Let There Be Order, Not Chaos Part II

Which leads us to order and membership in churches. I have never said that a person should not go to church, nor have I given any indication that anyone should disrupt the peace and charity of a church or it's congregation. (see my previous post on Go To Church)

Personally, I do favour the principles revealed in the D&C for establishing churches, but all have their agency and are free to create/attend whatever kind of organization that they want.

As a general rule, almost all Mormon churches are established on the tradition of a well defined hierarchy.  (I, of course, acknowledge that several readers may not be from a Mormon background and may attend churches that do not operate this way.)  Now, just because a person visits with the Saviour face to face, doesn't mean that that person should, or has any right to take over leadership of that church, or has a higher authority of the established hierarchy of that church, within that church. Instead that person should use any insights they may have to repent and improve themselves, to serve others, to serve their church, to serve their community at large, to serve their country and their fellow man.  So there really is no reason for a Bishop/Minister to be afraid or intimidated that a member of his congregation has a spiritual gift, instead he should rejoice.

A wise Minister/Bishop would utilize those members of his congregation with spiritual gifts, not cast them out and preach against them, after all, the Lord sent those members to him to help him strengthen the Saints and advance the work of God in his area.

For example: If a foreign visitor arrives at your Ward and does not speak your language very well, and there is someone in your ward who has the gift of tongues, is it such a stretch of protocol to believe that the Bishop could ask the member with the gift of tongues to translate for him?  Or is the Bishop so filled with pride that he would deny the visitor the good news of the gospel just because he is not the one with the gift of tongues?

Is the Bishop/Minister so insecure that Heavenly Father didn't make him the special one, give him the gift, that he is not the best, the top, the only one with the gifts of God?  Is the Bishop/Minister going to throw his little temper tantrum and speak out against anyone but himself using the gifts of God?  Or perhaps teach his congregation that God is a respecter of persons and would only give people of high status His gifts?  Of course this would be impossible, even unthinkable, for mormons without denying the Book of Mormon.  Yet how often this tragedy actually occurs today. 

"And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church.  For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the spirit of God.  To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." 
~ D&C 46:10-12 

So let's get down to it. Beware of pride. Heavenly Father gives gifts to all of His children, and no child is better than another because of it.

Just because one person has a gift of the Spirit doesn't mean that person has the right to rule over others.  And just because a member of your congregation has a gift of the Spirit doesn't mean that you are diminished in the eyes of God.

The Bishop/Minister is chosen to be the caretaker of all those within his jurisdiction.  It is his job to find those with various gifts, such as tongues, prophecy, revelation, healing, miracles, dreams, visions, etc., and get them working together for the betterment of the congregation, and then the community at large.

The exact same principle that would be used if someone needed a house built. The Contractor would acquire the appropriate permits, find a foundation specialist, framers, roofers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers etc., all specialists in their field, and would get them all working together to build the house.  This should be the same with spiritual gifts and building up the household of God in your stewardship.

How foolish would the Contractor look if he refused to hire a carpenter just because that guy was a better carpenter than he was?  Would it be silly for the Contractor to cast out a master electrician, or to utilize him?  Bishops, or Ministers, or Contractors who do such a thing are soon fired and replaced. 

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 

But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 
~ Matthew 24:45-51 

By the Bishop/Minister taking the same role as the contractor he can utilize the members with various gifts and organize them so that the household of God may be built up. The children of God may be fed and led back into the presence of their Saviour.
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