“Consecrated… a High Priest over the Church of God”
One does not properly preach save he has been properly called. Here Alma establishes that such is the case with him. He has been “consecrated” by his father, meaning that he has been properly called and set apart to his holy office according to the pattern of the priesthood, which is the same in all ages. He holds the office of high priest and is the presiding officer in the Church. (See Commentary 1:269.) Elder Bruce R. McConkie has written: “God’s chief representative on earth, the one who holds the highest spiritual position in his kingdom in any age, is called the high priest. This special designation of the chief spiritual officer of the Church has reference to the administrative position which he holds rather than to the office to which he is ordained in the priesthood.” (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 355-56.)
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