“Even That They Did Murmur Against the Lord”

(1 Ne. 5:2-7; 7:19-21; D&C 28:6,12; 43:3-4; Acts 23:5,10-11; Eph. 6:1; History of the Church 2:177; refer in this text to Alma 61:9,19)

“The bishop may be a humble man. Some of you may think you are superior to him, and you may be, but he is given authority direct from our father in heaven. You recognize it. Seek his advice… . Recognition of authority is an important principle.” (David O. McKay, Conference Report, Oct. 1965, p. 105)

“No man possessing a correct understanding of the spirit of the gospel and of the authority and law of the Holy Priesthood will attempt for a moment to run before his file leader or to do anything that is not strictly in harmony with his wish and the authority that belongs to him. The moment a man in a subordinate position begins to usurp the authority of his leader, that moment he is out of his place, and proves by his conduct that he does not comprehend his duty, that he is not acting in the line of his calling, and is a dangerous character… . He is in error the moment he acts contrary to and independent of the direction of his presiding officer; and if he continues in that course he will go astray entirely, and those who follow him will follow him astray.” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, pp. 185-186)

“The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that ‘it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves’ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 21). That same principle precludes receiving revelation for anyone outside one’s defined circle of responsibility.” (Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 1993, p. 39)

“Years ago my great-grandfather, while an investigator, attended a Mormon meeting during which a member had a quarrel with the branch president. When the service was over, Mrs. Benson turned to Ezra T. and asked him what he thought of the Mormons now. I’ll always be grateful for his answer. He said he thought the actions of its members in no way altered the truth of Mormonism. That conviction saved him from many a tragedy.” (Ezra Taft Benson, God, Family, Country, p. 335)

“I say again, FOLLOW THE BRETHREN. In a few days there opens another general conference of the Church. The servants of the Lord will counsel us. You may listen with anxious ears and hearts, or you may turn that counsel aside. As in these devotionals, what you shall gain will depend not so much upon their preparation of the messages as upon your preparation for them… . On one occasion [Karl G. Maeser], was leading a party of young missionaries across the Alps. As they slowly ascended the steep slope, he looked back and saw a row of sticks thrust into the glacial snow to mark the one safe path across the otherwise treacherous mountains. Something about those sticks impressed him, and halting the company of missionaries he gestured toward them and said, ‘Brethren, there stands the priesthood. They are just common sticks like the rest of us—some of them may even seem to be a little … [less than perfect], but the position they hold makes them what they are. If we step aside from the path they mark, we are lost.’” (Boyd K. Packer, BYU Devotional, Mar. 23, 1965)

“Nephi broke his bow when they were in the wilderness… . Laman and Lemuel complained, of course… . But for the first and only time the book tells us about, that I know of, even wonderful old father Lehi complained. He to whom God had revealed his will, this Lehi, when it came to facing starvation, even he complained… . Lehi was the prophet, but he was old. Nephi had already been designated to succeed. He had seen angels and had talked with the spirit of the Lord. He had had marvelous experiences. The time was here, now, for him to take over—his dad was wavering. The old man had lost it. What to do? Nephi says he made a bow and an arrow out of some available wood, got a sling and stones and, ‘I said unto my Father, ‘Whither shall I go to obtain food?’ It is a simple thing, isn’t it? This is what Goethe meant when he said, ‘If you treat an individual as he is, he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he could be and ought to be, he will become what he ought to be.’ This means that Nephi went to his father and said, ‘Dad, the Lord has blessed you. You are his servant. I need to know where to go to get food. Dad, you ask him, will you?’ Oh, he could have gone to his own knees. He could have taken over. I count this one of the really significant lessons of life in the book… . A son who had strength enough, and humility enough, and manliness enough to go to his wavering superior and say, ‘You ask God, will you?’ Because somehow he knew this is how you make men strong, that wise confidence in men builds them. Lehi asked God and God told him, and Lehi’s leadership was restored.” (Marion D. Hanks, BYU Speeches of the Year, May 4, 1960)

“Individual members of the Church may receive revelation for their own callings and areas of responsibility and for their own families. They may not receive spiritual instruction for those higher in authority… . Those who claim direct revelation from God for the Church outside the established order and channel of the priesthood are misguided.” (James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1996, p. 7)