Be a Builder

A few days after the press conference announcing President Monson as the new President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, something surfaced that had been lingering in the back of my mind. I started to feel really bad for President Monson, since so many of the questions he got were things like (no direct quotes, just what I remember), "Are you going to continue the Perpetual Education Fund?" "Are you going to keep building temples?" "Are you going to travel like President Hinckley?" President Monson definitely has big shoes to fill, but does he need that barrage in his face as he starts out? Poor guy.

Then my thinking turned. I realized the lack of vision that many of those asking questions had. Vague recollections of the death of the Pope a few years back and the process of finding a new Pope started to surface. I remembered hearing mention of people wanting certain men selected for different reasons, hoping one would be chosen because he was more conservative, or another chosen because he wasn't. Since there wasn't all that discussion around a new prophet, I assume they were wondering if he was going to change the direction of the church.

What those questioning didn't understand is that we believe that Jesus Christ is the head of this church, and that every prophet we've had has been a builder for the church, because he has been the voice for Jesus Christ.

Charles W. Dahlquist II spoke on builders at the Fall 2005 Young Men's Open House. (You may be wondering why I would read those - he talks a lot about scouting and training. Plus they are EXCELLENT talks.)

"I love the last verse in section 35 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which reads: “Fear not, little flock, the kingdom is yours until I come. Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen.”

The kingdom, His kingdom, is indeed ours to grow and build, to nourish and strengthen, and to prepare for the day when He comes. It is obvious the Lord needs builders, not just caretakers. The success of our ministry will depend not solely upon whether the light we bear burns while we yet live, but whether that light will continue to burn in the hearts and souls of those we teach and lead long after we have been released or finished our missions here on earth."

I love that, "the Lord needs builders, not just caretakers." We can all question where we fit in that at church, at home, at work, anywhere, because there are opportunities to build in everything we do. The reward would then be to see our influence continue, though many times we probably won't even realize the places our "light" touched.

Yes, President Hinckley did great things. We love him, we miss him, and his influence will most definitely continue. But he was also building on the prophets before him and continuing the work they did to build the kingdom at their time.

Makes me excited for President Monson, and to see what is to come.