Sustaining our Church Leaders

Dear Young Women,

Again, I always enjoy teaching a lesson because I learn so much. I am always able to recognize in my own life changes that I need to make in order to be closer to my Heavenly Father and to have the Holy Ghost to always be with me. This past Sunday was no exception.

Thank you for your participation during the lesson and for the insights you shared. Unfortunately we were only able to make it through about 50% of the lesson so I wanted to re-cap what we discussed and share with you what else I was going to share in my lesson.

What does it mean to you to SUSTAIN someone in their calling?

I think that we came to the conclusion that sustaining someone who has been called means that we support them. We also understand that they have the right to inspiration regarding their calling. We decided that one of the best ways to sustain someone in their calling was to have a good attitude and be willing to help if called upon, and when called upon to do your best in your assignment. We also discussed that perhaps we could set a goal to pay better attention to those released and called and that we might after sacrament meeting let them know that we are willing to help them serve in their calling. 

Rejection of Church Leaders

In the scriptures we read of Laman and Lemuel who rejected their older brother Nephi as their church leader. 

 While on the boat sailing to the promised land they tied him up and began to make themselves merry. As a consequence of this, their compass did not work correctly and a terrible storm came upon them and they were driven back on the sea.

We also read of the Children of Israel. Moses was their church leader and he tried to teach them the gospel but they rejected him. Consequently he was taken from them and so was the priesthood. 

As we analyzed these two stories, we had a good discussion.

While we may never tie up a church leader to a boat, there are several other things we might do to show that we do not sustain him or her. Such as: not following through with an assignment given by that person, talking bad about that person, rejecting their counsel and following the precepts of men.

Also, as we choose not to follow their counsel we will find that in a sense, we become tossed about on the sea and we may lose our way. Leaders are chosen by our Heavenly Father and through inspiration of the Holy Ghost called. We know that the prophet will never lead us astray. If we are unsure of counsel by a church leader we should pray to know for ourselves if what they say is true. Always include Heavenly Father as you sustain your church leaders.

We will never have the prophet or priesthood taken from us, but we may, like the Children of Israel enter into a state of personal apostasy.

In a conference address in 2005 Elder James E. Faust shared that when he was called to serve with the twelve apostles he was counseled to be "one with the bretheren". He always remembered that counsel and has recognized through his time of service how important it is to sustain leaders. He also shared in that talk the examples of two men, former members of the Quorom of the Twelve Apostles, who rejected the prophet Joseph Smith and apostasized from the church. 

It was not sustaining their church leaders which led them on the road to personal apostasy. In their own words, each shared what sorrow had entered their lives once they left the church. Each also admitted later on that they were wrong to not follow the prophet and wished they could take it back. One did come back to the Church in full-fellowhip after being excommunicated. Do not allow pride to enter your heart and reject your leader's teachings. There are blessings for those who sustain their church leaders.

Following Church Leaders

In the scriptures again, there are two examples of those who followed their church leaders.

The widow of Zarepath was asked by the prophet Elijah for food. She told him she only had enough meal and oil to make a small cake for her and her son and then they would have no more food and die. He promised if she would make it for him than she would not perish and it was so. Her barrel of meal and cruse of oil did not go empty but stayed full as she obeyed the prophet.

Naaman was a leper and was told to wash 7 times in a filthy river.

 At first he refused because he was unhappy that Elisha had not given him the directions himself, but sent a servant, and that the river was dirty. But a servant persuaded him that it was an easy thing and that he should do it. He did, and was cured of his leprosy. 

 Blessings always come to those who obey their church leaders. Consider what might prohibit you from following your leaders completely. How can you get rid of those things so that you can receive blessings that come from obedience?

As I studied this lesson it was clear to me that to be able to sustain a church leader fully:

You must have a testimony that callings come from our Heavenly Father.

You must have a testimony that our Latter-day prophet is the Lord's mouthpiece.

You must have a testimony that the Bishop is called to receive inspiration for the ward.

Follow the steps for obtaining a testimony if you struggle with any of these.

A great quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland from his conference address, "Lord, I Believe"

"...be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work. As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite fulness is poured forth, it is not the oil’s fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can’t quite contain it all. Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving."

I love you girls and want to be a better example of sustaining our church leaders for you.

Love,  Sister Chambers