Old, New, Different (Who did you bring with you?)

About two years ago, I assisted our local missionaries with teaching and befriending the husband of one of our wards devoted sisters.  I will call him Jim. Jim and I have become extremely close. Due to an age difference, it is unlikely we would have become friends any other way.  I have been with him as he progressed from learning to practice. He has progressed through the lessons on to baptism and now has been sealed to his wife.  It has been my pleasure to become acquainted with and love this brother.

Each week I found it strange that he had to attend with the High Priests, while I attended Elders.  I would always tell myself it was great that he was associating with others, which was true. Something that I had become used to all my life, now seemed odd.  I guess the idea of two separated groups, supposedly working toward the same goal, started to feel unproductive. As you may be aware, there have been quite a few changes to how we do things in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since 2018.

A change to our Quorum organization was announced at the April 2018 Priesthood Session of General Conference.  The HighPriest Quorum would now meet only at the Stake level, and all priesthood holders would be combined into an Elders Quorum in each ward.  In my opinion, a significant alteration in course. I have been in and around Priesthood Quorums since I was ordained a deacon.

The different offices of the priesthood have different responsibilities and functions.  Advancing from one office to another can be a great motivator as we progress. However, I have often noticed that sometimes we, as priesthood holders, become engaged in wrong feelings about improving from one office to another.  I have felt the pull myself, after being released as an Elders Quorum President and feeling as if I could not progress with my peers, I desired to achieve the office of High Priest. I was incorrectly relating my priesthood office to my progression in the gospel.

“Sometimes one office is spoken of as being ‘higher than’ or ‘lower than’ another office. Rather than ‘higher’ or ‘lower,’ offices in the Melchizedek Priesthood represent different areas of service.” (Boyd K. Packer)

I welcome the adjustments made.  And the additional modifications made to Home and Visiting Teaching, and the Sunday Schedule.  I am not sure I am qualified to answer why at one time in Church history we attended church multiple times through the day on Sunday, which eventually changed to a three-hour block schedule and most recently by a two-hour block schedule.  Maybe a hundred years ago, there was a need that I am not familiar with or a benefit of which I am not aware.

Scripturally speaking, there is ample evidence of similar changes.  At the time of Christ's ministry, many of the traditions of the Jewish people had become more important than their original intent.  Christ clarified many misinterpretations from Sabbath observance to paying taxes.

When Peter was concerned about whether he should baptize Cornelius, a gentile, he went and prayed.  And was told, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” (Acts 10:11-15)

I teach in Elders Quorum.  My tenure stretched from before the change to now.  There is a difference, even though it may be hard to perceive.  I have noticed different perspectives from the more experienced priesthood holders.  Not better, just different. It seems, at least to me, that we are better for it. But I hesitate to look back at the former activities as wrong.  I like to say it is now more open.

“These modifications have been under study for many months. We have felt a pressing need to improve the way we care for our members. … To do that better, we need to strengthen our priesthood quorums to give greater direction to the ministering of love and support that the Lord intends for His Saints.

“These adjustments are inspired of the Lord. As we implement them, we will be even more effective than we have ever been previously.” (President Russell M. Nelson)

It is no coincidence that in the same conference that announced the combining of the quorums, another change communicated was how we report and think about what was formerly called Home and Visiting Teaching into what we now refer to as merely Ministering.

I think understanding the difference between the previous programs and organization and the new way, has a lot to do with how we engage with each other.  Are we just doing our duty, or are we involved with our religion and those around us?

Growing up, I remember Home Teachers coming by from time to time.  Some of the many Home Teachers seemed very canned and formal. My father was in a wheelchair and from time to time, needed extra assistance beyond what my brothers and I could give. It seems as if the Elders who showed up when my father needed help were not the type who came every month.

In my own time as a Home Teacher, I have varied from the formal “I’ve got to check the box” visits.  To other times when I felt I was becoming friends with those with which I visited.

When I was serving as the Elders Quorum President in Ogden, Utah, I received a familiar call, one of the newly moved in Elders needed assistance.  This Elders car stalled and would not start and needed towing to his house. I knew I could get this solved right away. My neighbor had a truck, and I had a chain.  He and I had jumped in to help with his truck several other times. I saw his truck parked out in front of his house and began walking down to request his assistance.

I only made it about halfway when I felt a pull to look for another option.  I couldn’t understand it, “His house was right there,” I thought. It would have been nothing to get him to jump in and go.  I walked a little further, and the same thing; the spirit wasn't just whispering but talking now. I felt that I should at least give his newly assigned Home Teacher the opportunity to help.  So, I pulled up the assignment list and looked for whose responsibility it was. And I became concerned. I knew that the Elder whose duty it was, worked late and had kids and likely would not be available to assist.  But I had been stopped and turned around already. I followed the prompts I had received and engaged the assigned Home Teacher.

Just as I thought, he was working late, yet agreed to assist after work.  I drove over and picked up the elder in need, so he did not have to wait in his car.  I couldn’t stop wondering why this had to be so hard. The two seemed to hit it off well.  There was gratitude in both sides for service rendered and the service opportunity.

As the months progressed following, I noticed them interacting at church.  And it was apparent they had become fast friends. Later I was made aware of the support each of them gave each other during some significant trials.  And I finally understood the promptings to not just take the easy way to solve this problem.

Angels do visit this mortal existence.  But I am sure that mortals can and do act as messengers.  I have had messages delivered by others that I know came only from God.  Sometimes it is in what they say and others what they do, but these messengers were angels to me.  From my parents and family and friends to strangers, one of God's greatest miracles is that he often does his work through his children.

We are just a mortal form of Angel when we serve each other.  And in my opinion, that is why some of the recent changes have taken place, to remove any barriers to a unified membership.  We cannot hide behind our checked boxes. We must engage and serve and love each other.

Why did the Priesthood Quorums come together? What does Ministering mean?  Why were the other changes put in place? To enable us to more effectively follow Christ, to say and do what He would.  It’s not an easy path, but it is worthwhile. Nothing worth doing is easy — loving, engaging, serving, forgiving, or repenting.  I don’t think we stand at the judgment bar and account for only ourselves. I believe the Savior will ask us something like “who did you bring with you”?