Really struggling with the wealth of our leadership....

[westdelrio]

I am LDS and have been since birth.   Wonderful parents, horrible siblings, now entirely alone.  I've been severely mentally ill my entire life, with multiple bran injuries as well.  After working for 35 years,  I'm now forbidden by my docs from continuing to do so.  Even while working, I've always been poor.  I live off of social security, 1300. a month.  I have a housing voucher that enables me to live in a drug infested, dangerous apartment.  I am increasingly isolated, discouraged, and feel as though I just can't do this anymore.  Being really ill AND poor is too much, and I'm so exhausted from battling my entire life.  So when I see the conference seats stacked with millionairs, I feel ill.  I try to listen to their messages, but I'm becoming increasingly angry and feeling on the oust because none of them, male or female, can relate to me.   They're wealthy, they may have health issues to a lesser degree, and tragedy visits them occasionally.  But with millions in the bank, tragedies are always minimied.  Please don't argue this point with me, I've seen it enough to know it's true.   I wonder why we can't have a janitor, or a firefighter, or a homemaker in our global leadership?   Or even in stake or regional leadership.     If I had 20 million coming in a year (or even 5 million), I couldn't bank it and allow the saints in my backyard to suffer as they do.  The poor in Salt Lake are being destroyed.  We have horrific living conditions, we're constantly passed over for callings, we suffer discrimination at the hands of bishops and other leaders, the list goes on.   I've held on to my testimony because it's rooted in Christ, yet I can't help but wonder why Christ has stacked the vast majority of his leadership positions with millionaires, or super wealthy, 'pretty perfect' people?????   I'm alone, afraid, ill, and I'm barely hanging on.  Any insight would be appreciated. I'd give anything for a safe home with room enough to stay organized and allow for my therapies, a live in aide, an office/paperwork, etc.  I'm terrified that I will die like this, no matter how righteous and obedient I am.  Temple worthy, attending, thousands and thousands of family history names to the temple, trying to care for granddaughter when I'm able to, trying to be kind to others, seeking opportunities to serve, all for nothing.  I feel worthless, and my prayer for a home has gone ignored for decades.   Thank you for listening.

[zil2]

I may not know much, but:

2 hours ago, westdelrio said:

Temple worthy, attending, thousands and thousands of family history names to the temple, trying to care for granddaughter when I'm able to, trying to be kind to others, seeking opportunities to serve, all for nothing.  I feel worthless

All that says you are anything but worthless.

I'm sorry for all your struggles. I cannot explain anything except that my own trials suggest that each of us is here to learn to follow Christ no matter what.  (And each of us has a different "what" to overcome.)

I could only guess at the answers to your questions about who is called an why, and I don't know that guesses would be right or help you.

Welcome to ThirdHour, @westdelrio! If nothing else, we can offer you the friendship of fellow saints.

[westdelrio]

Quote

Thank you, zil2.  I appreciate your kindness.

 

[JohnsonJones]

So, I have been teaching people to have a testimony in the gospel over the past few years.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect, but the leadership (and in fact, none of us) is not. 

The Leadership of the Church are men.  They are given the keys which lead to salvation.  This does not mean that they are the best people in the church, the most righteous, or the greatest individuals who are presently alive. 

The problem is that people do not see it that way.  They worship the leaders (which should not be, but it is what it is).  Because they see many of the leaders as wealthy, it has led to a sort of prosperity gospel idea bounding in some circles of the church.

The gospel teaches us that the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.   That's not just applicable in who receives the gospel, but from my readings, also in regards to those who have power and wealth on this earth vs. those who do not.  If there is any justice (and we believe the Lord is just) than those who lord over others in this life with the power given them, who dictate things on personal whim and their own personal feelings rather than truth and light, will come after those who are humble and meek followers of the Lord.

This world is heavily influenced by the adversary.  I have seen corruption in our university and the struggles over who gets to be in charge.  The higher one gets up in authority, it seems the more corruption follows them.  I've noticed this also tends to occur in every other aspect of our society whether it be government, business, or even religions.

