Genesis 10:12 Unto Shem also, which was the elder, children were born; and he was the father of Eber, and even to him were children born.
Genesis 25:23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Genesis 27:42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
Genesis 29:16 And Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
1 Samuel 18:17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
1 Kings 2:22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Job 15:10 With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.
Job 32:4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
Ezekiel 16:46 And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand; and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.
Ezekiel 16:61 Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger; and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.
Ezekiel 23:4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister; and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
Luke 15:25 Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came, and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.
Romans 9:12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
1 Timothy 5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed;
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
3 John 1:1 The elder unto the well beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
1 Nephi 1:32 And he did travel in the wilderness with his family which consisted of my mother Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
1 Nephi 1:127 And I also spake unto him that I should carry the engravings which were upon the plates of brass, to my elder brethren, who were without the walls.
1 Nephi 2:14 And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel, Behold ye are mine elder brethren; and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?
1 Nephi 5:48 And Laman said unto Lemuel, and also unto the sons of Ishmael, Behold, let us slay our father, and also our brother Nephi, who has taken it upon him to be our ruler and our teacher, who are his elder brethren.
2 Nephi 4:4 For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler: for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people.
2 Nephi 4:8 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother, and his family, and Jacob, and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me.
Alma 19:15 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel your elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers.
Moroni 4:2 And they administered it according to the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be true, and the elder or priest administered it:
DC 17:1b which commandments were given to Joseph Smith, Jr., who was called of God and ordained an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the first elder of this church; and to Oliver Cowdery, who was also called of God an apostle of Jesus Christ, to be the second elder of this church, and ordained under his hand:
DC 17:2a After it was truly manifested unto this first elder that he had received a remission of his sins, he was entangled again in the vanities of the world;
DC 17:8b An apostle is an elder, and it is his calling to baptize, and to ordain other elders, priests, teachers, and deacons, and to administer bread and wine--the emblems of the flesh and blood of Christ--
DC 17:10d and he is to take the lead of meetings when there is no elder present, but when there is an elder present he is only to preach, teach, expound, exhort, and baptize, and visit the house of each member, exhorting them to pray vocally and in secret, and attend to all family duties.
DC 17:10e In all these duties the priest is to assist the elder if occasion requires.
DC 17:11c and he is to take the lead of meetings in the absence of the elder or priest,
DC 17:12a Every elder, priest, teacher, or deacon, is to be ordained according to the gifts and callings of God unto him;
DC 17:15 Each priest, teacher, or deacon, who is ordained by a priest, may take a certificate from him at the time, which certificate, when presented to an elder, shall entitle him to a license, which shall authorize him to perform the duties of his calling; or he may receive it from a conference.
DC 17:17 Every president of the high priesthood (or presiding elder), bishop, high councilor, and high priest, is to be ordained by the direction of a high council, or General Conference.
DC 17:22b and the elder or priest shall administer it; and after this manner shall he administer it:
DC 17:26 All members removing from the church where they reside, if going to a church where they are not known, may take a letter certifying that they are regular members and in good standing, which certificate may be signed by any elder or priest, if the member receiving the letter is personally acquainted with the elder or priest, or it may be signed by the teachers or deacons of the church.
DC 19:1a Behold, there shall be a record kept among you, and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ;
DC 19:3b Wherefore, it behooveth me, that he should be ordained by you, Oliver Cowdery, mine apostle; this being an ordinance unto you, that you are an elder under his hand, he being the first unto you, that you might be an elder unto this church of Christ, bearing my name;
DC 38:9c And again I say unto you, I give unto you a commandment, that every man, both elder, priest, teacher, and also member, go to with his might, with the labor of his hands, to prepare and accomplish the things which I have commanded.
DC 53:2b Take upon you mine ordinances, even that of an elder, to preach faith and repentance, and remission of sins, according to my word, and the reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands.
DC 54:Intro SECTION 54
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at Kirtland, Ohio, in June 1831. It is addressed to Newel Knight, who was president of the Colesville, New York, branch of the church whose members had recently settled at Thompson, Ohio, in the vicinity of Kirtland. Some of the brethren previously settled at Thompson had broken an agreement to share their land with the Colesville Saints, and this caused resentment and confusion. The revelation enabled Elder Knight to unite the faithful and to lead them to Missouri in a body. They arrived in what is now Kansas City late in July 1831.
