Young Men - 18 year old Priesthood

[cchang]

A young men who just turned 18 this past May and graduated from high school already is attending the Elder’s Quorom third hour class. He was called into a calling at the age of 18 to an Elder’s Quorom position but the system won’t allow me to enter it in the system because he is still 18 but graduated from high school. How do we enter their calling as an Elder’s Quorom if they’re still 18 into LDS.org?

[eblood66]

You need to move him to the Elder's Quorum organization first. Go to the young man's profile in LCR, click on the Callings/Classes tab, click the pencil icon next to the Priest's Quorum entry and change it to Elder's Quorum.

[russellhltn]

I'm not sure how it is now, but it used to be the system would automatically advance a 18 year-old to EQ - which sometimes isn't what was desired if they haven't graduated high school yet. So the bishop or a clerk may have moved them back to youth. Once moved, they will not automatically advance upon graduation. (The system doesn't know about graduation.)

[eblood66]

I think the rules used to be that a YM moved to Elder's Quorum when they were ordained an Elder or if they turned 19 without being ordained. I think the YW automatically moved at 18 to RS. I think those are still rules but I'm not absolutely sure.

[russellhltn]

You're right. A prospective elder is someone who is 19 and does not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. (But an 18 year old can be ordained.)

Which raises the question of if this particular brother should be advanced. I'd suggest consulting Handbook 2: 8.8, 7.1.1, and 7.6.

They seem to suggest an 18 year old priest should stay with the priests until they either turn 19 or are ordained an elder. Which strikes me as a bit odd, but there it is.

[drepouille]

We also have a young man, a priest, who turned 18 in July 2018. For the 3rd quarter report, he was listed with the Young Men, and not with the prospective elders. He is attending Gospel Doctrine class and Elders Quorum meeting, and he was just called to be the Elders Quorum Ministering Secretary. I wonder how he will be listed on the 4th quarter report if he is not ordained an elder by the end of 2018?

[eblood66]

For the 3rd quarter report, he was listed with the Young Men, and not with the prospective elders.

Was his class assignment Priests or Elders Quorum at the end of the 3rd quarter?

[drepouille]

As of 30 Sep 2018, he was still assigned to the priests quorum, although he graduated HS back in May.

[lajackson]

I'd suggest consulting Handbook 2: 8.8, 7.1.1, and 7.6.

They seem to suggest an 18 year old priest should stay with the priests until they either turn 19 or are ordained an elder. Which strikes me as a bit odd, but there it is.

I don't think so. At the latest, a young man becomes a prospective elder when he turns 19. But the bishop, consulting with the young man and his parents, determines whether he would be better served in continuing as a member of the priests quorum, or beginning to meet with the elders quorum.

The decision is usually made when the priest graduates from high school and the transition usually occurs during that summer. If he is still 17, he usually stays with the priests quorum. If he is 18 but not yet ready to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood, he might also stay with the priests. Or the bishop may determine that the elders quorum is best able to help him prepare for ordination.

Many young men who are 18 and graduate are preparing for college and missions, begin associating with the young single adults, and are better served by the elders quorum as they prepare for their future.

[russellhltn]

I don't think so. At the latest, a young man becomes a prospective elder when he turns 19. But the bishop, consulting with the young man and his parents, determines whether he would be better served in continuing as a member of the priests quorum, or beginning to meet with the elders quorum.

I didn't find anything in the manual that allows a 18-year old priest to be a prospective elder. I suppose he could still attend, but he wouldn't be on the roles unless he could manually be advanced.

I know it sounds strange, but I'm going by what's written rather than what I'd think makes sense. <grin>