Below is a letter I wrote to a member in my stake after he gave a talk that put into words I had so longed to articulate myself. I think it makes for a great conversation!
Hello ****,
I greatly appreciate your talk from Sunday night. We've never met for more than a handshake but I've kept up with your amazing work in your ward. You've helped many friends that I've had over the years in the Alief area.
I wanted to share with you a scripture that came to mind when you said in your talk that "“Righteousness” does not mean “perfection.” The men who bear the Priesthood are men. They make mistakes. They have their quirks and foibles."
Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-37 in my opinion illustrates so well what you were talking about. In verse 36 it says, "That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the power of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness."
Until recently I never realized that I didn't understand this verse. What other principles other than righteousness take part in the handling of the priesthood?! I found the answer in verse 37 only after first thinking that it was a contradiction. In verse 37 it says, "and when it (righteousness) is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of the man." It is not only the righteousness of a man that allows him to act in God's name, but the AUTHORITY as well. There are many men that are righteous that have no authority. However a man that has been given the authority, has an opportunity to prove his righteousness to his Lord.
Often I see members who forget that it is the authority that separates us from the rest of Christianity and not righteousness. I follow my church leaders not just because I perceive them to be righteous but more importantly because I know them to be those with authority. We have made commitments to follow our leaders with faith because we believe in the authority of the Lord's church and the leaders He calls to guide us back to Him.
These thoughts led me to a couple questions:
Do the unrighteous acts of a man take away the authority from whence it came?
D&C 121:36
"...that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness."
Does the authority diminish in the man when he is unrighteous?
D&C 121:37
"...and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of the man."
The answers to these questions are now very clear to me as the first question is answered in verse 36 as no and verse 37 answers the second question as yes.
I'm sorry if I'm rambling on but I wanted to try to share these feelings with you as you did so well in sharing yours in your talk. Thank you for your inspired words. I am truly grateful to the Lord for blessing me with the opportunity of being a member of His true and everlasting church.
Andy Ruggles
I greatly appreciate your talk from Sunday night. We've never met for more than a handshake but I've kept up with your amazing work in your ward. You've helped many friends that I've had over the years in the Alief area.
I wanted to share with you a scripture that came to mind when you said in your talk that "“Righteousness” does not mean “perfection.” The men who bear the Priesthood are men. They make mistakes. They have their quirks and foibles."
Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-37 in my opinion illustrates so well what you were talking about. In verse 36 it says, "That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the power of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness."
Until recently I never realized that I didn't understand this verse. What other principles other than righteousness take part in the handling of the priesthood?! I found the answer in verse 37 only after first thinking that it was a contradiction. In verse 37 it says, "and when it (righteousness) is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of the man." It is not only the righteousness of a man that allows him to act in God's name, but the AUTHORITY as well. There are many men that are righteous that have no authority. However a man that has been given the authority, has an opportunity to prove his righteousness to his Lord.
Often I see members who forget that it is the authority that separates us from the rest of Christianity and not righteousness. I follow my church leaders not just because I perceive them to be righteous but more importantly because I know them to be those with authority. We have made commitments to follow our leaders with faith because we believe in the authority of the Lord's church and the leaders He calls to guide us back to Him.
These thoughts led me to a couple questions:
Do the unrighteous acts of a man take away the authority from whence it came?
D&C 121:36
"...that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness."
Does the authority diminish in the man when he is unrighteous?
D&C 121:37
"...and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of the man."
The answers to these questions are now very clear to me as the first question is answered in verse 36 as no and verse 37 answers the second question as yes.
I'm sorry if I'm rambling on but I wanted to try to share these feelings with you as you did so well in sharing yours in your talk. Thank you for your inspired words. I am truly grateful to the Lord for blessing me with the opportunity of being a member of His true and everlasting church.
Andy Ruggles
