Current Lesson No. Eight

The Lord Administers His Church in Ways that "Bringeth about the Salvation of Many Souls"

Introduction – Elder Dale G. Renlund and I have been friends and neighbors for many years.  Recently, I had a conversation with him about the process the Lord uses to choose the leaders who will guide his Church.   I am very grateful for this discussion because it increased my testimony that the Lord is at the head of his Church. 
  
Wonderfully simple and simply wonderful – The way the Church operates at the highest levels is wonderfully simple and simply wonderful.  Each member of the First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, 15 men in total, hold all the keys of the priesthood on the earth including the keys of prophets, seers, and revelators.  The senior apostle, who is the President of the Church, directs and exercises those keys.

When a member of the First Presidency or Quorum of Twelve Apostles dies there is a vacancy in the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  The Lord reveals to the President of the Church who is to fill that vacancy.  The President announces the Lord’s decision to his Brethren in the First Presidency and the Twelve who then sustain the Lord’s choice.  The new member of the Twelve is called, and then he is sustained by the general membership of the Church at General Conference.  He is then ordained an apostle at the direction of the President and under the hands of his Brethren.  He then serves as an apostles for many years.  As more senior apostles finish their work on the earth and are called home, the remaining living apostles move up in seniority, and the most senior apostle becomes President of the Church and directs the work of the Lord on the earth.

In the Lord’s way there is no campaigning or efforts to gain support and influence among the Brethren or with members of the Church. This is in great contrast to how leaders of nations and other organizations are often chosen. 
 
“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass” – The Book of Mormon explains, “…that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.  And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).  The principle that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” applies not only to the scriptures but also to the way the Lord insures continuity and order in his Church.
     
Following the prophets “bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:7) – The teachings of the Book of Mormon concerning the Liahona can be applied to our willingness to follow our prophets during our mortal journey.  Paraphrasing Alma 37:40-46: 

“The teachings of prophets works for us according to our faith in God; therefore, if we have faith to believe that God could cause these men to point the way we should go, behold, it is done; therefore we have this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

“Nevertheless, because these miracles are worked by small means we can be slothful and forget to exercise our faith and diligence, and we do not progress in our mortal journey.

“Therefore, we terry in the wilderness of mortality and do not travel a direct course, and we are afflicted because of our transgressions.

“And now I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

“For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, given through his prophets, which will point us in a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

“And now I say is there not a type in this thing?  For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, given through his prophets, if we will follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow unto a far better land of promise.

“O do not be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us.  The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.”  (See Alma 37:40-46)

Testimony – When I spoke with Elder Renlund the Holy Spirit bore witness to me that his calling was from the Lord.  The Spirit also bore witness to me that if we stay in the mainstream of the Church and follow the counsel and teachings of those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators they will lead us to salvation and eternal life.