DC 55:1c And then you shall be ordained by the hand of my servant Joseph Smith, Jr., to be an elder unto this church, to preach repentance and remission of sins by way of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God;
DC 59:Intro SECTION 59
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., prophet and seer to the church, August 7, 1831, in Missouri. Events were happening very rapidly during the week of August 1 to August 7. Monday, August 2, Joseph assisted the Colesville Saints to lay the first log for a house as the foundation for Zion. It was consecrated and dedicated by Elder Rigdon for the gathering of the Saints. August 3, the spot for the Temple, a little west of the center of Independence, was dedicated. August 4, the first conference in the land of Zion was held in the home of Joshua Lewis in Kaw township. August 7 was the funeral of Polly Knight, mother of Newel Knight. This was the first death in the church in the land of Zion. These important events constitute the background for this revelation.
DC 66:Intro SECTION 66
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., at Orange, Ohio, October 1831. William E. McLellin had recently joined the church. He asked for instruction concerning his work, and this revelation was given in answer to Joseph's prayer on his behalf. In 1835 Elder McLellin became one of the charter members of the Council of Twelve.
DC 72:4a And now, verily I say unto you, That as every elder in this part of the vineyard must give an account of his stewardship unto the bishop in this part of the vineyard, a certificate from the judge or bishop in this part of the vineyard, unto the bishop in Zion, rendereth every man acceptable, and answereth all things, for an inheritance, and to be received as a wise steward and as a faithful laborer; otherwise he shall not be accepted of the bishop in Zion.
DC 72:4b And now, verily I say unto you, Let every elder who shall give an account unto the bishop of the church, in this part of the vineyard, be recommended by the church, or churches, in which he labors, that he may render himself and his accounts approved in all things.
DC 83:5a And again, the office of elder and bishop are necessary appendages belonging unto the high priesthood.
DC 85:46a And again, the ordinance of washing feet is to be administered by the president, or presiding elder of the church.
DC 96:Intro SECTION 96
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., to Elder John Murdock, on august 1832, at Kirtland, Ohio. Murdock's wife Julia had died on April 30, 1831, after giving birth that day to twins, Julia and Joseph. Joseph and Emma Smith soon adopted these twins. In 1832 Murdock sent his older three children (with means for their support) to Bishop Edward Partridge in Missouri, and in April 1833 left for a mission to the eastern part of the United States.
Through an oversight the date "August 1833" was assigned to this revelation in the 1864 edition; hence the number "96," when it should have been "83."
DC 104:3a The office of an elder comes under the priesthood of Melchisedec.
DC 104:5 High priests, after the order of the Melchisedec priesthood, have a right to officiate in their own standing, under the direction of the Presidency, in administering spiritual things, and also in the office of an elder, priest (of the Levitical order), teacher, deacon, and member.
DC 104:6 An elder has a right to officiate in his stead when the high priest is not present.
DC 104:7 The high priest and elder are to administer in spiritual things, agreeably to the covenants and commandments of the church; and they have a right to officiate in all these offices of the church when there are no higher authorities present.
DC 104:31b Verily, I say unto you, saith the Lord of hosts, There must needs be presiding elders, to preside over those who are of the office of an elder; and also priests, to preside over those who are of the office of a priest;
DC 104:31d wherefore, from deacon to teacher, and from teacher to priest, and from priest to elder, severally as they are appointed, according to the covenants and commandments of the church;
DC 105:Intro SECTION 105
Revelation given through Joseph Smith, Jr., July 23, 1837, at Kirtland, Ohio. Having been received subsequent to the publication of the first (1835) edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, it was included in the second (1844) edition as Section 104. This edition was issued after the death of Joseph Smith. Specific approval for the continued publication of this section was given by the 1970 World Conference. This revelation is addressed to Thomas B. Marsh, president of the Council of Twelve, and was apparently prompted by his prayers concerning his brethren in the quorum. Elder Marsh's concern was itself prompted by a rift between Joseph and some of the apostles cause by financial and other difficulties in Kirtland. Note paragraphs 5, 6, 11, and 12 in this connection.
DC 107:39a I give unto you my servant Joseph, to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet.
DC 111:1c and that the solemnization should be performed by a presiding high priest, high priest, bishop, elder, or priest, not even prohibiting those persons who are desirous to get married, of being married by other authority.
DC 117:3a Let my servants, William W. Blair and David H. Smith, be chosen and ordained to be counselors to my servant, the presiding elder of my church.
DC 120:2a A branch may be presided over by a high priest, an elder, priest, teacher, or deacon, chosen and sustained by the vote of the branch.
DC 120:2b Districts may be presided over by a high priest, or an elder, who shall be received and sustained in his office by the vote of the district.
DC 120:2d or if an elder be chosen who may by experience be found qualified to preside, as soon as practicable thereafter he should be ordained an high priest by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the one ordaining, and by direction of a high council, or General Conference, as required in the law.
DC 121:3 On the 14th of the month, the eighth day of the session, when the mission of Elder E.C. Briggs was being considered, the following instruction was presented as the will of the Lord concerning the Chicago mission, over which some trouble had occurred:
DC 125:8 The word elders used in the law signifies those holding the Melchisedec priesthood only; all classes and orders of this priesthood are characterized by the word elder.
