This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Welfare Session of the April 1979 Conference.
Just two little pieces of thoughts today. This session of Conference was all about organizational changes to the Welfare program—primarily introducing new councils and leaders to oversee different aspects of the program. I admit that I found the details of it all a little boring: who would report to who and about what, levels of administration from bishops upwards, etc. But there was some information about councils that I thought was interesting, especially when I thought about the current structure of councils that we use in the church (and the new emphasis on Relief Society and Priesthood councils, too).
President N. Eldon Tanner quoted a scripture from Ephesians which he said applied specifically to councils:
Also I keep thinking about something from a talk in the previous session I covered, Elder Packer's. Here's what he said:
I'm not sure of all the implications of this. But it's interesting to me. The specific example Elder Packer gave was about the Three Witnesses leaving the church, and how that used to bother him so much, but later he saw it as an evidence that their unchanged testimonies of the Book of Mormon were that much more credible. I've seen similar examples with things in the Book of Mormon that used to seem laughably incorrect, but have later been shown to be more accurate than anyone could expect of a book made up by a farm boy in the 1800s.
The thing that seems most interesting is that this is a spiritual pattern of sorts. On a small level, often the church activities I dread the most are the ones I'm happiest I went to, afterwards. But beyond that, the very trials that are hardest for us can cause the most growth. The specific challenges we have are also our chances to best empathize with and love others. And of course, Ether says ALL our weakness can be changed through Christ to strength. I wonder why this is the pattern?
And it does seem to tie in with the "joints" after all—in that these delicate, flexible, complicated systems of our bodies, which have so many moving parts and are so easily sprained and damaged and unhinged, are also the things that make us able to maneuver with grace through a world full of obstacles. It is easy for things to go wrong or take an unexpected turn, in a council where everyone speaks up and there are many differing opinions. But apparently, this is also our best chance to gain the decisiveness and unity through which Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost direct their power.
Other posts in this series:
President N. Eldon Tanner quoted a scripture from Ephesians which he said applied specifically to councils:
“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15–16; italics added).He said that councils are like the fittings and joints that make the body of the church work. I liked that, and have been trying to think of ways that it's true (they have a fixed point they come out from, but they have great reach and flexibility around that point; they allow large areas to be moved with only small changes relative to the force applied)(If I, ah, knew more about anatomy, I'd probably be better at this).
Also I keep thinking about something from a talk in the previous session I covered, Elder Packer's. Here's what he said:
…Therefore, what had shaken my faith, one day was transformed into an anchor to hold it steady.It sounds like a variation on "weakness becoming strength," but to me it seems even more powerful. He implies that even things that shake our faith—which would be things like perceived weaknesses of the church/Book of Mormon, faults of leaders, changes in how the church does things, and so forth—if we grow from them and remain faithful through them—can eventually become sources of strength.
I'm not sure of all the implications of this. But it's interesting to me. The specific example Elder Packer gave was about the Three Witnesses leaving the church, and how that used to bother him so much, but later he saw it as an evidence that their unchanged testimonies of the Book of Mormon were that much more credible. I've seen similar examples with things in the Book of Mormon that used to seem laughably incorrect, but have later been shown to be more accurate than anyone could expect of a book made up by a farm boy in the 1800s.
The thing that seems most interesting is that this is a spiritual pattern of sorts. On a small level, often the church activities I dread the most are the ones I'm happiest I went to, afterwards. But beyond that, the very trials that are hardest for us can cause the most growth. The specific challenges we have are also our chances to best empathize with and love others. And of course, Ether says ALL our weakness can be changed through Christ to strength. I wonder why this is the pattern?
And it does seem to tie in with the "joints" after all—in that these delicate, flexible, complicated systems of our bodies, which have so many moving parts and are so easily sprained and damaged and unhinged, are also the things that make us able to maneuver with grace through a world full of obstacles. It is easy for things to go wrong or take an unexpected turn, in a council where everyone speaks up and there are many differing opinions. But apparently, this is also our best chance to gain the decisiveness and unity through which Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost direct their power.
Other posts in this series:
- Independent Above All by G
- Better Councils, Stronger Families by Jan Tolman
