▁Ro le ▁within ▁the ▁L DS ▁Church ▁today ▁In ▁the ▁L DS ▁Church ▁today , ▁the ▁A aron ic ▁priest hood ▁has ▁taken ▁on ▁a ▁role ▁as ▁a ▁source ▁of ▁training , ▁leadership , ▁and ▁service ▁for ▁ad oles cent ▁boys ▁and ▁new ▁converts . ▁It ▁is ▁often ▁called ▁a ▁" pre par atory ▁priest hood ." ▁Hold ers ▁of ▁the ▁A aron ic ▁priest hood ▁whom ▁the ▁church ▁cons iders ▁worthy ▁are ▁advanced ▁to ▁an ▁office ▁in ▁the ▁Mel ch ized ek ▁priest hood ▁as ▁a ▁matter ▁of ▁course ▁around ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 8 , ▁or ▁in ▁the ▁case ▁of ▁adult ▁converts , ▁after ▁approximately ▁a ▁year ▁of ▁active ▁church ▁membership . ▁ ▁The ▁A aron ic ▁priest hood ▁is ▁open ▁only ▁to ▁men ▁and ▁boys , ▁twelve ▁years ▁old ▁or ▁older , ▁who ▁are ▁considered ▁worthy ▁after ▁a ▁personal ▁interview ▁with ▁their ▁bishop . ▁Re quire ments ▁for ▁worth iness ▁include ▁ab st aining ▁from ▁all ▁extra - mar ital ▁sexual ▁practices , ▁following ▁the ▁Word ▁of ▁Wis dom ▁( a ▁code ▁requiring ▁ab st in ence ▁from ▁drink ing ▁alco hol , ▁sm oking , ▁and ▁consumption ▁of ▁coffee ▁and ▁tea ), ▁payment ▁of ▁t ith es , ▁and ▁att ending ▁church ▁services . ▁ ▁With ▁the ▁exception ▁of ▁bishop , ▁the ▁offices ▁of ▁the ▁A aron ic ▁priest hood ▁are ▁organized ▁primarily ▁by ▁age , ▁and ▁an ▁ad oles cent ▁boy ▁will ▁be ▁ord ained ▁to ▁the ▁next ▁office ▁if ▁found ▁worthy ▁upon ▁reaching ▁the ▁appropriate ▁age