2.120 Ordained By Some One Who Has Authority

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, a bold reminder that our lives are meant to carry his flavor, his truth, and his love to the world. Join me each day to explore one verse of scripture and one thought, striving to stay full of savor and truly live as savory salt. Hello, my friends, great to have you with me.

Today let's be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness. Today's message: some instruction with a warning. We are reading this week Doctrine and Covenants sections 41–44 as well as Mosiah chapters 8–11.

We're going to actually dive into the law. I know I've been kind of hinting and working our way through it. Faust says this: "From the beginning, some from both inside and outside of the Church have sought to persuade members of the Church against following the inspired declarations of those who hold the keys of the kingdom of God on earth.

Some of those seeking to mislead have done so claiming special endowments of intelligence or inspiration beyond the established order of the Church." As a warning against those so claiming special authority, the Lord made it clear, and then he shifts gears into our verse for today. So what did the Lord make clear here when considering those that were telling us inside and outside the Church, both inside and outside—I think it's interesting it's both of those—to try to persuade members against following inspired declarations. So put yourself in that situation for just a second.

Why are people trying to get us out from following the declarations? Well, here's the advice that the Lord gives us: the instruction and the warning. Doctrine and Covenants 42:11: "Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to anyone to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my Church, except he be ordained by someone who has authority.

And it is known to the Church that he has authority, and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the Church." My friends, the Lord's house is one of order. It is one based on line of authority. And it is important for us to understand those keys and those lines of authority.

Not so that we blindly follow those that lead us, but so that we understand and can look forward in faith that the Lord has chosen and the Church, as general common consent, are aware of who the leaders are and what their messages are. So to go back to President Faust's counsel, I want you to consider this in today's world. Who are you listening to, or who do you hear, inside or outside the Church, that are trying to persuade members of the Church against following the inspired declarations of those who hold the keys of the kingdom of God on earth?

Listen to the counsel the Lord has given us and let each one of us know that we can stand firm, trusting in those that have been given the authority ordained as such, and those that have been ordained by the heads of the Church. My friends, this is a simple heed, in different ways, to say follow the prophet. He truly has all of the keys on earth to lead this Church.

The apostles collectively, as the Quorum of the Twelve, have them as well. It's an opportunity for us to remember where the authority comes from and remember that without the authority, those claiming to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ are not in alignment with the Lord's will. That's all for today, my friends.

Lift up your hearts and rejoice. Cleave unto the covenants you have made and together we will be savory salt.