 in the latter day saint movement, patriarch (also called evangelist) is an office of the priesthood. it is considered to be either an office of the patriarchal priesthood or the melchizedek priesthood. ==latter day saint movement== in the early days of joseph smith's church of christ and the latter day saint movement, a single patriarch, known as the presiding patriarch or patriarch to the church, exercised his office throughout the whole church. the first patriarch was joseph smith, sr.; after his death, his oldest living son hyrum smith became the patriarch. some denominations continue the practice of a single presiding patriarch, who in some cases holds the highest office of the church organization; others have multiple patriarchs who hold more general positions in the organization. ==patriarch in the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints==  while the the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints (lds church) originally continued to have a single church-wide position of "presiding patriarch", this practice was discontinued on october 4, 1979. within the lds church today, a patriarch is an office in the melchizedek priesthood a patriarch is ordained and called to serve the members of that stake organization. he is chosen by the stake presidency and each selection is approved by the quorum of the twelve apostles. the selected man must be married, hold the melchizedek priesthood, have received a patriarchal blessing, and normally be at least 55 years old.handbook 1: stake presidents and bishops (salt lake city, utah: lds church, 2010) Â§ 15.1. he must be ordained to the office of patriarch by an apostle or by the president of the stake where he lives (if the stake president has written permission from the quorum of the twelve apostles to do so). patriarchs are not set apart. a patriarch retains the priesthood office of patriarch for life.handbook 1: stake presidents and bishops (salt lake city, utah: lds church, 2010) Â§ 15.5. a patriarch's primary responsibility is to give patriarchal blessings to members in his stake.handbook 1: stake presidents and bishops (salt lake city, utah: lds church, 2010) Â§ 16.12.2. he also has the authority to give such blessings to all of his descen
1833_establishments 1833_in_religion Latter_Day_Saint_hierarchy Patriarchs_(LDS_Church) Priesthood_offices_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints