Misuse of Authority

I have held many positions of authority in my life. I have been a leader in my church in various capacities as well as the Boy Scouts of America. I've also had short stints as a supervisor at my work. I enjoy supervisory work and I feel I get along with people quite well. I've had good bosses and bad bosses throughout my life. It is my opinion that a boss should be nicer than most people BECAUSE he's a boss. He should be kinder, gentler, and more patient than most.

Some people, however, have a problem with authority. Once they get a taste of it, they tend to rule with an iron fist - or at least a LEVEL of "iron-fistery", if that were a word. Here is a section from the Doctrine and Covenants which addresses this matter very well:

D&C 121
34 Behold, there are many ^acalled, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35 Because their ^ahearts are set so much upon the things of this ^bworld, and ^caspire to the ^dhonors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

36 That the ^arights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be ^bcontrolled nor handled only upon the ^cprinciples of righteousness.

I believe most people misinterpret the scripture above. The way I read it says that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled ONLY upon the principles of righteousness. It takes MORE than just the principle of righteousness to handle the rights and powers of the priesthood. The Lord even enumerates those principles below in verses 41-46.

37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to ^acover our ^bsins, or to gratify our ^cpride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or ^ddominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens ^ewithdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to ^akick against the pricks, to ^bpersecute the saints, and to ^cfight against God.

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the ^anature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little ^bauthority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise ^cunrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many are called, but ^afew are chosen.

THESE are the principles through which we should wield our priesthood powers.

41 No ^apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the ^bpriesthood, only by ^cpersuasion, by ^dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

42 By ^akindness, and pure ^bknowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the ^csoul without ^dhypocrisy, and without ^eguile—

43 ^aReproving betimes with ^bsharpness, when ^cmoved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of ^dlove toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of ^adeath.

45 Let thy ^abowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let ^bvirtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy ^cconfidence wax strong in the ^dpresence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the ^edews from heaven.

46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant ^acompanion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of ^brighteousness and truth; and thy ^cdominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

When you look at your leadership responsibilities as a way to control people, you've overstepped the bounds of your leadership powers. That is the quickest way to lose the Spirit in the decisions you make. I have experienced this MANY times when I yell at my children or punish them too harshly. The Spirit immediately withdraws and I am completely without his guidance. It is not until I have settled down and humbled myself and asked my Father for forgiveness that I can approach that child and ask THEM to forgive. It is a humiliating circumstance to find yourself in.

I was presiding over an elders quorum presidency meeting once and we were discussing a change in a home teaching companionship. I made a specific suggestion and immediately the secretary disagreed. He asked why I didn't want to do it his way. I simply stated, "It doesn't feel right." He was surprised. We were able to finally agree and I think it gave him MORE confidence in my abilities because he KNEW that I was not making decision out of haste or simple need or to exert my authority. I was making choices based on what I felt was direction from the Holy Ghost.