With the way our religion handles callings it tends to have less corruption (in my opinion) as one normally can't vie for positions, but that does not preclude it from occurring.  I've seen murderers, adulterers, and those who cheat others among the church leadership.  What does that mean?

It simply means that we are still human.  We all make mistakes.  Until men are perfect, the organizations led by men will not be perfect. 

The Church as organized is made for man.  It is the vehicle by which we can receive the ordinances to attain exaltation.  Being in leadership does not dictate whether one is more or less righteous. 

Remember the Lord is Just.  No blessing that some leader decides to dictate will fall upon them, will come upon them before it falls on those who are judged more worthy by the Lord.  It doesn't matter what position they have in this life, they do not have power to dictate to the Lord over the realms of justice and mercy.  They cannot claim to have some blessing beyond what others have due to their wealth and position while denying others who may be more worthy of it.  They do not get to dictate who is truly worthy and who is not if it contradicts what the Lord desires.  It may not be seen in this life, but it will be in the next. 

The Lord is also merciful.  None of us deserve to be saved in the Kingdom of Heaven.  No matter what we do, we all fall short of what we need to be doing.  He sees our hearts and our minds and knows each of us much better than others do.  He knows if we truly want to follow him and what our reasons for following him are.  He will rewards us better than what we deserve.  He knows the smallest and most unseen as well as those who are mighty and powerful.  He loves all of us and what may seem small to us may be mighty things to him, and what may seem mighty things to us may seem insignificant to him.

Many of the positions of Leadership were known before the world was created.  There was a plan put forth and we are following that plan.  Each leader may be participating and doing their part of that plan, but that does not mean they are justified or saved.  Only the Lord knows what is just and merciful.

One of the best items I've ever read was about an experience a lady had during a short period where she had passed beyond the veil (though obviously she returned).  During it she saw a man who was homeless and begging on the street.  This man was lauded by the angels in heaven.  He had chosen that position in the pre-existence.  The reason was that his friend in the pre-existence had also chosen a path where he would have great wealth and power.  Every day that man of power passed by the homeless man.  The homeless man was there to help his friend to hopefully remember to be humble, to give away money to charity, to value things of heaven over that of the world.  I do not know if the homeless man was successful (she did not see the end of it or how it would end up), but the homeless man was considered one of the greatest individuals of heaven.  The least of the people that we see was one of the greatest and most praised individuals. 

I think that's how it works at times.  We are taught what is valuable to us on this earth by worldly concerns, but worldly matters are not what is important in heaven. 

For me (personally) it also reflects a commandment that was given as a basic item in the Old Testament.  This applies to me, and may not necessarily be of concern to anyone else.  It is that we should not covet.  Why do we want to have the positions of power that the General Authorities have?  Why should we care?  When we covet, we make ourselves unhappy.  If we do not covet, we can be happy with what we have.

They are serving in their assigned roles in this life.  If we are to believe some of the scriptures, these are roles they were chosen for before coming here.  This does not guarantee them salvation or exaltation, nor does it even mean they are more righteous than others in this life.  It means that they are fulfilling the areas for which they were selected as those who would bear the church and try to ensure it could accomplish it's mission of the salvation of men.  This does not make them better than you or I, merely as other servants serving in their capacity as you or I may serve in ours.

I know it can be hard to see rich and powerful people, or those with connections being the leaders at times while those who are poor and humble are left out.  I see it at times as well.  The thing to remember is that those who have their glory in this life have their rewards of such things, but there are many who are poor and humble who receive a greater reward in the hereafter.  In this, I commend you for staying with the gospel, and trying to remain true to the covenants you have made. 

I would urge you to remain true and endure to the end.  I know it may not be easy (and probably is a lot harder for you than many others).  Remember though that what you may perceive in this life with those who are held in honor among men, may not necessarily reflect what the LORD sees and what the Lord will reward.  Know that he is just and merciful, and pray for that justice and mercy in your life, along with praying for the rest of us who need it so dearly as well. 

