Change in the LDS Church

 

Someone said to me recently that once during a temple interview he received counseling to stop drinking sodas with caffeine, but then he learned later that the Church clarified that ruling. He said that the Brethren changed the ruling on who could receive the priesthood, and now the missionary age has gone down. Then he asked if the Brethren would change more of the church in the future. I searched my brain for a response.

I thought back to the time before the priesthood was given to all worthy male members of good standing in the Church and I recalled a statement that then apostle Elder Spencer W. Kimball had given to my mother during the 1960”s.  She had said that it seems to be increasingly more difficult to know who can or cannot hold the priesthood in the Church and then she asked him if he thought there might come a time when the current policy in the Church would change.  Elder Kimball’s response was surprising as he said, “Well, it has been President McKay’s opinion that the time would come when that would happen.  This question had been on [Elder Kimball’s] mind as well. I told my friend the following.

Whenever The Savior does anything on earth for His Church, he will reveal His Mind and Will through His properly ordained servant, the Prophet (see Amos 3:7).  He and only he will have all the priesthood keys from God to be the mouthpiece for Him regarding matters of His Church.

I added that change by divine revelation would usually come after a long period of time when the prophet had worked things out in his mind including counseling with the apostles about it.  In the instance of giving all worthy male members of the Church the priesthood, the leaders of the Church had pondered it for many years.

The prophet always works out any question He might have regarding policy changes or anything pertaining to the Savior's Church by completely pondering it out in his mind and then asking God in prayer for His final approval. Then the Savior can reveal His Holy Will to the Prophet. This is what President Kimball had done and I’m sure that nothing has changed. Suffice it to say, that in God’s own due time will He direct all the matters of His church through His Prophet.

It is important, therefore, to remember whose Church it is that we are members. There will be changes from time to time, but because God is directing His church through His Prophet , it will always be right.

Tags: Prophet Faith Change Missionaries

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