Sustaining Church Leaders

     I was disheartened days ago when I overheard a man I had respected discuss with another man what they saw as flaws in the Church today. One man pointed to a large number of women who he knew that had left the Church after receiving degrees in a high ranking field. He pointed to the positions of general authorities on women's roles and blamed them entirely. He continued and questioned saying, "Why don't fourteen year-old girls pass the sacrament?" The other responded "President Hinckley said he didn't know why," to which the reply was "Well, then it is time for a change."

     They continued discussing the issue and pointing to the need for change in the Church on the matter. One stated how it was nearly impossible to get anything to go up through the leadership of the Church because of all the muck you had to wade through. The other said the only thing to do was to form a committee, research the issue and present both the problem and the solution to the brethren. This is the only way things get done in the Church today, he said.

     I had to stay several feet away since all I wanted to do was scream at them. I kept screaming in my mind "How can you be saying these things?! I know you and what you are and some of the callings you've had the Church. What is wrong with you and your friend?" The spirit wisely told me to hold my tongue and I thankfully did. But the questions bothered me for days. It wasn't just the conversation - it was the tone and ideas within it.

     I have been reading and praying, searching for meaningful words on these subjects. I think I found what I needed and I'll share it with you.

     My first thoughts focused on their contempt for the way the brethren and other leaders were dealing with the issues facing women in the gospel and world today. I found a meaningful quote by Elder Ezra Taft Benson given at BYU:

"The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time. Sometimes there are those who feel their earthly knowledge on a certain subject is superior to the heavenly knowledge which God gives to His prophet on the same subject. They feel the prophet must have the same earthly credentials or training which they have had before they will accept anything the prophet has to say that might contradict their earthly schooling. How much earthly schooling did Joseph Smith have? Yet he gave revelations on all kinds of subjects. We haven’t yet had a prophet who earned a doctorate in any subject, but as someone said, 'A prophet may not have his Ph.D. but he certainly has his LDS.' We encourage earthly knowledge in many areas, but remember, if there is ever a conflict between earthly knowledge and the words of the prophet, you stand with the prophet, and you’ll be blessed and time will vindicate you," (BYU, February 26, 1980).

     We cannot presume to tell the Prophet what is wrong with the Church and how to fix it. He is the Lord's anointed and he will be instructed as necessary for the development of the Church and kingdom of God on the earth. Only he can receive revelation on how to change the current setup and if their is a conflict with our thoughts and the Church, we side with the Prophet (who the brethren also side with).
     Another good quote, this time from President Harold B Lee:

Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, 'as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me ... as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.' (D&C 21:4-5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory,'" (October Conference 1970, Sunday Afternoon Session).

     It seems to state the obvious. We may have extreme issues with the current policy of the Church regarding women and the priesthood or the role of women. It doesn't matter. Our place is not to question the brethren, especially the prophet, but to seek our own confirmation of the truth as they give it to us and ask for humility when we struggle with what they say. They manage the Church according to revelation from the Lord and not the philosophies of men. Again, we must follow the Prophet even if it conflicts with our social or political views.

     We are not sheep. It is not healthy for us to blindly go through life. However, it is not our place to question the divinely appointed leaders of the Church. Said Wilford Woodruff,

"The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty," (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.). 

     Hence, questioning the President of the Church's decisions is not healthy at all. It is saying the Lord is not in control and quite incapable of managing the affairs of His children through the Church. So we do not follow blindly, but we follow. Get going and do what the Apostles say and pray for a testimony of it as you go. 
     Brigham Young spoke about his way of handling any faults he thought to perceive in the Prophet Joseph Smith in this manner, 

"Though I admitted in my feelings and knew all the time that Joseph was a human being and subject to err, still it was none of my business to look after his faults. … He was called of God; God dictated him, and if He had a mind to leave him to himself and let him commit an error, that was no business of mine. … He was God’s servant, and not mine,” (Journal of Discourses, 4:297.).

     That quote was ideal for me! Of course they are men and have faults. If they were free of faults, wouldn't they be translated by now? Ask any of their family and dear friends and I am sure they can remember things from the past that are not pristine. That doesn't matter though. Reflect on the pre-conversion state of the sons of Mosiah. Mormon said "for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them," (Mosiah 28:4) and we should all be grateful He did. Their faith lead to the conversion of thousands of Lamanites and changed the course of history in Americas as well as provide priceless scriptures for our day and age.

     Our leaders are flawed men and have their own troubles to deal with on top of dealing with ours. The Lord uses them to help us and He blesses us when we obey their counsel and harken to their teachings. Elder George F. Richards (President of the Council of the Twelve) said, "When we say anything bad about the leaders of the Church, whether true or false, we tend to impair their influence and their usefulness and are thus working against the Lord and his cause," (In Conference Report, Apr. 1947, p. 24.). 

     It is not our place to tear them down in any way. We must never engage in evil-speaking of the Lord's anointed for any reason. President David of McKay stated,

"Better stop murmuring and build. Remember that one of the worst means of tearing down an individual is slander. It is one of the most poisonous weapons that the evil one uses. Backbiting and evil speaking throw us into the class of malefactors rather than the class of benefactors,”(Gospel Ideals, Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953, pp. 142–43.).

     I freely admit that I don't know all the answers to God's rationale on keeping woman out of performing priesthood ordinances for the Church like the sacrament. All I understand is that he gave to the two genders differing, but overlapping charges from the time they left Eden until today. As the Family Proclamation states, 

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation," (General Relief Society Meeting, September 23, 1995).

     In considering the roles of women in the Church and world, remember such examples as Mother Theresa - who never married or had children. Think inside the Church of Sheri Dew who was a counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency of the Church, but also never married. Think also of the college degrees those women who serve in the General Relief Society Presidency carry. We are encouraged to obtain as much education as possible and that is not a gender specific commandment. Women are not simply cattle or servants - they have high and exalted roles to fulfill. That is usually within the role of mother, but not always.
     Speaking to my wife about this matter she said that it is very clear to her there are different roles for the two of us. She has inspiration and guidance for the children that I never have had, nor expect to. Her calling as a mother is unique to her gender and carries great responsibilities and blessings. Some days I come home and she is frazzled by the behavior of the children, but it only takes one smile or hug to make her day. She loves them and would do anything for them. I love them too, but I cannot compete with her in that respect.

     Outside of my home (and inside) my faith is with the brethren and the Church. When they ask us to do something or be something, I feel convinced that is the course of action I need to take. There are no other options for me because I know it is true and want the blessings obedience brings into my life. When I receive a mandate from a priesthood leader, local or general, I know it is from God because that person was called by Him to help me and others. 

     Our sustaining our leaders means exactly that. We are to follow, uplift and support them by whatever means we can. That is what God asks of us and speaking ill of them or their work is only going to drag us down to Hell. This work is true and that means the Apostles and Prophets are called of God and speak for Him. I know it is true and can never deny it. It is what keeps me going and it guides my faith when I hear them speak or read their words. 
     They truly are men of God and anyone can see it by the fruits of their labors - they bring others to Christ. They bring me to Christ. They can bring you to Christ as well. Listen to them. Try their words. Have faith and you will see the beauty that is in this restored Church and gospel. God loves us and gave us these leaders to help us in this, our time of need. Believe in Christ and his servants.