General Authorities

In the Mormon Church, a general authority is a member of a select body of men with administrative and ecclesiastical authority in the Church. A general authority's responsibility is Church wide, in contrast to the responsibility of a local authority, which relates to a particular geographical area, Church unit, or department of the Church. However, not all church leaders with church-wide jurisdiction in the church are considered general authorities.

In the Mormon Church, general authorities are members of the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Presidency of the Seventy, members of the Quorums of the Seventy, and the Presiding Bishopric. Among other responsibilities, general authorities visit stake conferences and fulfill various speaking assignments.

A person is typically called to be a general authority by a member of the First Presidency or the Quorum of the Twelve. The President of the Church and members of the Quorum of the Twelve are typically called for the remainder of one's life. In current Church policy, men called to the Quorums of the Seventy keep the designation "Elder" and typically remain general authorities until they die, but are granted emeritus status at the age of 70.

In the semi-annual general conference of the Church held in April of each year, general authorities are presented to the general membership of the Church for a sustaining vote. This is a voluntary indication made by each member (usually by raising their right hand) that the member agrees to be led by the individuals presented as general authorities and to support them in their stewardships. This procedure is dictated by Church theology, which states that the Church shall be governed by the common consent of its membership (Doctrine and Covenants 20:65).