Mormon Elders/Bishops vs. Biblical Elders

The Bible's teaching on "elders"
Below are some relevant N.T. passages regarding the office and qualifications of elders/overseers/bishops. (Unless otherwise stated, all quotations are from the English Standard Version)

• Acts 14.21-23 “When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
• Acts 20.28-31 “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.”
• Philippians 1.1 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:”
• 1 Tim. 5.17-20 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.”
• Hebrews 13.17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
• 1 Peter 5.1-5 “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.””

What can we gather from elders from these verses?

1. They are always described in plural terms, never singular. There must always be at least two.
2. Elders are made over individual congregations (Acts 14.23: "elders for them in every church"; there were "overseers" in Phillipi; Titus is told to "appoint elders in every town"). There was no such thing as elders-at-large or elders that travel from place to place as evangelists or missionaries.
3. Elders lead individual congregations as shepherds of sheep (Acts 20.28; 1 Pet. 5.2)
4. Elders are older men, not young men or new converts (which 1 Tim. 3. will clarify)
   

Elder, Shepherd, Overseer, Bishop, Presbyter: Which is it?

To solve this issue, we must go back to the original Greek words used by the N.T. authors.

• επισκοπος [episkipos]: In the KJV, this is translated "bishop" in Phil. 1.1; 1 Tim. 3.1-2; Titus 1.7, & 1 Pet. 2.25, but in Acts 20.28 it is "overseers". The ESV and the NASB both translate this as "overseer" (with one exception, the NASB of 1 Pet. 2.25 has "Guardian")
  
• πρεσβύτερος [presbyteros]: This comes from the Gk. [presbytes], meaning "old man". It is used commonly to describe the elderly leaders of the Jewish religion (as in Matt. 16.21), but is sometimes used to describe the overseer in Acts 14.23; 1 Tim. 5.17; Titus 1.5; etc.

In short, all 5 of the above words mean the same thing, Biblically-speaking. There is no hierarchy of leadership within in the Lord's church beyond shepherds and sheep. Mormons will attempt to distinguish between and elder and a bishop, but biblically there is no difference.

Qualifications of Elders

• Titus 1.5-9 “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
• 1 Timothy 3.1-7 “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, selfcontrolled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.”

Comparing the two lists, an elder must be:

• Married with faithful children. (The vast majority of the Mormon "elders" who knock on your door do not fit this description)
• "above reproach": One who bears a number of characteristics which you can see in these two passages (not arrogant, not a drunkard, etc.)
• "hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught": One who both knows and teaches the truths of the Bible. Mormon "elders" attempt to convert souls to the Book of Mormon, not the word of God.
• "not a recent convert": An elder cannot be a younger man or a man recently converted to the faith.
• There are more characteristics, which you can see above.
  

Mormon Elders

According to the LDS website under the heading "Elder":

"The term elders is used in various ways in the Bible. In many instances in the Old Testament it has reference to the older men in a tribe, usually entrusted with the governmental affairs. Their age and experience made their counsel sought often. This was not necessarily a priesthood calling. Gen. 50:7, Ruth 4:2, Matt. 15:2, and Acts 4:5 are examples of this usage.

There were ordained elders in the Melchizedek Priesthood in Old Testament times, as in Ex. 24:9–11 and Num. 11:16. Among the Nephites there were also ordained elders in the priesthood (Alma 4:7, 16; 6:1; Moro. 3:1; 4:1; 6:1, 7). In the New Testament, elders are mentioned as priesthood offices in the church (Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 5:1, 17, 19; James 5:14–15). The term elder as used in the New Testament is from the Greek presbyteros. The detailed duties of the ordained elders in the Church today have been defined by latter-day revelation (D&C 20:42–45; 42:44–52; 46:2; 107:12).

Elder is the proper title given to all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Thus an Apostle is an elder in this sense, and it is proper to speak of members of the Quorum of the Twelve or the Quorums of the Seventy by this title (D&C 20:38; see also 1 Pet. 5:1; 2 Jn. 1:1; 3 Jn. 1:1)."

One will notice above the last line of paragraph 2: "The detailed duties of the ordained elders in the Church today have been defined by latter-day revelation", with several references to Doctrines & Covenants.

