The Sixth Article of Faith is:
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
In the pre-existence, before the earth was made, we lived as spirit beings, sons and daughters of God. At that time we were told by the Father His Plan for us to gain a body for our spirit, and to be tested with our Free Agency.
This was called The Plan of Salvation. This Earth was created for our test.
He chose His prophets, apostles and leaders that would guide His church through the ages.
Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Elijah, Moses, John the Baptist were some of those prophets who were chosen to prepare the way for His personal ministry on the earth.
He organized His church and after His suffering, crucifixion and Atonement, many of His followers fell away or were killed along with most of the apostles.
He told His Apostles before that time that in the Last Days He would restore His church to the earth again, with prophets and apostles before His Second Coming.
Certain prophets had a Dispensation of the Gospel through the ages up to His Ministry. There would be a time of Apostasy where the gospel would NOT be on the earth.
We call that the Great Apostasy or the Dark Ages. This was from about 420 AD to 1820 AD, about 1400 years.
In 1820, one of those prophets that were chosen to open the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times and to begin the Rebuilding of His church and Restoring the Fullness of the Gospel was The Prophet Joseph Smith.
Since then a succession of pre-chosen prophets came, down to this present time.
This Restored church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, distinguishing them from the members of His church in the days of His ministry, who were also called saints.
The Prophet Joseph Smith received revelations Restoring the fullness of the gospel, how to set up the latter day kingdom and church with a foundation of prophets and apostles with He, Jesus Christ as the Chief Corner Stone.
He was given the details of the organization of the church.
Prophets and Apostles: Fifteen men were chosen. All are called prophets and apostles, but only the senior one would be the prophet of the whole church and the whole world (if they would listen).
Twelve would be the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as an independent body. Two others would be with the Prophet of the Church and would form a Quorum of three, called The First Presidency, equal authority but with final say, having the prophet of the church in the quorum.
Evangelists: An Evangelist is a Patriarch. Today there is a Patriarch for the whole church and a Patriarch in each Stake. A Stake is a mid-level unit with a few churches or Wards connected to it.
Wherever the church of Christ is established in the earth, there should be a patriarch for the benefit of the posterity of the saints, as it was with Jacob in giving his patriarchal blessing unto his sons. (Mormon Doctrine p. 241)
The office of Evangelist or Patriarch to the Church is hereditary; it “was confirmed to be handed down from father to son, and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises were made." (Doctrine and Covenants 107: 40)
Pastor: A pastor is a head of the congregation. In this church he is called a Bishop or Branch President. Those smaller Branches in far out locals, just beginning to grow can be headed up by Bishops also. Once it grows to a certain size it becomes a Ward.
Teachers: A Teacher is one of the ordained offices in the Aaronic Priesthood. Together with the Deacons, the Teachers are appointed “to watch over the church, to be standing ministers over the church.” (Doctrine and Covenants 84: 111)
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