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Don’t Judge the Church by the People

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a conversation with someone that goes like this: “My Uncle Henry used to be a member, but then his home teacher said something unkind, and he hasn’t been back to church since.”

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all had a church leader say something insensitive or downright rude. This does not, in any way, reflect on the church itself. The leaders we are given are human. They have bad days. They don’t always act in the manner God would like them to behave – in short, they’re just like us. We hope, given the fact that they hold a position of authority, that they’ll strive to honor their calling and to administrate it wisely, but let’s be honest. Having a calling does not mean you are perfect, nor does it make you perfect. It’s a learning experience, and some people have a lot to learn about interpersonal relationships.

God is perfect. His church is perfect, his systems of administration are perfect. I’m quite impressed with the many sections in the Doctrine and Covenants that are devoted to teaching the early Saints how to run the different auxiliaries within the Church. He figured out everything, down to the smallest detail. When things are run according to God’s plan, they go smoothly. But until we are as perfect as God, we will make mistakes. We’ll get frustrated and sharp words will come out before we even know it.

When differences do arise between us and another member of the Church, it’s crucial that we remember – they don’t speak for God. They aren’t acting in His best interest when they use demeaning words. When God chastises, He does it with loving kindness. His is not the spirit of contention. We need to separate the criticism we got from the Relief Society President from the actual workings and proper administration of the Church. She may not always be warm and cuddly, and we may wonder why she holds that position in the first place. God is the only one who can determine that, and perhaps she was given the calling so she could learn more about charity. Whatever the case, it’s not ours to judge, but we should never give a woman like that the power to keep us away from church or to cause bitter feelings against the Church itself.

May we remember that we’re all human, and ever will be until we reach our goal of exaltation. And may we remember to give each other the benefit of a doubt, realizing that we have days when we’re no bed of roses, either.

Related Blogs:

The Healing Power of Forgiveness

Getting Along with Those You Serve

Getting Along with Others