DC 130:Intro SECTION 130
Instruction given through President Joseph Smith III, April 14, 1913, at Lamoni, Iowa. It was endorsed by the quorums and the assembly as a revelation from God, and the Conference authorized its inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Elder Joseph R. Lambert had been acting as Presiding Evangelist since the death of Elder Alexander H. Smith in 1909. There was widespread concern that a more permanent successor should be selected. Bishop E. L. Kelley and Apostles W. H. Kelley, I. N. White, and J. W. Wight were also finding the burdens of their several responsibilities arduous. These, and other needs of the church, undoubtedly found a prominent place in the petitions of the prophet and of the Saints in general prior to the convening of the Conference and while it was yet in session.
DC 130:3a It is also expedient that Elder Frederick A. Smith be released from the quorum activities, that he may take the place of his father, Elder Alexander H. Smith, as the Presiding Patriarch of the church.
DC 130:3b According to the tradition of the elders he should be chosen and ordained to this office, thus releasing Elder Joseph R. Lambert from the onerous duties in which he has faithfully served since the death of the Presiding Patriarch.
DC 130:5a The Spirit saith further: Elder E. A. Blakeslee is hereby called into the more active participation of the duties of the Bishopric than he has hitherto engaged in,
DC 131:3b and to do this Richard C. Kelley, son of my servant Bishop Edmund L. Kelley, should be called and ordained to the office of an elder, that he may act with the Bishopric in case of necessities and to work in the office of the Bishop in looking after and caring for the affairs appertaining to that office;
DC 138:Intro SECTION 138
After Elder Elbert A. Smith was ordained Presiding Evangelist at the Conference of 1938, the First Presidency continued with Elder F. M. McDowell as the sole remaining counselor to President Frederick M. Smith. President McDowell resigned in October 1938. With the approval of the Council of Twelve, acting under the inspiration given to him at the time, President Frederick M. Smith associated Elders Israel A. Smith and L. F. P. Curry with himself in the Presidency. In the following revelation this arrangement is confirmed. The revelation was received by unanimous action of the Conference and was ordered included in the Doctrine and Covenants.
To the Saints in General Conference Assembled:
DC 139:Intro SECTION 139
President Frederick Madison Smith died March 20, 1946, and was succeeded as prophet, seer, and revelator by his brother, Elder Israel A. Smith. The need to fill the quorum of the First Presidency was urgent, and the newly ordained president gave this his immediate and prayerful attention. The following revelation was presented to the quorums and to the Conference by President Israel A. Smith early in the Conference sessions. After it had been approved in the usual manner, and those named had been ordained to their respective offices, the work of the Conference proceeded under the direction of the newly constituted Presidency.
To the Quorums and to the General Conference; Beloved Brethren:
Realizing our urgent need to receive light and instruction in order that the quorums might be filled, I have wrestled in prayer to God in my weakness, on behalf and in the interest of the church, sensing deeply that it has been but a few hours ago when the burden of the church was laid upon me, yet in confidence and faith that God will not fail the church when called upon.
In the early hours of yesterday and today I was blessed by the Spirit in power and assurance such as I have never before experienced. The mind of the Lord was manifested to me, and in the order named my brethren have been presented to me, as follows, and accordingly I have written:
DC 141:Intro SECTION 141
Revelation given through President Israel A. Smith during the World Conference of 1948 held at Independence, Missouri. There was a vacancy in the ranks of the Twelve because of the death of Elder G. G. Lewis. Also, Elder M. A. McConley had become incapacitated by illness. The instruction given was endorsed by the various quorums and by the Conference, and provision was made for its inclusion in the Doctrine and Covenants.
To the Quorums, Councils and Orders of the Church and the General Conference:
Since the day set for a fast and especially since the loss by death of Apostle Lewis, I have been led to seek the divine mind respecting the needs of the body. Light and intelligence have been manifested as a result, and I am permitted to present the following by way of encouragement and direction:
To the Church:
DC 144:Intro SECTION 144
On May 28, 1952, President Israel A. Smith prepared and signed the following statement and placed it in the hands of his counselor, Elder F. Henry Edwards. After the death of President Smith on June 14, 1958, this document was brought to the attention of the Council of Twelve and other general church officers, and at the World Conference of 1958 it was unanimously approved by the quorums and orders of the priesthood and by the Conference assembly. The Conference ordered its insertion in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Elder William Wallace Smith was ordained as President of the High Priesthood and prophet, seer, and revelator to the church at the Auditorium at Independence, Missouri, on October 6, 1958.
To the church and to the Council of Twelve Apostles:
