Confidence in church leadership

[Danimal]

I have a great boss. I consider him to be very wise and even handed. He is firm and maintains structure while also being forgiving and willing to give second chances. He understands the overarching administrative mission while at the same time is familiar with hands-on realities and has realistic expectations. He offers rational explanations to new procedures and is sympathetic to differing views. As a result, he is trusted and respected by nearly all under him. He's the kind of person that when he says something that contradicts my own judgment or perspective it makes me take a step back and reconsider. Even if you disagree with a decision of his, you're usually willing to go out on a limb and try it because you respect him and he's earned some room for error.

A former boss was very different. He would sit in his administrative office and occasionally bark down orders. He either offers bad explanations or rationales or none at all; he mosly just commanded to obey. Because he stayed so distant from employees, he had little understanding of the day to day demands and realities of employees. When I started working there I respected him and trusted him naively and by default -- he was the boss and most certainly had available information that I did not. But over time it became clear that his judgment was hit and miss, he was heavy handed, and was unreceptive to feedback or other perspectives. He simply could not be trusted.

I would like for my relationship with General Authorities to be like my relationship with my current boss -- I respect and trust them, but I'm willing to give them a break when they're off on something. Unfortunately, it's more like my relationship with an old boss -- over time I've become disenchanted and lost much of the respect and trust I had in them. I'm no more likely to trust their opinions than most other peoples'.

So how is your relationship with general authorities? Obviously most of us don't have personal relationships with them (I don't, at least), but how do you relate to them? What's you dynamic?

[ERCougar]

This is an interesting question on a couple of fronts. I'll start by confessing to have a similar attitude towards GA's--the fact that they're a GA doesn't influence their credibility in my mind and if I'm really being honest may even detract a little from it. I'm not sure why that is, but I suspect that like many people whom I don't personally don't know, I've placed them in a certain box, and probably unfairly.

I wonder if the reason we feel that way towards GA's is that we don't have personal relationships with them. You mentioned that part of the reason you respect your new boss is that he spends time with you. GA's don't have that luxury. Additionally, they don't even have the luxury of sharing personal thoughts which may differ in the slightest degree from the official church position. They therefore become much like the second boss--barking orders from a distance. When we're younger, that works; as we age and start to see examples of "the man behind the curtain" in life, we start to require a little more to alter our views that we've developed through experience.

So, I think it's a combination of age and unfamiliarity at work. I suspect that if I knew and worked with many GA's personally and got to see what they were really like, I would have immense respect and trust in most of them.

[clackamascoug]

I have a great boss. I consider him to be very wise and even handed. He is firm and maintains structure while also being forgiving and willing to give second chances. He understands the overarching administrative mission while at the same time is familiar with hands-on realities and has realistic expectations. He offers rational explanations to new procedures and is sympathetic to differing views. As a result, he is trusted and respected by nearly all under him. He's the kind of person that when he says something that contradicts my own judgment or perspective it makes me take a step back and reconsider. Even if you disagree with a decision of his, you're usually willing to go out on a limb and try it because you respect him and he's earned some room for error.

A former boss was very different. He would sit in his administrative office and occasionally bark down orders. He either offers bad explanations or rationales or none at all; he mosly just commanded to obey. Because he stayed so distant from employees, he had little understanding of the day to day demands and realities of employees. When I started working there I respected him and trusted him naively and by default -- he was the boss and most certainly had available information that I did not. But over time it became clear that his judgment was hit and miss, he was heavy handed, and was unreceptive to feedback or other perspectives. He simply could not be trusted.

I would like for my relationship with General Authorities to be like my relationship with my current boss -- I respect and trust them, but I'm willing to give them a break when they're off on something. Unfortunately, it's more like my relationship with an old boss -- over time I've become disenchanted and lost much of the respect and trust I had in them. I'm no more likely to trust their opinions than most other peoples'.

So how is your relationship with general authorities? Obviously most of us don't have personal relationships with them (I don't, at least), but how do you relate to them? What's you dynamic?

You're always free to start your own church, and run it how you want to.

[Danimal]

You're always free to start your own church, and run it how you want to.

I don't understand; I was soliciting views on how people view their relationship with church leadership by sharing my own experience.

[Viking]

I think Mormonism needs a good ol' fashion'd revival. More seeing Jesus and talking to God, and their revelations.

That, and more Sister Beck so my mormon wife will obey my every command

[Danimal]

So, I think it's a combination of age and unfamiliarity at work. I suspect that if I knew and worked with many GA's personally and got to see what they were really like, I would have immense respect and trust in most of them.

I think that's a good point. I'd be curious to know what they're like in real life. I've spoken with one of President Hinckley's grandkids about him, and she called him a "grumpy old man" and told funny stories about him and his quirks. I left with greater admiration and respect for him.

