How many people complain about how this person did this or that, or how they should have done something differently? How many complained about the prophet or any of the General Authority?
When reading the scriptures, what pattern exists between God and his prophet(s)?
The pattern is one of repentance and obedience to God and one of recompensing the ones who are offended or hurt. The Lord expects his prophet and any of his Church leaders to repent and remain obedient to him and gospel principles. Joseph Smith was clearly shown to have erred with God and suffered a season or two of repentance because of it.
I recognize this pattern because I have lived it myself. Things go well between God and myself until I make an error and then I feel the chastening and reproving from God. I suffer a season of repentance and recompense for it and return a “new man”. If a person has not felt this power from God, of his chastening and reproof, then they desperately need to repent before it is too late. I say this because no one is perfect and error is bound to occur which would offend God or his Holy Spirit.
This is the pattern that exists between the leadership of this Church and God. You many not readily see it, but it does exist and God knows how to bring a person to his/her knees in humbleness. To get upset at a leader may be justified at that time, but please remember not to hold onto that upset, for if the leader erred, allow him/her the time to repent and make the change. This is why God teaches us to be humble and respectful, not to murmur or take on contentious views and ideas and most certainly, not seek fault with others.
One time I was upset with the Bishop because to my view, he failed to seek the counsel of the Spirit on a certain (local) Church matter. What I found was that the direction I felt from the Spirit on that matter came into manifestation none the less, even though the Bishop chose an opposite direction. I knew well enough to remain silent on that matter because it would be improper in God’s eyes for me to say “I told you so”. What I learned from that event was that God achieves his will one of two basic ways. Through a series of circumstances in life or through direct revelation. The former is what mostly occurs and did occur with the Bishop.
Each person is given the freedom to exercise free will and conscience in their callings within the Church. Some will be more spiritually attuned than others, but this does not give justification for contention or argument with the leadership of the Church. Each person, which includes everyone from common member to the prophet, will be chastened and reproved by God. We will certainly not see it for most occurrences, but as I know by experience, it will occur. That is the way God is.
So before taking the urge to react to error by others, keep in mind God has his hand in it. Your part is to help where God wants you to help or keep your distance as you remain faithful and humble yourself. In fact, if you believe that the Church leader has erred or continues to err, failing to be that example of a good leader under God, then you be that “good person” who abides in God and God’s gospel. In other words, you be the good example and never to do wrong for wrong.
Amen
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