I don't have the perfect answers for you.  I can only supply a long and verbose post (which you have read above) on some things I feel on the matter.  I don't have all the answers, and I am sorry I can't answer your question well enough.  However, I hope that in some way my post may give you hope that what you may think of those being favored with positions and glory in this life is what the world sees, but when talking about things with the Lord, his way may not necessarily be the same view, or the same approach as that of the world. 

If I had the power (and luckily I don't, I'd probably make a mess of it) I'd make a greater equality among the Lord's people.  No one would have greater authority than others except when absolutely necessary.  Authority would be granted in regards to time and righteousness.  Someone who was worthy for 55 years would automatically become a High Priest...there would be none of this nepotism and favoritism I see (and none of my sons are High Priests if that tells you anything while I have seen those who have committed heavy crimes be anointed as such).  We would still need those who have certain keys in positions, but as far as authority and other blessings go, it would be far more even without having the haves and have nots in the church. 

I have one Son-in-Law who has become a Bishop and he's probably the worst one of the bunch (some may say a father is biased though in regards to who his daughter married??).  He is probably the most well off of all of those related to me, and he has a beautiful house (quite large, one would even say a mansion).  He is proudful and just kicked his own son (my grandson) out of the house for no reason other than his son was now an adult.  It's infuriating.  Yet the church has made him a Bishop and my sons are not even High Priests.  I can understand why such things can make one angry or lose hope.  I am also pleased to say that thus far, my sons are still loyal and faithful in the church. 

As I have said in this overly lengthy post, we must have faith in the Lord.  We must understand that the Lord's way is not necessarily man's way, and what the Lord sees is not necessarily what man sees.  A Lot of this is Faith.  I've said this a lot in this post, but I do not feel I can say this enough, the things that are important to the Lord are many times seen as the least things of importance to man, and those things men hold up as important (riches, positions of power, etc) are seen as worthless to the Lord.  His church on this earth has to have order, and for that it has men organized to keep it that way.  However, as it is an organization made for men and led by men, it will have ensuing problems as such because men are not perfect and value things that are different than what the Lord values.  The church is there as a vessel to bring us the gospel and it's blessings.  It is made for us, but we are not made for it.  We are made to be the Lord's.  We are the Lord's servants and saints, not some Stake Presidents or higher individuals lackeys.  We are the Children of a Father in Heaven, not the slaves of men. 

I've gone on too long with this post, but I'd like to conclude in urging you to keep the faith.  I don't have the answers you are seeking, but I can empathize with how you feel.  Know that there are many out there that are not church leaders and who struggle day to day.  The most important thing is to keep true to the gospel.  Follow Jesus Christ and embrace the atonement in your life.  If you try your best to keep your covenants and follow the Lord, I feel that you will be rewarded in heaven as richly and as deservedly as anyone else in this life no matter their station or lot. 

 

Edited October 23, 2024 by JohnsonJones
Spelling/Grammar

[Manners Matter]

First, I'm so sorry you've faced such challenges. {hugs}

I think this is the mental illness talking. I'm not downplaying your feelings at all but I know that when we're going through tough times, the way we see things is affected. With what you shared, you clearly have a good heart and I commend you for all the good you've done in spite of your circumstances.

Keep in mind, you have no idea how much those in leadership have donated to help others. Just cause they don't advertise it or you personally haven't seen it, doesn't mean it hasn't happened so it's always best to give people the benefit of the doubt. I was told of someone that would drop off money anonymously to a person in need from time to time so be careful not to judge others for what you don't know.

Lastly, there is real help available to make things easier for you. Books from the library have been insightful to me as well as some facebook groups/pages that led me to other helpful sources. I'm not saying everything will be ideal for you but there can definitely be improvement in some ways so I hope you'll search for answers and stay open to what you find. 

Edited October 24, 2024 by Manners Matter

[mrmarklin]

As a practical matter, because our leaders are not paid, the relatively affluent are the ones that have the ability to serve in positions that demand a lot of their time. 

Think of this:  when most people their age are spending time on golf courses, the GAs are serving mankind.