In short, elders in the LDS church do differently than what is said in the Bible because of "latter-day revelation".

Questions to Ask a Mormon "Elder"

1. In Micah 5.2 and Matthew 2.1 the Bible says that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. In the Book of Mormon (Alma 7:10), it says He was born in Jerusalem. Which is it?
2. In Matthew 27.45 the Bible says that when Jesus was on the cross darkness covered the land for three hours. The Book of Mormon (Helaman 14:20) says that darkness covered the land for three days. Smith made the same mistake in 3 Nephi 8:3. Which is it?
3. The Bible says that the disciples were called “Christians” first in Antioch (Acts 11.26). The Book of Mormon has the Lord’s people called “Christians” before the birth of Christ (Alma 46:13,15,16 and 48:10).
   How is it possible that people were called "Christians" prior to the birth of Christ?
4. Genesis 11.9 says that God confounded the language of all the earth; the Book of Mormon (Ether 1:35) says He did not. Which is it?
5. The Book of Mormon (II Nephi 2:23) says that had Adam and Eve not transgressed “they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.”
   How is it possible that in a state of innocence, in the presence of God, they would have no joy and do no good?
6. The Pearl of Great Price (Moses 6:54-55) says that children are born in sin. But the Book of Mormon (Moroni 8:12,22) teaches the opposite. Which is it?
7. Mormons are baptized for their dead ancestors who may have been ignorant of baptism. However, the Book of Mormon (Alma 34:32-35) says that anything the dead might do in the spirit world or anything we might do here on their behalf will not change their condition. Which is it?
   

Mormon Bishops

According to the LDS church:
"A bishop is the leader of a local congregation (known as a ward) with duties similar to those of a pastor, priest or rabbi. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this position is unpaid. Each bishop is assisted by two counselors. Together, this bishopric oversees the spiritual and social needs of their ward members. The bishop helps each member of his congregation in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ. In addition to spiritual matters, a bishop helps members who are struggling financially or in other ways to become self-reliant through welfare assistance. A bishop also oversees practical matters such as records, reports, finances and the meetinghouse where members meet. Bishops typically serve for about five years. Bishops report to stake presidents, and these local leaders have a significant amount of local autonomy to make decisions regarding the members in their wards and stakes."

Again, from the LDS church website in reference to bishops:

• "Means “overseer,” an office or position of responsibility. Bishop is an ordained office in the Aaronic Priesthood (D&C 20:67; 107:87–88), and a bishop is a common judge in Israel (D&C 107:72, 74).
  The Holy Ghost has made you overseers, Acts 20:28.
• Qualifications are set forth for bishops, 1 Tim. 3:1–7 (Titus 1:7).
• A bishop is to be ordained, D&C 20:67.
• Edward Partridge was to serve as a bishop unto the Church, D&C 41:9.
• A bishop is to discern spiritual gifts, D&C 46:27, 29.
• A high priest may officiate in the office of bishop, D&C 68:14, 19 (D&C 107:17).
• A bishop is appointed of the Lord, D&C 72.
• A bishop is to care for the poor, D&C 84:112.
• A bishop is to administer all temporal things, D&C 107:68.
• A bishop is president of the Aaronic Priesthood, D&C 107:87–88.

One will notice that the vast majority of the above teachings are not biblical in origin, but depend again on "latter day revelation".

• Biblically, there was never a single "bishop" or "elder" over a local congregation.
• Biblically, elders/bishops can be paid (1 Tim. 5.17-20). The LDS say their bishops are unpaid.
• There is no reference in scripture to eldership being a role within a priesthood, being able to discern spiritual gifts, or that a Christian may be a "high priest" (that role belongs to CHRIST, and to CHRIST ALONE: Heb. 3.1)
• Bishops/elders biblically speaking delegate "temporal things", or things pertaining to everyday functions of the church such as building maintenance, specific care for the poor to men chosen for that purpose (Acts 6).
• The concept of a "president" on any level is foreign to the Bible.
• Elders in the Bible are not given a limit of time on how long they can serve.
• There is no higher level of authority above the local congregation other than Jesus Christ Himself.