Faces of Innocence

Reflections on the last 5 years

TOP 10 LESSONS I LEARNED AS AN L.D.S. BISHOP

I decided I need to document some of the lessons I have learned as I served as Bishop in the Thornydale Ward.  I was released the 2nd Sunday in December, but the lessons will remain with me for the eternities, just as Missionary Service has done.

1.  There are ALWAYS at least two(2) sides to every issue.  This becomes especially evident when dealing with marital issues. This also holds true in dealing with various quorums or organizations and their leaders.  We have the male perspective, the female perspective, and sometimes we have the Truth as a whole different version of either.  Often the difference is easy to discern, but sometimes this lesson must be applied in less than ideal circumstances. 

2. Every person is a Son or Daughter of God.  I had a member suffering from Paranoia and Borderline Disorder, and I had to remember that even though it was hard to believe everything she told me, it was important to treat her with the respect and dignity that every daughter of God deserves. I firmly believe some or all of her mental issues were caused by abusive behavior, meaning that she may not be fully accountable for her actions. IF she is not accountable, then by default, she is a better person than I.

3. Its easy to offend others.  As a Bishop, I knew that I stood as a messenger to my congregation.  I depended upon the promptings and revelations to teach me what I should say.  I sought to feel the love that the Savior feels for these same people, knowing that if I could convey that love, there is a better chance of the message being properly received.  Oftentimes, the members don't want to receive that message, and hence the profess to be offended.  It is important to have confidence we are doing the Lord's will.  That became my overriding desire in every prayer and every decision - to do what my Master wanted me to do.  If the members were offended, they would be offended by the Lord Himself.

4.  Children are a delight.  It is fun to watch a child learn and grow up.  I would go into the nursery as often as time allowed, to spend a few minutes with the children and to shake their hand and call them by name.  I think Father must look at us in much the same way, giggling at our follies and feeble attempts to be perfect.  I also think he sees us more for our potential than our present character flaws.  I have felt for sometime that it is much more important to Him of where we are heading than where we are now.

5.  Don't put the constraints of mortality on God.  When I was young, my aunt was dating a guy who declared, "God lives in the 7th dimension."  I mocked him behind his back, saying how does he know and what in the world does the 7th dimension look like?  I have come to understand, much like Moses did, "that man is nothing, which thing I had never supposed."  We cannot begin to understand His world and His life, if we base our thoughts and conclusions on this fallen, mortal world.  "...my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isiah 55:8-9) We view life as we know it, from birth to death.  God sees everything in an eternal perspective.  We are limited to be able to think of only one thing at a time.  God says that all things are present before Him. 

6. Character matters.  Our thoughts determine our actions. Since we can't really do something unless we think about it, the actions begin with our thoughts.  Actions become habits, habits form our Character.  It is our character that will be judged, not our individual thoughts and actions.  We must repent in order to change our character.  Merely not repeating the sin does not change us.  We must go through the steps and pain of change, in order to reap the benefits of change.

7. Repentance is an opportunity and a blessing.  Our Savior suffered so that each one of Father's children could avoid the pains of hell, and be brought back into His presence.  The process of repentance applies the Savior's atonement to our specific and individual sins and misdeeds, leaving us clean and pure.  I remember the countenance of a 19 year old women, as she exclaimed, "Bishop, I am a different person.  I feel have felt the cleansing of the Holy Spirit.  I know that I have been forgiven. I know that I have done my best to change, and I am clean before God."

8. Accepting Jesus as our personal Savior means a lifetime of discipleship.  Lip service does not bring the Savior into our lives. Of those He says, "Depart from me, I never knew you."  Only those who come to know Him through seeking to 1) have faith in the atoning sacrifice, 2) repenting of our transgressions, disobedience and misdeeds, 3) making and keeping sacred ordinances, 4) following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and 5) endure to the very end.

9. Anyone that the Lord calls can be a Bishop.  He knows us and our abilities. He is able to bless any person with the gifts necessary to perform in their callings.  One afternoon, early in my Bishopric, I was feeling very inadequate. I was reading in the scriptures, and came upon the verse that says, "I will be thy light in the wilderness."  It hit me that I didn't have to know everything, to be everything and to do everything.  I just needed to do what Father wanted me to do, and to delegate the rest.

10. Jesus Christ lives and is the Savior and Redeemer of all creation.  I was a Bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He personally stands at the head of the church.  We hold the Priesthood and we serve in various capacities in this work.  Our success is only possible through His power and His mercy.  This is His work, and we are but servants to Him and to His children. Any and all kudos for success go to Him, not to me or to any of His servants.  We are imperfect, and we only succeed because He leads us by the hand.  Don't tell me that God does not exist, because I KNOW differently.