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(This article was inspired by a talk given by an Apostle, Elder Boyd K. Packer in a General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints) No member of the human family is considered better than any other member. They are considered equal to each other by the Lord. The Lord chooses each of us to do our part in bringing the Gospel of Christ to all of His children, and to build up His kingdom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a unique practice of calling its clergy from the lay-people of the congregation. This clergy is unpaid, and serves for a set amount of time on a volunteer basis. The whole body of authorities and assignments works similarly from the very top down. When a calling is proposed for a new prophet or apostle or any other post, the members of the Church must vote on the matter, showing unanimous support for the new person called by a show of hands. To support the individual called is to “sustain” them, to recognize that they are worthy to serve in the given position, and that they have been called of God to do so. If someone in the congregation believes that the proposed person is not worthy to serve in the given position, they may vote no, at which point they will be pulled aside to discuss why they feel so. If their reasons are valid, the matter will be further discussed and figured out. This rarely ever happens. The same vote is required for any position in the church, all the way from Prophet, down to the person in charge of their congregation's hymnbooks. These votes are important. These votes are noted by the leaders and are also recorded in Heaven. “No person is to be ordained to any office in this church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the vote of that church.” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:65, revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1829) The Lord established His church, and set it up for the members to fill all the positions in it. There are no seminaries or institutes that they have to go through for authority from God, because these institutions do not hold such authority. These institutions can only give the authority of man. To have authority that is recognized by God during and after this life, it has to come from God through His appointed servants to those who He wants to be ordained and exercise His authority. Peter was an ordinary man, a fisherman, but was chosen by the Lord to be one of His Apostles and was given the Keys of the Kingdom. The Lord asked Peter who he thought that He was, Peter said that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. This is when the Lord said, “Peter, Upon This Rock I will build my church." He was not calling Peter the "Rock," He was telling Peter that the revelation that he had received was from God the Father, that that revelation was the rock on which He would build his church. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” (By Revelation) “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock--” (The Rock of Revelation) “--I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (If the priesthood listens to the revelations and inspiration of the Lord, no matter what Satan or Hell will do, the Work of the Lord will go forward.) “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Those keys are here on the Earth today, through the power of God's priesthood.) (Matthew 16:16-19, with commentary in parentheses) Those chosen, weak and simple men, much like Peter, are the servants of the Lord on earth today, and have this sealing power to perform the saving ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead. God’s authority is not given by man-made institutions. Their authority is only for this life and to conform to the laws in their earthly communities. That is why they do not marry for eternity, because they only have authority to marry for this life. All real priesthood authority from God that is given to man is recorded here and in Heaven. All positions are important to the Lord and are needed for His church to function as a whole. Each man and woman’s position is not lesser or greater than any other. All is needed. All provide a valuable service. “Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.” (Doctrine and Covenants 132:8) To learn more, you can chat live with real missionaries by clicking here!
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LDS Church, Boyd K. Packer, callings, prophets, sustain, God, Jesus Christ, Gospel, service, clergy,
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