Chapter 16
Principle #8
A Priesthood Holder Serves Where Called
It shall not be given to any one . . . to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority.
—Doctrine and Covenants 42:11
In the world today, ambitious individuals seek for leadership positions in order to control and govern others. They network, campaign, and forge alliances in the hope of advancing careers, earning money, or increasing social status. This style of leadership is contrary to the doctrine of the priesthood. A priesthood holder serves where called. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said: “There is no ‘up or down’ in the service of the Lord. There is only ‘forward or backward,’ and that difference depends on how we accept and act upon our releases and callings.”1
By design, in the Lord’s Church, priesthood holders have callings for a season and then are released. Their release is not a statement about the quality of the work they have done. Releases and calls come by inspiration, on the Lord’s timetable.
A priesthood leader serves at the Lord’s pleasure with humility and willingness. A remarkable example of this principle comes from the life of President J. Reuben Clark Jr., a counselor to President David O. McKay. From October 1934 to April 1951, President Clark and President McKay served as counselors in the First Presidency, first to President Heber J. Grant and then to President George Albert Smith. Throughout this time, President Clark served as first counselor and President McKay served as second counselor.
In general conference on April 9, 1951, five days after President Smith died, President McKay was sustained as President of the Church. President Stephen L Richards was sustained as first counselor in the First Presidency and President Clark as second counselor.
President Clark had for such a long time served as first counselor in the First Presidency, it seemed odd to many that he was now being asked to serve as second counselor. In his remarks after the change, he provided the principles underlying the Lord’s pattern in the priesthood: “In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines.”2
Priesthood callings are not positions one seeks. Rather, they are callings from God. These callings are made known to the Church: “Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:11).
A calling in the priesthood does not come to an individual because of anything he has done; a calling is not “earned.” The Lord calls individuals for His purposes. When I was called to serve as a bishop, my older brother, Gary, called to congratulate me on my call. Gary said: “You shouldn’t suppose that God has called you because of anything you have done. In fact, in your case, it is despite what you have done. God has called you for what He will accomplish through you.” This is true for most priesthood holders.
Seeking the priesthood, or any position within the priesthood, for improper reasons brings God’s condemnation. An instructive story is seen in the life of Korah in the Old Testament. Korah, a Levite, led 250 of Israel’s most prominent leaders in demanding to receive more than the Levitical Priesthood. Korah sought the same priesthood that Moses held, the Melchizedek Priesthood, and accused Moses and Aaron of taking too much upon themselves (see Numbers 16:1–3).
Moses questioned why they wanted more authority than God had already given them, asking, “Seek ye the priesthood also?” (Numbers 16:8–10). The Lord commanded both Aaron, with the priesthood holders who followed him, and Korah, with those who followed him, to bring censers and incense to the tabernacle. Those claiming priesthood authority were asked to bring fire before the Lord as a symbol of their prayers and supplication.
And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. . . .
And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. (Numbers 16:31–33, 35)
This dramatic end to those who sought priesthood power for themselves is a sobering lesson for all priesthood holders. When God calls, answer. When He does not call, hold your peace. Priesthood callings are not about God’s love or approbation.
The First Presidency expressed this principle in 1914:
Priesthood is not given for the honor or aggrandizement of man, but for the ministry of service among those for whom the bearers of that sacred commission are called to labor. Be it remembered that even our Lord and Master, after long fasting, when faint in body and physically weakened by exhausting vigils and continued abstinence, resisted the arch tempter’s suggestion that he use the authority and power of his Messiahship to provide for his own immediate needs.3
Temptations to misuse the priesthood and seek priesthood advancement are not new. Power has the potential to corrupt men. Priesthood power must be used when and where the Lord directs.
Priesthood holders must also wait upon the Lord to call them; positions in the priesthood are not sought. Consequently, it is contrary to the doctrine of the priesthood to recommend oneself for a position. On occasion, individual priesthood holders may feel a spiritual impression that they will be called to a position. Sometimes, a person so inspired believes he has been informed by the Spirit that the calling will come to him. Thereafter he may be confused if the call does not come. A few explanations are possible. Rarely, the prompting was not from the Holy Ghost, rather an emotional response. Sometimes, the spiritual prompting, though real, is overinterpreted. The Spirit may be informing the priesthood holder that he is worthy, should the call be extended to him. In other words, he stands approved of the Lord. Even when another man is called, he can sense God’s approbation for him.
A release from a priesthood calling is intrinsic to a call. A man serves diligently during the time that he holds the calling, but then graciously accepts the release. Priesthood holders will rarely feel adequately thanked for their service. When I was released as a stake president, I was expecting a big thank you from the presiding authorities. I had worked diligently for years and felt I deserved such thanks. The weekend came, and the presiding authorities were focused on the call of the new stake presidency. They were not focused on thanking the outgoing stake presidency. After the stake conference, I felt disappointed.
That Sunday afternoon, I visited my father. He was a man of few words. He listened as I grumbled about not being thanked. He said nothing. The next morning, however, the phone rang at 6:00 a.m. It was my dad. Without preamble, he said, “I’ve been thinking about what you were saying. I have one question for you: Who were you serving?” Then he hung up. In that moment, my dad taught me a valuable and enduring principle about priesthood service. We serve when called. We graciously accept releases. Our thanks comes from the Lord.
Notes