When people attend a worship service of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or learn about how the Church is organized, they often hear about bishops. Members speak of meeting with “the bishop,” bishops preside over congregations, and they play a visible role in the spiritual and practical life of Church members. This naturally leads to the question: Why do Mormons have bishops?
For Latter-day Saints, bishops exist because they believe Jesus Christ established a church led by called servants who care for both the spiritual and temporal needs of God’s people. Bishops are local leaders who guide congregations, provide pastoral care, administer ordinances, and help members live the teachings of Jesus Christ in everyday life.
Unlike professional clergy found in many religious traditions, Latter-day Saint bishops are lay leaders. They are not paid, do not receive formal theological degrees for their role, and continue working in their regular professions while serving. This reflects a belief that church leadership is a form of service and stewardship rather than a career or position of prestige.
Understanding why Mormons have bishops requires exploring how they understand church leadership, priesthood authority, service, community care, and the example of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd.
The Role of a Bishop in a Local Congregation
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a bishop presides over a local congregation known as a ward. A ward typically consists of several hundred members living in the same geographic area.
The bishop is responsible for overseeing worship services, ensuring doctrine is taught correctly, and helping members strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ. He works closely with other local leaders and volunteers to meet the needs of the congregation.
While the bishop presides, he does not lead alone. Leadership is shared among many members, reinforcing the belief that the Church functions through collective service rather than centralized authority.
Shepherd of the Congregation
Latter-day Saints often describe a bishop as a shepherd. This image comes directly from the teachings of Jesus Christ, who referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd and taught leaders to care for the flock with love and humility.
A bishop’s role includes watching over the spiritual well-being of members, offering guidance, encouragement, and correction when needed. This shepherding is personal and relational rather than distant or institutional.
Personal Pastoral Care
One of the most distinctive aspects of a bishop’s role is personal pastoral care. Members often meet privately with the bishop to seek counsel, confess sins, discuss spiritual struggles, or receive encouragement.
These meetings are confidential and focused on helping individuals grow spiritually rather than judging or condemning them. Bishops are taught to listen with compassion, patience, and respect.
For many members, the bishop is a trusted spiritual guide during significant life challenges such as illness, family difficulties, repentance, or major decisions.
Bishops as Lay Leaders
A defining characteristic of Latter-day Saint bishops is that they are lay leaders. They are not paid clergy and do not serve as full-time religious professionals.
Bishops continue in their regular employment—whether as teachers, doctors, engineers, farmers, or in countless other professions—while serving in the Church. Their role as bishop is voluntary and temporary.
This approach reflects several core beliefs about leadership and community.
Callings, Not Careers
Latter-day Saints believe bishops are called by God through inspiration rather than chosen based on ambition, education, or desire for authority. A bishop is typically called to serve for a limited period, often several years, and then returns to being a regular member without special status.
This reinforces the idea that leadership in the Church is a calling—a responsibility entrusted for a time—rather than a lifelong position or career.
Humility and Equality
Because bishops are unpaid and temporary, no one is elevated permanently above others. This structure promotes humility and equality among members.
A bishop sits among the congregation, participates as a fellow worshipper, and relies on God rather than professional training alone. This helps prevent the creation of a separate clerical class.
Shared Responsibility
Leadership responsibilities are shared among many members, including counselors, teachers, and auxiliary leaders. This shared model reduces hierarchy and encourages widespread participation.
Members learn that building the Church is a collective effort rather than the responsibility of a few professionals.
Biblical Foundations for Bishops
Latter-day Saints believe the office of bishop has roots in the New Testament. The Bible mentions bishops as leaders in the early Christian church who were responsible for overseeing congregations and caring for both spiritual and temporal needs.
In the New Testament, bishops are described as servants who must be blameless, patient, and devoted to teaching truth. Their role included managing church resources and ensuring the welfare of members.
Latter-day Saints see modern bishops as a continuation of this early Christian pattern.
Early Christian Leadership
In early Christianity, leadership was local and personal. Bishops knew their congregations and were involved in daily concerns.
Latter-day Saints believe modern bishops reflect this same model—leaders who live among the people they serve and understand local needs.
Priesthood Authority and Bishops
Another reason Latter-day Saints have bishops is their belief in priesthood authority. They believe Jesus Christ gave authority to His apostles to lead His Church and that this authority has been restored in modern times.
Bishops hold priesthood authority that allows them to preside over a congregation, perform ordinances, and exercise spiritual stewardship.
This authority is not seen as personal power, but as delegated responsibility to serve in Christ’s name.
Authority as Service
In Latter-day Saint belief, priesthood authority exists to bless others, not to control them. Bishops are taught that their authority should be exercised with persuasion, patience, kindness, and love.
This view aligns with Jesus Christ’s teaching that those who lead should serve.
