<P> After the 1844 succession crisis, the offices of bishop and presiding bishop developed separately in the various resulting denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement . </P> <P> According to Latter Day Saint scripture, a bishop in the church does not need to be a high priest nor does he need counselors if he is a Levite and a direct descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses . In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints (LDS Church), apostle Joseph Fielding Smith taught that this provision applied only to the Presiding Bishop of the church and not to bishops of wards . </P> <P> In the largest Latter Day Saint denomination, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints (LDS Church), bishops are called from among the members of a local congregation, known as a ward, and traditionally serve, without pay, for four to seven years (the length of service varies). A bishop must be a married high priest in the Melchizedek priesthood . The bishop acts as the presiding high priest of the ward . A bishop simultaneously serves as the president of the Aaronic priesthood and president of the priests quorum in the ward . In a branch, the branch president fulfills the same functions as a bishop; however, a branch president does not need to be a high priest . </P> <P> The bishop is often called "the father of the ward" as he is the priesthood leader who is most intimately involved with individual church members . The bishop is not paid for the time he devotes to his position . All local positions in the LDS Church operate as a lay ministry; members donate their time to perform the duties assigned with each calling . Each bishop serves with two counselors, which together form a bishopric . The counselors to a bishop are generally high priests, but there are exceptions, such as in a singles ward, where the counselors may be elders . </P>

Do you have to be married to be an lds bishop