Sustaining our Leaders, according to scripture... [message #2257] |
Fri, 01 March 2013 08:40 |
Amonhi
Messages: 237 Registered: June 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV.
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Senior Member |
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We talk about sustaining our leaders, but I think that means something different to each of us. Some seem to think it means to agree with in everything, others think it means to be obedient to, and some seem to think it means to simply recognize them as being in a particular position.
What does sustain really mean, and show do we or should we sustain our leaders?
A quick definition from the internet says that "sustain" mean to - Strengthen or support physically or mentally.
When we look for the word in scriptures, we find the word used as follows:
Quote:Articles of Faith 1:12 - We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
It seems that in this verse, "Obeying", "honoring" AND "Sustaining" each seem to be different concepts.
Quote:Nehemiah 9:21 - Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
The Lord sustains His People. He does not obey them, or agree with them on every point of doctrine, or ....
Quote:Doctrine and Covenants 134:5 - We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.
Do we sustain our church and its leaders in the same way that we sustain our government and our political leaders? Do we sustain our political leaders with the same effort and determination that we sustain our religious leaders?
Can we sustain them without agreeing with them, or while wanting to change/improve them, or while seeing flaws in them?[/quote]
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