Temporal and Welfare Responsibilities
In addition to spiritual leadership, bishops have significant temporal responsibilities. One of the most important is overseeing welfare and assistance for members in need.
Bishops help coordinate food, financial assistance, counseling, and other support for individuals and families facing hardship. This includes unemployment, illness, housing instability, and other challenges.
Caring for the Needy
Latter-day Saints believe caring for the poor and needy is a core Christian responsibility. Bishops play a central role in ensuring that assistance is provided with dignity, respect, and confidentiality.
Rather than distributing aid impersonally, bishops work one-on-one with individuals to understand needs and encourage self-reliance alongside compassion.
This personalized approach reflects Christ’s example of caring for individuals.
Balancing Help and Responsibility
While bishops provide assistance, they also encourage personal responsibility and growth. The goal is not dependence, but stability and empowerment.
This balance between compassion and accountability is central to the bishop’s welfare role.
Bishops and Youth Guidance
Bishops play an especially important role in guiding youth and young adults. They meet regularly with young people to encourage spiritual development, moral decision-making, and personal growth.
These meetings are meant to be supportive rather than intimidating. Bishops help youth navigate challenges related to faith, education, relationships, and identity.
For many young members, the bishop is a mentor and trusted adult outside the family.
Bishops and Community Strength
Because bishops serve locally, they understand the unique needs and culture of their congregation. This local leadership strengthens community bonds.
Members know their bishop personally, often through years of shared worship and service. This familiarity builds trust and accountability.
The bishop becomes a central figure in fostering unity, cooperation, and mutual support within the ward.
Avoiding Professional Clergy
One question often asked is why Latter-day Saints do not have professional clergy at the local level. Their answer is rooted in belief rather than efficiency.
They believe having lay leaders encourages spiritual growth among all members. Teaching, serving, and leading are seen as responsibilities shared by the entire community.
This structure prevents reliance on a few experts and encourages everyone to develop faith, leadership skills, and compassion.
Learning Through Service
Serving as a bishop is considered a profound spiritual learning experience. Bishops often speak of how the role deepens their faith, empathy, and reliance on God.
Because bishops are ordinary members called to extraordinary responsibility, they learn humility and dependence on divine guidance.
This learning-through-service model applies to all members in different callings throughout the Church.
Common Misunderstandings About Bishops
One common misunderstanding is that bishops function like traditional clergy with professional authority and specialized training. In reality, they rely on prayer, scripture, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit rather than formal religious education.
Another misunderstanding is that bishops replace personal responsibility. Latter-day Saints believe each individual remains responsible for their own spiritual growth. Bishops guide and support, but do not control.
Some assume bishops wield unchecked authority. In fact, bishops are accountable to higher Church leadership and operate within established guidelines.
Bishops and Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a critical aspect of a bishop’s role. Members must feel safe sharing personal concerns without fear of exposure.
Bishops are instructed to treat all conversations with care and discretion. This trust is essential for effective pastoral care.
Bishops as Volunteers, Not Experts
Bishops do not claim to be experts in psychology, finance, or law. When appropriate, they encourage members to seek professional help.
Their role is spiritual guidance, moral support, and coordination of resources—not replacing professional care.
Why This Belief Matters
Having bishops matters because it shapes how Latter-day Saints experience church life. Local leadership allows for personalized care, strong community bonds, and shared responsibility.
Bishops embody Christlike leadership rooted in service rather than status. Their unpaid, temporary service reinforces humility and equality.
For believers, bishops represent a tangible expression of how Jesus Christ leads His Church—through love, guidance, and personal care.
A Christ-Centered Model of Leadership
Latter-day Saints believe Jesus Christ remains the head of the Church. Bishops act under His authority and seek to reflect His teachings.
They strive to lead as Christ led—by serving, listening, and loving.
This model of leadership challenges cultural ideas about power and hierarchy, replacing them with stewardship and compassion.
The Impact on Members’ Lives
Many members testify that bishops have played a crucial role during difficult moments—helping them find hope, direction, and healing.
Because bishops serve close to home, their influence is immediate and personal.
A Broader Christian Context
While the structure may differ, many Christian traditions value pastoral leadership. Latter-day Saints see their bishops as fulfilling a similar role through a distinctive model of lay service.
They believe this approach strengthens faith, community, and accountability.
An Invitation
Latter-day Saints invite others to learn about bishops not as authority figures to fear, but as servants called to help.
They encourage anyone with questions or needs to approach local leaders with trust and openness.
They believe God works through ordinary people willing to serve in extraordinary ways.
Sources
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Gospel Topics: Bishops
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org
Church News – Role of Bishops
https://www.thechurchnews.com
Doctrine and Covenants Central
https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org
Scripture Central
https://scripturecentral.org