(June 6, 2015)
Understanding
where to follow the Church, and where to follow the Lord, is a simple question
in theory but a complex and difficult one to deal with in practice. We know and understand that the Church represents
the Kingdom of God
At the
same time, we understand that the Church is led by imperfect people. They make mistakes. There are doctrines that we hold, and
assumptions that we make, that are almost certainly wrong. If we are not careful, the Church can
actually become a stumbling block rather than an asset in our progress towards
Eternal Life. If we allow the Church to
supplant the Savior, we run the risk of being damaged by the mistakes made by
our imperfect leaders.
The
simple answer is that we follow the Church expect when the Lord tells us
otherwise (which, of course, He does not often do). The Church has at its purpose to lead us to
Christ, but it does not take the place of Christ. It is possible to have a relationship with
Christ and not to have a relationship with His Church, just as it is possible
to have a relationship with Christ’s Church and not have a relationship with
Him.
What is
key for each of us is to recognize the power and authority of the Priesthood
(and its importance), to understand that the Church hierarchy has an important
role to play in bringing us to Christ, but also to never let the Church
displace the Savior in our lives.
The
Lord healed on Sunday, when the policy of the Church (the Lord’s Church, mind
you) was that such things should not be done.
Nephi killed Laban when the policy of the Church (the Lord’s Church) was
that whosoever killed should be put to death (and he killed an elder of the
Church). We do not show respect for the
Lord if we ignore His Church – we follow their counsel strictly, unless the
Lord says otherwise. But if we are not
open to revelation to direct us, we have allowed the Church to displace the
Lord and that is not the plan, either.
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