The primary responsibility of a bishop or any leader is to teach.
One of the greatest fears of men is that they are inadequate.
Romans 8:17
17 And if children, then heirs; aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
We should be careful comparing ourselves to others. Being members of the Church we have a different measuring stick to measure ourselves by, due to the covenants we have made. We should be careful not to judge others by our standards. We should keep our standards and teach others, but we should not be judgmental of those that are not keeping our standards who do not understand and have covenanted to keep those standards.
Perfection equals and increase in quantity and quality.
We are apprentices here on earth. Masters train their apprentices to be their replacement or competition. God is eternal and there is no competition for the job of God, but he is training us to have all he has. All knowledge. All love. All power.
An oath is the highest form of a guarantee.
We make an oath every time we raise our hands to sustain our leaders.
Doctrine and Covenants 84:33-44
33 For whoso is afaithful unto the obtaining these two bpriesthoods of which I have spoken, and the cmagnifying their calling, aredsanctified by the Spirit unto the erenewing of their bodies.
35 And also all they who receive this priesthood areceive me, saith the Lord;
36 For he that receiveth my servants areceiveth me;
37 And he that areceiveth me receiveth my Father;
39 And this is according to the aoath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood.
40 Therefore, all those who receive the apriesthood, receive this boath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
42 And wo unto all those who come not unto this priesthood which ye have received, which I now confirm upon you who are present this day, by mine own voice out of the heavens; and even I have given the heavenly hosts and mine angels acharge concerning you.
None of us are losers. We are all designed to be like God.
Our wives want the three Ps. To be Pursued. To have Passion. To be Protected.
One difference between a divine covenant and a legal contract of man's making is that with a divine covenant only you can break it. God will not.
The priesthood is not a cloak we can put on and take off
The following story travels around in various different forms and I don't know the author.
"A man went to a fair where several young men had gathered to look for work. He interviewed the boys and asked them what their skills were. One young man said, 'I can buck hay really well.' Another said, 'I'm good with animals.' One boy said, 'I can sleep when the wind blows.' The man didn't know what to make of that answer, but it intrigued him. After talking to all the applicants, he decided to take the boy with the peculiar answer home with him.
They did all the chores around the farm and then went to bed. Later that night, a huge storm picked up. The farmer dashed around to secure all the doors and windows, to find that they were already secure. The Animals had enough hay and weren't nervous. Everything was put to order, and the farmer went back to bed, able to relax. His new helper had never awakened at all, and the farmer finally understood what the boy meant when he said, 'I can sleep when the wind blows.' He knew he had already taken care of everything, so there was no reason to get up and madly dash around to set things to rights - they already were right." - Author Unknown
If we have done everything to prepare, when trials come we can have peace.
"True disciples of Jesus Christ have always been concerned for the one. Jesus Christ is our greatest example. He was surrounded by multitudes and spoke to thousands, yet He always had concern for the one. “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost,”1 He said. “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?”2
This instruction applies to all who follow Him. We are commanded to seek out those who are lost. We are to be our brother’s keeper. We cannot neglect this commission given by our Savior. We must be concerned for the one.
Today I would like to talk about those who are lost—some because they are different, some because they are weary, and some because they have strayed." (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, April 2008 General Conference, Concern for the One)
Doctrine and Covenants 88:81
81 Behold, I sent you out to atestify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to bwarn his neighbor.
81 Behold, I sent you out to atestify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to bwarn his neighbor.
“ ‘There are many who struggle and climb and finally reach the top of the ladder, only to find that it is leaning against the wrong wall’ ” (“The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord,” 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, pp. 266–67)
"When we invite the Holy Ghost to fill our minds with light and knowledge, He 'quickens" us, that is to say, enlightens and enlivens the inner man or woman. As a result we notice a measurable difference in our soul. We feel strengthened, filled with peace and joy. We possess spiritual energy and enthusiasm, both of which enhance our natural abilities. We can accomplish more that we otherwise could do on our own. We yearn to become a holier person." (Elder Keith K. Hilbig, "Quench Not the Spirit Which Quickens the Inner Man", October General Conference 2007)
John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.
