Receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood

In the Church today, worthy male members may receive the Aaronic Priesthood beginning at age 12. These young men, typically ages 12–17, receive many opportunities to participate in sacred priesthood ordinances and give service. As they worthily fulfill their duties, they act in the name of the Lord to help others receive the blessings of the gospel.

Upon reaching the age of 18, the higher priesthood, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is conferred upon faithful male members of the Church.  The Melchizedek Priesthood holder may administer in higher ordinances such as bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost to newly baptized members, healing the sick, and naming and blessing children.

Elder Copeland's father, Kent Copeland, conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordained him to the office of Elder by the laying on of hands with other Melchizedek Priesthood holders on April 25, 2021.  This line of authority dates back to Jesus Christ.

Sunnyside Bishop and Members of the Bishopric

All those who stood in the circle for the ordination including Elder Copeland's grandfather to the left of him and his father on the right.

Elder Copeland's father, mother, and two sisters

Immediate family and Grandparents Copeland

Great friends, the Andersons

Wonderful friends--the Weavers

More friends--the Mosses

Two of Elder Copeland's lifelong friends in Sunnyside

After the ordination, the families of all these special friends (23 in total) were invited to the Copeland home for a wonderful Sunday dinner. 

Such a beautiful day for Elder Copeland's Ordination. 

The Calling of a Missionary

 When a young man or woman decides to go on a mission, he/she must first be found spiritually, physically, and mentally worthy to do so.   

  The Savior taught, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations” (Matthew 28:19).  Church members consider it a privilege to show their love for other people and the Lord by sharing the gospel.

Missionaries generally begin serving when they are from 18 to 21 years old. Many retired seniors, men, women, and married couples also serve missions. Missionaries serve from 18 months to 2 years. Missions are voluntary, and missionaries are not paid for their service.  Missionaries come from around the world, and they serve wherever the Church calls them. While serving full-time, missionaries are official representatives of the Church.

As is done with every single perspective missionary, Elder Copeland first had to fill out his paperwork stating his desire to serve with recommendations from his ecclesiastical leaders of his worthiness in order to serve a mission.  This paperwork was then sent to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The perspective missionary then waits for the special e-mail to come with the particulars of his/her "calling."  This calling and the place where the missionary will serve is done by revelation through the Lord's servants, the prophets. A member of the Quorum of the Twelve assigns prospective missionaries to one of nearly 400 missions of the Church throughout the world.

When Elder Copeland received his mission call on April 6, 2021, (191 years ago to the day when The Church of Jesus Christ was organized), he was absolutely thrilled.  He would be serving in the Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission for a period of 24 months, and would be preaching the gospel in Spanish.  It made Elder Copeland so happy to be going to the same country his father had served a little over 20 years ago, with their missions right next to each other.  He was told that he would be reporting to the Missionary Training Center in Mexico on July 27, 2021.  However, since Covid shut down all the Missionary Training Centers for sometime, he will begin his training at home until further notice.

When Elder Copeland received his call, his family was on Spring Break in Cabo with other family members.

Elder Copeland's Immediate Family