It is always interesting when a change of the guard occurs and invariably there are those who do not agree with the choice of new leaders. I have been witness to good members who leave the church because of conflict with a leader and it always astounds me. How can anyone allow the actions of man to sway them from a testimony that should be based on spiritual communion with God? My testimony is based on personal revelation and the absolute burning reality of what I know to be the hand of God personally directing me. No man can take that from me but me. I cannot deny what I have seen and felt. I may sin and err in the shell of my humanity but I simply cannot fathom turning my back on the reality of God and what he has done for me in my life.
Anyway, back to the changing of the guard...Moses died and Jacob received the overwhelming nudge from God that he was to be the new spiritual leader of Israel. He was exceedingly concerned as to the the reception he might receive but was greatly surprised...
JOSHUA 1:16-18
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.Understanding the choices of men and women in regard to positions of leadership in the church cannot be done through temporal discussion, debate, or contemplation. Spiritual leaders are chosen through spiritual directive. Revelation is given to the leader who presides over a given body in regard to the spiritual leaders of his flock. A bishop over the ward, stake president over the stake, etc., etc., up to the prophet. As I said before, there will always be those who question and undermine those chosen but ultimately they were chosen by God and we cannot begin to understand His motives.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
In contemplating these verses and the spiritual selection of our leaders, I came across a conference talk from Gene R. Cook, Seek Out Your Spiritual Leader (1978 April General Conference), that is spot on as to the decisions made within our church. Here are some snippets...
A few years ago I took a person who was not yet a member of the Church to a meeting to hear one of the General Authorities speak. I had told him previously that this was one of the Lord's anointed. After the meeting the man responded, "Well, he is nothing but a man." I suppose that he expected to see an angel, a demonstration of the gift of tongues, or something like that as a physical evidence of the General Authority's divine call."The leaders at all levels of administration rely on revelation from God to direct their particular stewardships." That says it all.
I have often wondered how many of us might have been deceived had we been in the very presence of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in the meridian of time. The great majority saw Jesus as nothing more than a man. The few with spiritual discernment knew who he really was. If one is to make judgments with only his natural senses, he will never perceive the truth of the spiritual world...
...Sometime ago another man asked, "Do the General Authorities really know what is going on in the outlying areas? I am sure that they do not know of these detailed problems with which we are faced." Another good sister said, "If the bishop knew what I know about the difficulties in the Relief Society, I know he would act differently. It's too bad he doesn't consult more with us and obtain all of our opinions about how to run the ward." Another said, "I don't go to my branch president for direction because he sees things differently than I do. Our personalities are too different. We just don't seem to be on the same wavelength."
May I suggest, my brothers and sisters, that the General Authorities, your stake president, bishop, and priesthood quorum leaders do know what is going on with respect to the governing principles, the matters that really count, and that the rest will be resolved in their due time. This is the Lord's church. It is directed by him through a definite priesthood power line of revelation. We believe in a God of miracles, and he does not cease to work spiritual miracles through his priesthood leaders.
We recognize that in any presidency or bishopric the president or bishop may obtain counsel from his counselors, and perhaps from some others, before he, by inspiration, makes the decision. However, we do not in the Church subscribe to a participative-management type of direction, wherein the opinions of all are gathered in, weighed and measured, a consensus drawn, and then a decision made according to the majority. There may be some few exceptions to that statement, but generally speaking that type of approach is representative of the way the world manages its affairs. Many other churches are in the same category because they have nothing better. All the world can do is to dispute an issue, share an opinion, exchange an experience, and then try to draw the best conclusion from the given amount of facts available on the subject.
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the leaders at all levels of administration rely on revelation from God to direct their particular stewardships. There are many people, too many, who seek out the wrong individuals for counsel, too many who would rather give counsel than receive it. Remember that others might share with you their experience, or broaden your understanding on a given issue, but if you are desirous of receiving revelation pertaining to your particular stewardship, it must come from the Lord. It may come directly through an interchange with him on your part or as revelation to you through your immediate priesthood leader.
...Remember that at times your local priesthood leader may truly see things differently than you do. Disagreements seem to come over details and methods for performing given tasks, but almost never are based in differences over gospel principles. Your leader has a right to function with his own unique personality and in his own realm of experience, and it may be in detail somewhat different in practice from the exact way you would perform. Nevertheless, counsel from a priesthood leader in the proper spirit is of the Lord and binding.
We live in trying times. When we receive counsel from our leaders that is difficult to comprehend, may we say in our hearts, "Father, I believe what I have been told. And when it is the right time, and I have paid the proper price to know, let me understand why."
...Remember, last of all, we do not desire blind obedience in the Church. We desire that every individual may know for himself that the counsel he receives from his leaders comes from the Lord. He has the right and the great privilege to know for himself of the Lord that he has been counseled aright. If he will be patient and wait upon the Lord, he will find that his priesthood leaders truly do counsel in righteousness, thus enabling him to walk upon safe ground.
I pray that each of us might be more humble and desirous of receiving and obeying counsel. May each of us seek not to counsel the Lord, but seek counsel from his hand and from his inspired priesthood leaders, as it is the same. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I have questioned choices and reactions to situations that I have seen my leaders make and it is hard! Angela and I have struggled greatly with some of the decisions that have been made in our ward, by our bishop and other respective leaders, and we simply cannot understand and have often felt ignored and even shunned. Our reaction has been disgust, frustration, and anger, yet we stay, we pray and ultimately rely on the Lord, one another, our children, and our family to see us through. We do not have the whole picture and if we have to suffer so that others aren't wholly lost, so be it...we are strong. We are part of a stewardship that is administered and directed by God and we shall survive!
~Kipling
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