11/29/2006

Elder/High Priest Transition

If you must know, I turned 40 this month. Among the many things I have thought about as I crossed this milestone is the odd transition from being an Elder to being a High Priest. For now I am only an Elder. As far as I know I am the second oldest active Elder in our ward.

It was not many years ago when our little ward here in Michigan had no High Priest's group. The bishopric consisted of all the active High Priests in the ward. The stake presidency decided it was high time we had a High Priests group, and decided that every temple recommend holding Elder over 40 should be ordained a High Priest. Thus the group began.



For many the ordination to High Priest is accompanied by a calling to a bishopric, High Council or similar call. For others it appears to be simply a public acknowledgment of advancing years. Is there any advantage to being a High Priest?

Section 107 states that High Priests administer over spiritual things. That sounds nice. Certain callings require the one serving to be a High Priest. High Priests seem to be allowed to sleep during meetings without harsh penalties. I understand that High Priest group meetings can take off on all kinds of interesting tangents. I also believe that when one receives the Melchizedek priesthood he receives all of it. Is there that much difference between the two offices?

A few decades ago there were High Priests, Seventies and Elders all serving at the ward level. My impression of things at that time is that there was a division of responsibilities between these groups (possibly unwritten). The High Priests often took the role of redeeming the dead, the Seventies were the proclaim the gospel group, and the Elders tried to perfect the saints. Now with no Seventies, there is more of a sense that each group should be involved in every mission of the church.

Perhaps this is vanity speaking, but I think I would prefer that if I am to someday become a High Priest, that it is a necessity of some calling, other than somebody noticing that I am getting rather old. I would also prefer if it after my father returns from his mission (so he can do the honors), and before he ... can't. Fortunately, he is in good health and should live a long, long time - more.

Is being a High Priest all it's cracked up to be? Should there be a division in Relief Society with old sisters over there and young sisters over here?


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11/15/2006

Sending Parents on a Mission

My parents went into the MTC this week in preparation for their mission to Kenya. In a way I feel like I am sending them on their mission. But why should this be? I am not funding their mission. And we have not lived in the same time zone for more than a decade. Sure we talk on the phone every few weeks, and send a few emails, but we can still do that after they leave. So why do I feel the way I do?

It may be that I have a sense of empathy for what they are about to do. My heart goes with them. Oh, how I wish I could observe them in action! Pictures and emails will be great, but not like the real thing. What an exciting time!

The retired geography professor and the local librarian, the long time stake presidency and bishopric member and the multi-term relief society president and young women's leader, the former peace corps workers returning to the same area after 45 years. A compelling call. The perfect call for the people, the perfect people for the call.

Have a good mission mom and dad.

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11/08/2006

To Humble A Giant

How would I describe Brother Jim Drumm? Half man, half bear? That's probably pretty good.

If you have attended the Sturgis Ward then you have met brother Drumm. He is the big friendly fellow who gave you a hug. He is an equal opportunity hugger. It doesn't matter if you are black or white, old or young, male or female, attractive or ugly. You are going to get hugged, so you better accept it. And unless you tell him personally that you are uncomfortable with that you will keep getting hugged for who knows how long.

He has a good family. I have worked with each of his son's in the young men's program. The shortest is about 6' 4". The other boys are quite tall. All served honorable missions. A likable bunch.

Brother Drumm and I have served together quite a bit. He was the High Priest Group Leader at the same time that I was Elder's Quorum President. We have attended hundreds of PEC and ward welfare meetings together. We have worked with the missionaries, and home teachers, and service projects, and on and on. We make an odd pair. The big, bold, loud, confident, brother Drumm, and the little, skinny, quiet, cautious me. A bit of a Laurel and Hardy thing going on.

Brother Drumm seemed to know everybody. Names on the roster that to most were a waste of paper, were known to Brother Drumm. He likely had been to their house, knew their circumstances, knew their conversion story, and probably ate their cookies (although not necessarily with their permission). Brother Drumm could not be held responsible when food was involved.

He is thought of as a kind of spiritual giant in our ward. When people want a priesthood blessing with a little extra juice to it they seek out brother Drumm. He gives bold, dramatic, and very memorable blessings. I have assisted in several of these. He would declare the gender of a pregnant woman's child, he would cure, he would testify and prophesy. He has given lots of blessings, to many people. I have been beneath his hands myself.

He would bear his testimony on fast Sunday frequently, with an enthusiasm rarely matched. But his testimony last Sunday was quite different.

Brother Drumm is nearing retirement age. He had both knees replaced two weeks ago today. Ten days later he was in church, and made his way, with the help of a walker, to the front of the chapel. The gentle giant was not his normal self. He looked old. He seemed weak. He was in obvious pain. He had lost a lot of weight. He gave a very quiet testimony of gratitude. It was hard to hear the words even with the microphone.

I thought of the great local warrior, who has served so many so well. The many times we had laughed together at his stories of adventure. I was glad to see the quiet gratitude of the man who at times would shake the walls with a bold voice that at times could be mistaken for boastfulness. God seems to grant us the experiences we need to progress to become more like Him.

I hope the knees work out Jim. I wish to work with you some more like we used to. Get well my friend.

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11/01/2006

Mormon Leaders and Beards


Many early leaders of the church had beards. Most of the prophets up to Joseph F. Smith had beards, as did many of the apostles. Joseph F. Smith and Lorenzo Snow had wonderful beards. They looked like the guys from ZZ Top!


A quick look at current church leadership will show a complete absence of beards. If I am not mistaken, I do not think you will find so much as a well trimmed mustache among the General Authorities. Instead of looking like members of ZZ Top, they look like sharp dressed men!







The company I work for has an interesting policy - no beards except during November. This policy supports those who hunt during this month. I am going to make an attempt at growing a beard this month. A friend of mine at work, who happens to be a branch president, said he would like to try but he can't. I asked why, and he said it was because he is a branch president.

Why is it that current Mormon leadership, apparently down to the bishopric/branch president level can not have a beard - or even a mustache? Is this strictly the case? I do not think it is scriptural, and I have not seen it in any manual. I am not sure if it made Boyd K. Packer's Unwritten Order of Things talk.

I also wonder this - When Christ returns, will he have a beard?

Interesting.....

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