Priesthood at the age of 12 , IF FOUND WORTHY, there is no upper age limit on the office of deacon.

I find that there is much interpretation going on for this scripture. As you can tell, the Bible is not exactly precise on all of its doctrine. I do not see any age limit mentioned in these verses. While it states that a deacon "must be proved" that statement does not mention an age. Young 12 year olds have "worthiness" interviews with their bishops to be found "proven" to hold the priesthood. If the young man boy is not worthy, he does not receive it. Worthiness means a desire to serve others, be Christian in word and deed, and to fulfill the repsonsiblities of the office of deacon. Young men at the age of 12 can be found worthy to so serve. And you would be incorrect if you assume young men in the LDS Church follow the trends of today and do not have that sincere desire to serve others. That is one of the beauties of this practice, of allowing young men the opportunity to so serve others.

Giving a young man of 12 responsibility to serve others seems to me, to be a very excellent way to teach and train a child. Does not the scriptures also say "to train up a child in the ways of God, so that he will not depart from it?"

The LDS Church believes that the Aaronic Priesthood is a "prepatory" priesthood and allows holders of it to learn and grow and develope in their abilites, their faithfulness, and their devotion to God. Young men at the age of 12 can do that, and so can newly converted members at any age. And those others can be married.

When proved faithful, those 18 and older can also obtain the higher or Melchizedek Priesthood.

I see nothing contrary to this scripture within LDS practices. In fact, quite the contrary.

You state that it was God who said that deacons should be married. Actually, it was God speaking thru Timothy. Which brings up another point. God speaks thru his leaders, and as the Bible states, Gods church needs apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc. See 1 Corinthians 12: 28-29, Ephesians 2:20, and Ephesians 4:11. There is only one church today that has that organziation....the LDS Church (Mormons).

Answer 4

A Deacon is the lowest office in the Aaronic Priesthood or the Priesthood of Aaron. This is given to boys at age 12. All they can do with this Priesthood is pass the sacrament (communion) at church and accompany their father to do Home Teaching (visiting members in their homes with a spiritual message.) The giving of this priesthood and this office within that priesthood is what a Bar Mitzva was originally all about. That is why Christ was at the temple when he was 12!

Answer 5

Timothy 3 talks about the standards for bishops and deacons. Be temperate, don't be a drunken fool, don't waste money, and don't take more than one wife. (At that time, taking more than one wife was an indulgence, and the counsel is to avoid indulgences). If you marry and have kids, make sure that your kids and wife aren't buttheads.

I see no mention of "Thou must wed to hold the priesthood" or "Thou must be thirty and five years of age to receive the priesthood" in Timothy. However, Paul does teach the leaders of the Corinthian church:

"For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
But I say to the unmarried: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry."

If what you are saying is true, then you would have to seek the presence of a woman to be worthy of the priesthood title of deacon... in contrast to Paul's advice to the priesthood in Corinth.

Answer 6

Umm, 12 isn't all that little. Becoming a Deacon basically starts you out on the road to attaining the highest priesthood.

Answer 7

Interesting question....

One could almost think, that the title Deacon has a different meaning within LDS.

People that holds an office in the Church, must be mature and tested, found worthy, have life experience how else can they guide and lead others......(understood from your reference)

From the outside, it could look like; a way to blind and amaze young people, by giving them a title.....carrots works better than a whip....just hard to see the Biblical foundation for this.....

Sola Scriptura

Answer 8

God teaches line upon line precept upon precept...here a little there a little. Being a deacon is part of this process for males.

Answer 9

Well, so you are saying you have to be married to be a deacon... is that what you are saying? I think it is saying that they should take care of their families if they have one. When you consider the duties that deacons (not little boys, but young men) perform in the LDS church I think you will find it hard to argue that you need to be married to fulfill them.

Answer 10

(D&C 20 supercedes old scripture. Case closed)