AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has re-affirmed the Latter-day Saint principle of sustaining ecclesiastical leaders in a message to Mormons across the Pacific region.

 

“One of the great blessings afforded to us as members of the Church, and it is perhaps unique to us, is the opportunity to sustain and uphold the leaders of the Church,” the message begins.

 

Each month the Area Presidency publishes a message to Latter-day Saints throughout the region in the local edition of The Ensign, the official magazine of the Church.

 

 

 

One of the great blessings afforded to us as members of the Church, and it is perhaps unique to us, is the opportunity to sustain and uphold the leaders of the Church. In sacrament meetings and conferences we raise our hands to sustain those called to serve in and lead the Church. We confirm in every temple recommend interview our commitment to sustain the general and local leadership of the Church. In the temple we covenant to do so, and to avoid any form of evil speaking of those whom the Lord has called.

 

Yet, there are times when, in the face of a decision or a direction that has been given with which some disagree, the willingness to sustain seems to melt away faster than snow in the noonday sun. Often, such moments are usually preceded by self-deluding statements such as, “Of course I sustain Church leaders, but …” followed by some kind of tortuous rationalisation.

 

In the time of King David, Uzza was stricken down because, unbidden and unauthorised, he “put forth his hand to hold the ark.” (1 Chr 13:9, 10). In modern times, the Lord issued a warning to those who would take it upon themselves to “steady the ark of God.” (D&C 85:8).

 

The principle of sustaining is not an abstract or relative concept; it is not an ‘a la carte’ menu choice; nor should it be “sliced and diced” to suit personal preferences, positions or opinions on the issues of the day.

 

It is, of course, easy to sustain those decisions with which we agree. The real test comes when we are asked to sustain and support a decision that runs contrary to our view of how things should be. We are all at liberty to have an opinion, and perhaps even to express it to a Church leader. If we then persist in advocacy of our own opinion, or seek to win others to our point of view, or become publicly outspoken against Church leaders and the decisions they have made, then we put ourselves on a slippery slope.

 

President Marion G. Romney counseled, “some members assume that one can be in full harmony with the spirit of the gospel, enjoy full fellowship in the Church, and at the same time be out of harmony with the leaders of the Church and the counsel and direction they give. Such a position is wholly inconsistent … such a spirit leads to apostasy.” (CR, Apr 1983, p21).

 

President Harold B. Lee was even clearer: “I want to bear you my testimony that the experience I have had has taught me that those who criticise the leaders of this Church are showing signs of spiritual sickness which, unless curbed, will bring about eventually spiritual death. I want to bear my testimony as well that those who in public seek by their criticism to belittle our leaders or bring them into disrepute, will bring upon themselves more hurt than upon those whom they seek thus to malign.” (CR, Oct 1947, p67).

 

Brothers and Sisters, the ark of God does not need steadying. I bear my testimony, from my own experience, that we can and should have the utmost confidence in the leadership of the Church and in the decisions that they make. They deserve to be upheld in every respect and at all times. As we do so, the Church moves forward, the leaders are blessed, and so are we.

 

President Harold B. Lee confirmed, “Now the only safety we have as members of this Church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organised. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet ... There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord god will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good and his name’s glory.” (see D&C 21:4-6; CR. Oct 1970 p152).

 

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