Second, you might anticipate what the future
could hold. If the readers of this page were standing
before me, I would ask two questions: “How many
of you are currently serving in a Church assignment
different from your assignment of two years ago?”
and “How many of you know what Church position you’ll
be filling two years from today?”
A good friend of mine in the eastern part
of the United States once told me how he had taken
the long and tedious ride across two state lines—frequently
using three or four different means of public transportation—to
attend stake priesthood leadership meetings. He
recalled wondering how meetings often devoted to
topics such as youth leadership applied to him as
a Seventies president, but nonetheless found them
interesting because of his curiosity about and pleasure
in the functioning of the Church. Later on, my friend
George Downing was an outstanding bishop—the president
of the Aaronic Priesthood in his ward—aided in that
wonderful calling by insights gained long before
in meetings not quite “relevant” to his assignment.
The Church is a wondrous tapestry. We should
be interested in the whole cloth, not just our little,
current patch. Faithful service in our present callings
is a key element in preparing for future stewardships.
Only the Lord knows what opportunities may come
our way in the future. Only we can prepare.
– Rodger Dean Duncan
Challenge:
The people I lead are filled with contention.
How can I help resolve the situation?
Opportunity:
The couple called. “President Pinegar, there’s
a major problem. Elder So and So and Elder So and
So have done something that’s embarrassed everyone,
and we’re really upset. We even told the bishop
about it and he’s upset, too. We need to meet with
you and make sure that these elders get set straight
right now.”
“Is the zone leader aware of this?” I asked.
“Well, I think he heard about it yesterday.
And we called him and he said he didn’t know what
he was going to do. President, we want to meet with
you tomorrow morning at 7:00 o’clock and get this
resolved.”
I said, “Well, let’s wait a bit. Let me
talk to Elder Toone. He’s the zone leader. He’s
the one who’s responsible and I’m sure he can handle
it.”
They retorted, “He’s just a nineteen-year-old
kid. What can he do about it?”
And I said, “Let’s be patient. The Lord’s
in charge and he can handle it.”
They were frustrated. Needless to say, there
was concern on both sides. Elder Toone called me
up and said, “President, what do I do?”
I said, “Elder Toone, let’s counsel together
and pray about it, and tomorrow morning before you
meet with the couple, the bishop and these elders,
you call me and the Lord will tell us the things
we need to do.”
That night we prayed. Elder Toone prayed.
The next morning, he said, “President, what can
I do?”
I said, “Elder, as you get together, first
of all you have a kneeling prayer. Pray for charity
for all involved and ask that kindness and the spirit
of love will be in the meeting. Then after you have
the kneeling prayer, suggest to the people that
you’d like to share some scriptures. Read Moroni
7:45 on the qualities of charity. Then read John
13:34-35 on how when we’re disciples we will love
one another. Then read Matthew 25:40, ‘Inasmuch
as you’ve done it unto the least of these, my brethren,
you’ve done it unto me.’”
After we’d discussed those scriptures, he
said, “Okay, I’ll try, President.”
He went off to his meeting. About 9:00 o’clock
that morning I received a phone call. “President,
I’m so happy.”
“Elder Toone, what happened?”
“Oh, it was wonderful. I cannot believe
that the Lord blesses us so much. Everyone loves
each other. Everyone is doing fine and there are
no problems. We just need to love each other and
look at the situation from each others’ perspective
so we can better understand. Oh, President, everyone
feels fine. There’s no contention, and love abounds
in our district.”
The Lord truly blesses us when we practice
true principles in the spirit of love.
– Ed J. Pinegar
Quotes Worth Remembering
… but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. – D&C
38:30
That
they themselves may be prepared, and that my people
may be taught more perfectly, and have experience,
and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and
the things which I require at their hands. –
D&C 105:10
Indeed, the great challenge we face as we prepare
for the future is to be more spiritually enlightened.
– James E. Faust 4
And he commanded them that there should be no contention
one with another, but that they should look forward
with one eye, having one faith and one baptism,
having their hearts knit together in unity and in
love one towards another. – Mosiah 18:21
And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because
of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts
of the people. – 4 Nephi 1:15
For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh
from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the
devil. – Alma 5:40
Note:
The excerpts of Leadership for Saints posted
on Meridian are only a fraction of the contents
of this 349-page book. To learn more about this
ground-breaking book and to order copies, click
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