Ordination is the act by which authorized ministers appoint priests, teachers, and elders to church office. Alma, “having authority from God,” ordained “one priest to every fifty” to teach matters pertaining to God’s kingdom (Mosiah 18:18). Mosiah later gave Alma power to “ordain priests and teachers over every church” (Mosiah 25:19).
Alma ordained priests and elders “by laying on his hands according to the order of God,” so they could preside and watch over the church (Alma 6:1). Elders also prayed in Christ’s name, laid their hands upon those chosen, and declared, “I ordain you to be a priest” or teacher. They acted “by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them” (Moroni 3:1-4).