D&C 68:11-24

68:11-24 - We come now to a really complex issue for me to understand, and that is of the Presiding Bishop. The Lord talks about the “literal descendants of Aaron” who have a “legal right to the bishopric.” This is super complicated, and I like DJR’s explanation saying, “these instructions regarding a literal descendant of Aaron, and the office of Presiding Bishop, may well be a matter that will come into place sometimes in the future, and if and when it does, we will probably exclaim, ‘Oh, that is what it meant!’” The IM asks “Under what conditions can a literal descendant of Aaron be a bishop without counselors?” And answers by quoting President Joseph Fielding Smith as teaching, “It has no reference whatever to bishops of wards. Further, such a one must be designated by the First Presidency of the Church and receive his anointing and ordination under their hands. The revelation comes from the Presidency, not from the patriarch, to establish a claim to the right to preside in this office. In the absence of knowledge concerning such a descendant, any high priest, chosen by the Presidency, may hold the office of Presiding Bishop and serve with counselors.’ The office of Presiding Bishop of the Church is the same as the office which was held by Aaron… It was this office which name to John the Baptist, and it was by virtue of the fact that he held the keys of this power and ministry that he was sent to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to restore that Priesthood, May 15, 1829. The person who has the legal right to this presiding office has not been discovered; perhaps is not in the Church, but should it be shown by revelation that there is one who is the ‘firstborn among the sons of Aaron,’ and thus entitled by birthright to this presidency, he could ‘claim’ his ‘anointing’ and the right to that office in the Church.” Concerning the verses that pertain to church discipline in the event that the presiding bishop is in need, the IM says, “In case of the transgression of the presiding bishop of the Church, he could not be tried by a high council in the stake in which he lives, but he would have to be tried by the First Presidency of the Church. The reason for this is that he … is not under the jurisdiction of any ward or stake in this capacity. This order given for the trial of the presiding bishop does not apply to a local bishop in a ward, who is under the jurisdiction of the presidency of the stake.”