In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and Latter Day Saint movement, a patriarch is the Melchizedek Priesthood office that is called evangelist in the New Testament.

Initially, a single patriarch, known as the Presiding Patriarch, exercised his office throughout the whole church. In the modern LDS Church, the office of Presiding Patriarch has been eliminated and a local patriarch now exists in every stake. The Community of Christ retains the position of "Presiding Patriarch" or "Presiding Evangelist"; the ordination of women led the church to stop using the term "Presiding Patriarch" and to refer to those of the "Order of Evangelists" using only the term "evangelists" rather than using the terms "patriarchs," or "patriarch and evangelists" to refer to the members of that order.

In the Community of Christ, calls to the office of evangelist originate from members the Council of Twelve Apostles following consultation with the Presiding Evangelist. They are approved by the Council of Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency, and vote is taken by either the World Conference or by a Mission Center conference to sustain and approve that call.

In the LDS church, a patriarch is called under the direction of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and, once ordained, remains a Patriarch for life (excepting circumstances of excommunication). Though he can be relieved of his responsibilities as the official patriarch for a particular unit, he will still be able to function as a patriarch in the appropriate context (such as in cases where there is no other patriarch available). If a patriarch is called to serve as the official stake patriarch again, he would not be re-ordained, only set apart again. (Bishop is the only other calling within the general membership where this is so). His primary responsibility as a Patriarch is to give "Patriarchal Blessings" to members in his stake. He also has the authority to give such blessings to all of his descendants, regardless of what stake they are in. Unlike other priesthood blessings, patriarchal blessings are recorded and archived by the church headquarters. Under ordinary circumstances, a member will receive only one such blessing in his or her lifetime. The patriarch remains a member of the stake high priest quorum and the ward high priest group.

In addition, the LDS Church considers a father to be a "natural patriarch" in his household, meaning that it is his duty to preside within his own family, taking the lead in spiritual matters within the home. This holds true even when the father is not a member of the Church. Accordingly, it is proper for priesthood representatives who are visiting a home to defer to him. If he is worthy and holds the proper priesthood authority, it is likewise customary for the Church to invite or allow him to officiate in priesthood ordinances for his own family.

See also

• Patriarchal Priesthood
• Patriarchal blessing
• Presiding Patriarch (Mormonism)

Latter Day Saint hierarchy