Sometimes I watch and listen to our local leaders and you cannot help but ask yourself, 'Wow, am I the only one can see something wrong here?' You can see the world set in their eyes, nothing of spirit comes out of their mouth and their conversations have such a prideful tone that you wonder if they realize they are servants. You look at most of the membership and you see nothing different, after all, it starts from the top right? Now what do you do next? If you say something, they will say you are a rebel, if you try to stay quiet, they say you do not like to participate - what would the Lord expect? What is your view? Take into consideration that these same people you are asked to sustain and it is to them you have to go to for your recommend, etc.
That is such an excellent question because there are a lot of people who get the same feeling from the GAs. And with some good reasons.
I would have to fast and pray a lot about it. I know people who feel absolutely no spiritual influence at all in their wards (in Utah), but who have prayed about it and been told to continue to attend and do what they can to help other people come to Christ more fully. Others have had it confirmed to them that they no longer need to attend, as it would be harmful for them, or for others.
It is an intensely personal thing. I could never give anyone advice on this subject.
Thanks for your thoughts. I have a similar point of view myself, I feel that way right now with some leaders (save that I actually have concrete information on it) and the way I handle it is to just help those that want help, discuss the doctrine with those that want to discuss it and lastly, participate in the ordinances - I have found that rich blessings come from doing that: blessing the sacrament, confirmations, healing the sick, etc. I do not allow leaders to just dictate what 'they' want done, I first check to see if the Spirit is indicating to me that it is what I am supposed to, especially after consulting the CHI and scriptures. So often I find that what you are asked to do is just personal agendas and not really anything to do with building up the Kingdom.
I feel no spiritual influence at all in my Branch and District. To be quiet honest with you all, I reach the point sometimes where I think if there is something wrong with me, if I am the one who is prideful, if I am the one who sees the things of the Lord and his Gospel differently, if I am the one who is crazy when I wonder why we have 0 Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching, why people laugh loud in Church and participate in the most weird conversation, why women dress so immodestly and they are the ones who stand in the pulpit and tell everybody how we should dress as Latter-Day Saints, why the Branch President cannot call me for my Temple Recommend Interview for more than 3 months, why I cannot discuss the Gospel or what I read in the scriptures with someone because nobody is interested, why my leaders speak so prideful and are concern only about numbers and becoming a Stake instead of talking about caring about each other, loving one another and doing what is right, why members who are stealing and robbing other members are allowed to come to Church and nothing is being done to protect the innocent, why when you try to do your best people say 'you are too good and they hope you fall someday, so you will know how it feels'...yes...I feel like I am around Satan's children instead of God's children. I do believe Satan is inside the Church and working at full speed. Some Saints just are so blind that cannot see his influence. I sustained those leaders that I feel are inspired by God, I feel very sad I have not sustained all of them, but I'm not a hypocrite and just like the Scripture says 'by the fruits ye shall know them', I'm seeing some of their fruits so far and they are rottening.
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Now what do you do next? If you say something, they will say you are a rebel, if you try to stay quiet, they say you do not like to participate - what would the Lord expect? What is your view |
When I served as a zone leader I was blessed to have a very supportive zone; in fact I cannot think of a time when I was so well supported. This done me no end of good and made it the highlight of my mission because I then had more success myself - and the relationship and effect was by no means one way. We were all happy and united! There was a great deal of kindness, Spirit, obedience and enthusiasm.
I say this to emphasize the very great power in sustaining leaders - I believe it is a principle that extends to common human nature and to secular positions too. Even when leaders are - well, to put it bluntly - doing pretty bad things, perhaps we should still respect their position (think of David and King Saul, of Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, of Ammon and Lamoni...) subject to to revelation of course.
Now, having said that, I trust you know I'm not apostate But here is something I feel we must understand:
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"Some will, ignorantly or otherwise, use their office to promote false counsel; some will use it to lead the unwary astray; some will use it to persuade us that all is well in Zion: some will use it to cover and excuse their ignorance." (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1966). |
This is a classic answer for this thread... LDS pointed out a scripture to me this past week that made me think about this thread. Consider in the below scriptures that the Pharisees were in charge and acted 'in office'. The people felt the same way as we do in this thread about the way things were being handled - notice Christ's reply [emphasis in bold is my doing]:
JB, your post is excellent. I know many people who won't cooperate if they don't approve of you as a whatever. Clearly, the Lord has taught this isn't acceptable. If someone has been chosen to lead, we are not to focus on what they do wrong. If they ask us to do something, and it is a righteous endeavor, we should do it, even if it isn't what we would do. Even if we don't think the person asking is living their life in a manner worthy to hold whatever calling they have. Their sin is no excuse for ours.
While on my mission, I was assigned to a small branch that had many problems and the meetings were horrible, no musical capability, poor speakers, ineffective leaders, etc. I dreaded going to these meetings and a feeling of dread overcame me every Sunday morning. I started praying and fasting about it because it really bothered me. One morning, the thought came over me that I should focus on making sure that I was worthy and prepared to receive the sacrament. I felt a new excitement and spent the Saturday evening and Sunday morning studying the scriptures about forgiveness and asking Heavenly Father for a remission of my sins.
During the sacrament meeting, a sweet feeling of peace came over me. Yes, the speakers were still horrible, the songs were offkey, the children still kept up the noise level. This is the deepest spiritual experience that I will ever post - but the difference was in my heart and in the fact that I focused on the real reason why I was at that meeting and the Lord blessed me.
In previous post, I have mentioned a specific case where leaders in the Church focused on the wrong things and progress in that stake was side tracked. I have experienced others and I have to admit that I have struggled with this issue. The struggles have have helped me to be humble, and I hope that I am learning. I am trying my best to apply Section 121 in my life and truly learn how the power and influence of the Priesthood is to be applied (kindness, gentleness, meekness, long-suffering, persuasion.
My previous comments also apply here, it is not my job to "steady the ark", it is my job to sustain, support, and above all else prepare myself, and work out my salvation and exaltation with "fear and trembling" before God. That, along with sharing the Gospel with others, is my focus.
A final comment relative to councils in the Church. Unfortunately, too many of them are focused on just receiving direction and assignments. Elder Ballard's book on Councils is excellent and should be read by everyone in a leadership role in the Church. Leaders should use councils to obtain the informed, prayerful opinions and insights of each of the council members, including the female members. All members have something to offer, and I have learned that inspiration often comes through this diversity of opinion. At a minimum, the leader does not become isolated in his feelings or from the members he is responsible for. Confidential matters must be kept confidential, but we must all work together for the good of the saints.