Where does the Church’s practice of setting apart come from?

Rex Allred, executive secretary of the Melchizedek Priesthood General Committee. The priesthood ordinance of setting apart is the formal process of giving authority to members called to labor in specific responsibilities. It involves a specific priesthood procedure, including the laying on of hands. It has been a practice of the Lord’s servants since Old Testament times, even though in some scriptural references it is not clear whether the wording refers to being ordained, set apart, or both. In fact, it may be that earlier dispensations made very little distinction between these two practices.

When Moses desired to appoint a shepherd over the congregation, he was given the appropriate procedure by the Lord:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

“And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

“And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.” (Num. 27:18–20.)

In other Old Testament passages, the word separate seems to refer to the procedure of designating someone for the Lord’s work. For example, 1 Chronicles 23:13 [1 Chr. 23:13], we read that “Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.”

In the New Testament we find clearer instances of individuals being set apart. In the ancient Church when seven men were chosen to assist the Apostles, they were “set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:6.) Also, when Barnabas and Saul were selected for the Lord’s work, the Church leaders fasted and prayed, and “the Holy Ghost said [to them], Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” (Acts 13:2.) The Church leaders then “laid their hands on them,” after which they sent Saul and Barnabas out to do the work. (Acts 13:3.)

In Book of Mormon accounts, the term consecrate seems to be used to report the setting apart of Church officers. In Jacob 1:18–19, we read in Jacob’s own words, “For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi. And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility.” We also read that King Benjamin “consecrated his son Mosiah to be a ruler and a king over his people” (Mosiah 6:3) and that Alma the Younger was “consecrated” by his father “to be a high priest over the church of God” (Alma 5:3.)

The Doctrine and Covenants provides the term set apart and sometimes uses the terms set apart and ordain interchangeably. “When the Prophet received the Presidency of the High Priesthood, the history says that he was ordained. Today we would say set apart. They used the term ordain in the early days of the Church for everything, even when sisters were set apart to preside in the Relief Society.” (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:106.)

Word usage today prescribes that the priesthood be conferred upon men who are ordained to offices in the priesthood, and that men and women be set apart to positions in quorums or auxiliaries.

Generally, all stake priesthood and auxiliary officers and all ward officers and teachers are to be set apart when called to positions in the Church. Home teachers and visiting teachers are not set apart. Settings apart are performed under the direction of the presiding officers of the stake, quorum, or ward. It is usually not appropriate for a husband to set apart his wife to a given position unless he is one of the presiding officers.

A president is always set apart before the counselors are set apart, and he receives the keys of presidency over the quorum or the organization. Counselors do not receive keys. According to Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “Keys go with setting apart and not with ordination. A man receives no keys when he is ordained an elder [or seventy or high priest], but he does when set apart as a quorum president.” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 549.)

The ordinance of setting apart is a sweet blessing of the Lord’s church. It not only allows Church members to receive a formal spiritual charge through the laying on of hands when they are called to positions of service, but it also usually includes a verbal blessing as directed by the Spirit. If we live worthily, the Lord will frequently use this ordinance to convey blessings and guidance to us.