_I. Stakes_.--A stake of Zion is a division of the church territorially that embraces several wards and branches. There is no set number of wards or branches necessary to constitute a stake. That is arranged according to convenience. The stake is presided over by a president, who is a high priest, assisted by two other high priests as counselors. They constitute the presidency of the stake, and preside over the organizations in that stake much in the same way that the president of the church presides over the entire church; but is subject of course to the general authorities of the church. In each stake is a standing high council, over which the presidency of the stake--or the president or either one of the counselors, when circumstances render it impossible or inconvenient for all to be present--preside. This forms the highest judicial tribunal in the stake. One or more patriarchs are appointed to confer upon the people patriarchal blessings within the stake. The high priests are organized into a quorum with a presidency over them as already explained.[134] The elders are organized into one or more quorums, according {350} as they are numerous enough for one or a number of quorums;[135] and with the high priests constitute the standing ministry in the stake. _II. Wards_.--The stakes are divided into ecclesiastical wards, presided over by a bishopric, consisting of a bishop aided by two high priests as counselors unless the bishop is a literal descendant of Aaron, in which event he has authority to act as bishop without counselors.[136] The bishopric has a direct general presidency over the quorums of the lesser priesthood in his ward; and presides even over those holding the higher priesthood as members of his ward; but not over the quorums of the higher priesthood as quorums. The bishopric of a ward, like the bishopric of the church, has to do chiefly with temporal affairs; but in nearly all cases, in fact, so far as we know, in all cases at present in the church, the bishops are high priests acting in that capacity; and since in acting as bishops they do not lose their position as high priests they have a right to minister in both temporal and spiritual affairs. It may be well to remark, however, in passing, that wherein bishops do take the lead in spiritual concerns they do it by virtue of the high priesthood which they hold, which is the proper authority to act in spiritual matters.