Wednesday, October 27, 2010
7:17 PM | Posted by
Unknown
My wife said there is a new book out called, "Even the Prophet Started Out as a Deacon." That set off a chain of thoughts that lead me here. Lucky you.
While it is true that even the mightiest Latter-Day prophet started out as a Deacon, the reverse is not true, that every Deacon ends up a prophet. That is what got me thinking. Why not? As I recall the promises that made the Prophet what he is today weren't any different for the other boys in his Deacon's quorum. The Lord doesn't apply a separate set of requirements and promises to intended prophets than what the rest of us get. That opens up some interesting possibilities.
I haven't ever been called as a Bishop. Does that mean that I will be forever held in lower esteem by the Lord because I haven't held that position? The answer is no. Let's be clear about that. What does the Lord really care about? He cares if I am worthy enough to be a Bishop if he ever has need of me in that position. That is all that matters. So if all that matters is that I am worthy of being a Bishop if the Lord decided that I was needed in that capacity, then why can't I assume that I can be every bit as worthy of the Lord's blessings as the Prophet, without being the Prophet?
We all have our callings in the Church. Almost every Bishop in the Church is a Bishop over people who were once his Bishop. Same goes for those in Stake Presidencies. If there weren't people worthy of being Apostles and Prophets who are currently not serving in that capacity, then where would the Lord go to find the replacements when one of them dies?
It is not vanity that tells me I can be as worthy of the Lord's love and blessings as His Apostles and Prophets. It is the Lord that says He expects me to be that worthy. That is, after all, the purpose of all the covenants I have made since I stepped into the waters of baptism.
All this is to say that we should never set our dear Brethren in a category that is unattainable for us. Yes, they hold the sacred callings of being especial witnesses of the Lord, but we can be, and should be His witnesses as well. We don't have the weight of responsibility they carry in the Kingdom, but we can and should be carrying our weight with dignity and humility in the sphere we are called upon to act in. The Lord loves us no less than His Twelve. Our blessings in the eternities can be as great. But somewhere along the way we need to decide that even though we can't all be the Prophet, we can all start out as "Deacons" and progress through the ranks of covenant making, and faithful living, and in the end receive all the approval and blessings the Father has promised to those who follow His Son.
While it is true that even the mightiest Latter-Day prophet started out as a Deacon, the reverse is not true, that every Deacon ends up a prophet. That is what got me thinking. Why not? As I recall the promises that made the Prophet what he is today weren't any different for the other boys in his Deacon's quorum. The Lord doesn't apply a separate set of requirements and promises to intended prophets than what the rest of us get. That opens up some interesting possibilities.
I haven't ever been called as a Bishop. Does that mean that I will be forever held in lower esteem by the Lord because I haven't held that position? The answer is no. Let's be clear about that. What does the Lord really care about? He cares if I am worthy enough to be a Bishop if he ever has need of me in that position. That is all that matters. So if all that matters is that I am worthy of being a Bishop if the Lord decided that I was needed in that capacity, then why can't I assume that I can be every bit as worthy of the Lord's blessings as the Prophet, without being the Prophet?
We all have our callings in the Church. Almost every Bishop in the Church is a Bishop over people who were once his Bishop. Same goes for those in Stake Presidencies. If there weren't people worthy of being Apostles and Prophets who are currently not serving in that capacity, then where would the Lord go to find the replacements when one of them dies?
It is not vanity that tells me I can be as worthy of the Lord's love and blessings as His Apostles and Prophets. It is the Lord that says He expects me to be that worthy. That is, after all, the purpose of all the covenants I have made since I stepped into the waters of baptism.
All this is to say that we should never set our dear Brethren in a category that is unattainable for us. Yes, they hold the sacred callings of being especial witnesses of the Lord, but we can be, and should be His witnesses as well. We don't have the weight of responsibility they carry in the Kingdom, but we can and should be carrying our weight with dignity and humility in the sphere we are called upon to act in. The Lord loves us no less than His Twelve. Our blessings in the eternities can be as great. But somewhere along the way we need to decide that even though we can't all be the Prophet, we can all start out as "Deacons" and progress through the ranks of covenant making, and faithful living, and in the end receive all the approval and blessings the Father has promised to those who follow His Son.
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