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A Calling
Priesthood is not for having or holding. Priesthood is for being and doing. A
high priest is not so much one who has been given a high office as it is one who
has been given a high calling. The spirit of priesthood is always the spirit of
servanthood.
Paul wrote:
Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus;
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God;
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant
. . .
Phillipians 2:5-7
Paul described his ministerial role in similar terms. To the Corinthians he
wrote: “For though I be free from all [persons], yet have I made myself a
servant” (I Corinthians 9:19).
Chaucer wrote of “The Good Parson” in the “Prologue” of The
Canterbury Tales:
Wide was his parish, scattered far asunder
Yet none did he neglect, in rain, or thunder.
Sorrow and sickness won his kindly care;
With staff in hand he travelled everywhere.
This good example to his sheep he brought
That first he wrought, and afterwards he taught.
This parable he joined the Word unto-
That, “If gold rust, what shall iron do?”. . . .
The lore of Christ, and his apostles twelve
He taught, but first he followed it himself.
The spirit of humility, devotion, and service are characteristic of the good
high priest.
A Pattern
The high priest holds a unique position in the church. It is interesting that
in the scriptures it is remarked that “the office of elder and bishop are
necessary appendages belonging unto the high priesthood” (Doctrine and
Covenants 83:5a), and then “the lesser priesthood [the priesthood of Aaron] .
. . is an appendage to the greater, or the Melchisedec priesthood . . .”
(Doctrine and Covenants 104:8b). This seems to indicate that the office of high
priest is central to the life of the church.
It would logically follow that in the high priest one might expect to get the
clearest vision of what the gospel is all about. The high priest is to pattern
the gospel. Following the example of the Lord, the call to high priest is to “make
the Word flesh.” If being the church in person seems beyond reach, one might
consider what has been referred to as our “representative capacity.” That
is, although we might not fully embody the faith and ideals of the church, we
can identify with them and stand for them. One writer points out that a candle
is as representative of light as is the sun. At any rate, the scriptures point
to this central role of the high priest in the body of Christ and call the high
priest to be a strength to the organization and a demonstration of what it means
to be a true disciple and servant.
The Person
The calling to every disciple is to build into life the qualities found in
the Lord Jesus. Because of the role of the high priest in the life of the
church, this call is particularly significant for those who are high priests.
The question asked by “The Good Parson” is pertinent: “If gold rust, what
shall iron do?”
One of the basic qualities to be considered in recommending ordination to the
office of high priest is spiritual maturity. Paul suggested that we “grow up
into [Christ] in all things” (Ephesians 4:15). This suggests a certain quality
of character and a stability that gives strength to one’s life and ministry.
The high priest is sound and steady, is emotionally stable, is not easily
turned aside, has a sense of true proportion, and is able to distinguish between
the important and the trivial. The high priest is dependable, one to counted on,
a “rock.” One serving in this office is not so much concerned about his or
her own way, but the right way, and is able to sacrifice personal concerns for
the good of the whole. (It helps if one has a sense of humor.) One keeps
constantly in mind the demands of love which mold, modify, and direct one’s
attitudes and actions.
The Leader
It is a given that in most cases the leadership in stakes, mission centers,
and large congregations is to be chosen from among the high priests. The
question arises as to the role of high priests who are not administrators. Can
we agree that these non-administrators are still called to be leaders? This
leadership is expressed in the strong support given to the officers selected and
to the programs developed.
The high priests are to be in the forefront of those who not only support but
also take significant responsibility for the success of the program and
activities that further the ministry of the jurisdictions of which they are a
part. Administrative officers are tremendously strengthened and encouraged when
they become aware of this strong participation of other high priests. People in
general are drawn to greater participation and gain enthusiasm for the work
being done when they see the devotion and ministry being given by these
significant leaders. High priests are called to be leaders whether they hold
administrative positions or not.
The Jethro Model
There is an interesting story told in Exodus 18 about the advice given to
Moses by his father-in-law, Jethro, “the high priest of Midian.” Moses was
attempting to solve all the disputes of his people, and Jethro suggested that
Moses teach the laws of God but put “rulers” or judges over groups of the
people to free Moses from this impossible task. Jethro, out of his experience
and insight, became the mentor to a young and inexperienced Moses, and the
results were extremely effective. One wonders if Jethro might have filled this
mentoring role at other times to help his son-in-law with his heavy burden of
important decisions.
High priests, being who they are, might well assume the Jethro role and serve
as mentors to other young and inexperienced persons. Mentoring can take place in
a number of ways. It is sometimes done by modeling effectively the various tasks
of ministry. As others observe, this causes them to emulate the methods and
virtues they see expressed. At times, persons desiring help may sense the
sympathetic concern of competent people and ask for help. Mentoring can
sometimes occur through established administrative relationships, and
experienced high priests may look for such opportunities. It can be effectively
done in a class or in organized teaching situations.
One problem can occur, as advice can often be construed as criticism. This
would suggest that a program might well be structured within which mentoring can
occur. If newly ordained persons were paired with experienced high priests in an
organized mentoring program, the process would be more readily understood and
accepted, and the results might be quite beneficial. Close personal
relationships smooth the way to effective mentoring.
The high priests of the church can provide a much-needed ministry as mentors.
The Moses Misery
The spiritual leaders of the church are saddled with what Robert Raines, in
his book The Secular Congregation, calls “The Moses Misery.” Moses
couldn’t choose to take only the cooperative, only those who agreed with him,
or only those who caused no trouble. The job is to shepherd a tremendously
diverse group. It isn’t easy, but the job is to attempt to understand, to
listen, to reason, to instruct, to correct errors when possible, to exercise
patience and determination, to show love and concern, to sometimes exercise
discipline, but to always keep in mind the value of every person and remember
that the job is to get them all to the promised land.
It is the calling of the high priests to carry the “Moses Misery” and do
all that is needed to see that every person receives adequate ministry,
remembering that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (Doctrine
and Covenants 16:3c). This is truly a job for the spiritually mature. Not
everyone can do it, but it is hoped that the good high priest can respond to
this challenge.
The Personal Minister
The needs of people are, of course, varied beyond measure. Some are ordinary,
everyday concerns, while others are of devastating enormity. Presiding officers
needs all the help they can get to minister to these tremendous needs. All
priesthood members and all members of the church share in this responsibility.
But it is to be hoped that the mature, experienced ministers, the kind who are
called to be high priests, will reach out in perceptive ways to touch, bless,
and help heal those whose needs press down so heavily.
Every high priest is called to be a personal minister. The gifts of each high
priest will help define the kind of ministry each can give. No one can reach
every person, and no one can give adequate ministry in every situation. This
expresses how important it is for each high priest to do his or her part. It
takes every person if every need is to be addressed, and even then we will
probably fall short. The competence, the insight, the devotion, the experience,
and the strength of the high priest are needed to meet personal need.
A Final Word
The high priest holds a key position in the structure of the
church. It is expected that the high priest will be an unusually able minister
who will reflect in life and ministry the spirit and quality expressed in the
person of the Lord. The ministry of the high priest is wide and demanding but
one that will be productive and rewarding. How much in such a time as this do we
need the full and devoted service of these key ministers. We are called to be
what high priests were meant to be and to devote ourselves to the ministry that
we are called to give.
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