Willingness to be Presided Over
In defining the gospel, the Savior said of himself,
"Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross;"
3 Nephi 27:13
And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross;"
3 Nephi 27:13
Jesus Christ revealed His own submission to He who presided over Him. He gave the Father honor in word and in deed by executing all of His commands, including exposing himself to supreme pain in the garden, unjust ridicule by the people, and unfathomable physical torment on the cross.
Priesthood holders who desire that the doctrine of the priesthood distill upon their souls as the dews from heaven will learn to submit to the will of the Father, as did the Savior. Because His will is communicated and manifested through priesthood keys, submitting to the will of the Father includes following and sustaining those leaders that the Father has designated. This means that in order to follow the Father and the Savior fully, we solemnly choose to follow our elder’s quorum president, our bishop, and our stake president. These men hold keys that were given by the Father through a very special lineage of priesthood holders and were originally conveyed to the prophet Joseph Smith during the restoration of the priesthood to the earth by John the Baptist, Peter, James, and John.
The holding of keys does not suggest that the men who hold them are perfect. They can and do make errors in judgment from time to time. The plan of salvation goes forth by imperfect people in whom God has placed trust, not because He feels they will execute everything perfectly, but because He understands that this is the method by which His children can learn, grow, and ultimately become like Him. There is simply no other way. Thus, the willingness to be presided over is tested further and made stronger by our submission to priesthood leaders, even though they are not perfect. In truth, our Heavenly Father is forging in a furnace our ability to recognize that when we follow those He has placed in authority, we are, in reality, learning to follow Him.
Regarding our view of following imperfect leaders, the father of Henry B. Eyring said,
Regarding our view of following imperfect leaders, the father of Henry B. Eyring said,
"I am glad when one of the brethren says something that I think is a little bit foolish, because I think if the Lord can stand him, maybe he can stand me. So that's it, and I think that maybe, there's a certain stumbling block that some of us have: we expect other people to be a kind of perfection that we don't even attempt to approach ourselves. We expect the brethren or the bishop or the Stake President or the General Authorities to be not human, even. We expect the Lord to just open and shut their mouths, but He doesn't do that -- they are human beings; but they're wonderful, and they do better than they would if it weren't for the Lord helping them."
Father of Henry B. Eyring
Father of Henry B. Eyring
Becoming as a child and submitting to the leadership of those in whom Heavenly Father has entrusted keys, despite their imperfection, is a Christlike attribute that, when cultivated, can increase priesthood power beyond measure. To justify not following a leader because of their fallibility is a sure way to restrict the flow of priesthood power and blessings to both the priesthood holder and to all whom he serves. But, when we demonstrate our willingness to be presided over, we exponentially increase the work of the Father in bringing to pass the eternal life of His children. This is an attribute than can and should distill upon our souls.
Points to Ponder
- Consider what guidance Heavenly Father may be providing to you or your family through His leaders, including your bishop, elder’s quorum president, or relief society president. Can you find willingness in your heart to let God prevail by following those leaders, even though you can see their imperfections?
- How can you better hear the voice of Him through your leaders going forward?
- Identify something in your life where you may not be letting God prevail. Can you find the courage to change that pattern?
Want More?The principles we are studying together come from the book, 'The Melchizedek Priesthood' by Elder Dale G. Renlund and Ruth Lybbert Renlund. Although there are many books on various subjects, including the priesthood, when an apostle of the Lord and his wife provide such instruction, we feel it important to take notice. While we have attempted to consolidate principles related to the doctrine of the priesthood found in the book, we recommend every individual read this work for themselves to gain even more understanding. As we study personal attributes described herein, we seek not only to learn the doctrine, but also to assimilate these attributes into our character. As we do this, we may discover where we fall short, but such recognition provides focus and helps us to become a better, more deliberate disciple of Jesus Christ.
President Jason Ward
President Dennis Stanley
President Rodney South
President Dennis Stanley
President Rodney South
President Russell M. Nelson