Receiving the Lord's Servants

We are to give heed to the Lord's servants.

When it was time for Jesus to expand His ministry, He called and authorized His apostles to go forth as missionaries to teach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out unclean spirits, etc. He told them, "He that receiveth you receiveth me. . ." (Matthew 10:40.)

When Jesus told his apostles that they represented him, he was expressing a principle that had been in force and had applied to the servants of God in every age. It is applicable today just as it was anciently. In his conference talk of October 1960, Pres. Marion G. Romney said, "This statement is worth emphasizing. 'He that receiveth my servants receiveth me.' Who are his servants? They are his representatives in the offices of the Priesthood - the General, Stake, Priesthood Quorum, and Ward officers. It behooves us to keep this in mind when we are tempted to disregard our presiding authorities, bishops, quorum and stake presidents, etc., when, within the jurisdiction of their callings, they give us counsel and advice."

"The servants of the Lord are ambassadors of the Lord, sent by him to you. The way you treat his servants, the way you react to what they say, is the way you are treating the Lord" (Matthew 10:41; Luke 10:16.)

Church members who aren't truly converted often ignore the counsel of their bishops, stake presidents, and other Priesthood leaders, thinking, instead, that they must hear it from a general authority. But when our local Priesthood authorities are called, they are given stewardship over the people in their wards and stakes, and as they seek inspiration from the Lord, their counsel is as valid as that from the general authorities. We will be held accountable for how we receive the inspired counsel from the Lord through His authorized servants, regardless of how high or low in the "church hierarchy" they are. It will be as though we refused the words of the Lord, Himself.

Unfortunately, it seems that much of the population of the world does not want God in their lives. Yet, as I listen to and read what is being said, there seems to be a general feeling that something "big" is coming. The different "worried" opinions and theories being put forth are pretty interesting, but no one seems to know what to expect or what to do about it. I don't know, either, but I am grateful to know that we have inspired Priesthood leaders whose counsel we can trust, and if we obey, we will find the best way to deal with the challenges.