[DU Ute]

You're always free to start your own church, and run it how you want to.

You're always free to stop being an ass.

[Jeff Lebowski]

So, I think it's a combination of age and unfamiliarity at work. I suspect that if I knew and worked with many GA's personally and got to see what they were really like, I would have immense respect and trust in most of them.

I think this is true. GA's are just like the rest of us in many ways: lots of variety.

There was a new GA announced today for the first quorum of the seventy, Gerrit Gong. I wouldn't say we are close, but I know him fairly well and he is a great guy. He also happens to be an amazing scholar. Here is a bio:

http://csis.org/expert/gerrit-w-gong

One of the brightest people I have known. It will be fun to watch his career as a GA.

I also happen to be a close friend to a member of the second quorum of the seventy. He is as fine a person as I have ever known. He has helped my family through some rough times and I wouldn't hesitate to discuss any doubts or concerns with him. A wonderful man.

I know another GA with whom I have been less impressed, but I will keep the details on that one to myself.

[Viking]

I think this is true. GA's are just like the rest of us in many ways: lots of variety.

There was a new GA announced today for the first quorum of the seventy, Gerrit Gong. I wouldn't say we are close, but I know him fairly well and he is a great guy. He also happens to be an amazing scholar. Here is a bio:

http://csis.org/expert/gerrit-w-gong

One of the brightest people I have known. It will be fun to watch his career as a GA.

I also happen to be a close friend to a member of the second quorum of the seventy. He is as fine a person as I have ever known. He has helped my family through some rough times and I wouldn't hesitate to discuss any doubts or concerns with him. A wonderful man.

I know another GA with whom I have been less impressed, but I will keep the details on that one to myself.

Gerrit is a great, great guy.

I know a GA who is totally unimpressive: my uncle (wait: he was sort of a "fake" GA...officially but not in the higher quorums. he's still someone i can't stand. JL knows him)

[SeattleUte]

You're always free to start your own church, and run it how you want to.

:finger3: Shove it. Danimal is a good guy.

[Viking]

Dude, Danimal, you know my family...big time. I knew I recognized you from a pic you placed on the site.

I am quite serious about my earlier post (the first part at least): seems like a true and living church that is god's one and only has a leader who is in repeat contact with the big guy and shares his learnings.

revival, baby

[Jeff Lebowski]

Gerrit is a great, great guy.

I know a GA who is totally unimpressive: my uncle (wait: he was sort of a "fake" GA...officially but not in the higher quorums. he's still someone i can't stand. JL knows him)

Yes I do.

[DU Ute]

I agree with danimal, I definitely have different levels of trust and respect for different GAs. I think it is a natural thing, and I think his boss analogy is a good one. There are a couple of GAs that I wouldn't question if they called me down to their office and told me they wanted me to do something crazy, like open up a mission in Tehran or home teach Seattle Ute. Most others would definitely have me requesting some time to get my own confirmation and talk it over with the missus.

[DU Ute]

:finger3: Shove it. Danimal is a good guy.

Seriously. I hope clacksmas doesn't get called to home teach anyone who ever expresses any doubts about the Church. I'm not sure, but I don't think the "why don't you start your own church" line is anywhere in the fellowshipping section of Preach My Gospel.

[Solon]

I have a great boss. I consider him to be very wise and even handed. He is firm and maintains structure while also being forgiving and willing to give second chances. He understands the overarching administrative mission while at the same time is familiar with hands-on realities and has realistic expectations. He offers rational explanations to new procedures and is sympathetic to differing views. As a result, he is trusted and respected by nearly all under him. He's the kind of person that when he says something that contradicts my own judgment or perspective it makes me take a step back and reconsider. Even if you disagree with a decision of his, you're usually willing to go out on a limb and try it because you respect him and he's earned some room for error.

A former boss was very different. He would sit in his administrative office and occasionally bark down orders. He either offers bad explanations or rationales or none at all; he mosly just commanded to obey. Because he stayed so distant from employees, he had little understanding of the day to day demands and realities of employees. When I started working there I respected him and trusted him naively and by default -- he was the boss and most certainly had available information that I did not. But over time it became clear that his judgment was hit and miss, he was heavy handed, and was unreceptive to feedback or other perspectives. He simply could not be trusted.

I would like for my relationship with General Authorities to be like my relationship with my current boss -- I respect and trust them, but I'm willing to give them a break when they're off on something. Unfortunately, it's more like my relationship with an old boss -- over time I've become disenchanted and lost much of the respect and trust I had in them. I'm no more likely to trust their opinions than most other peoples'.

So how is your relationship with general authorities? Obviously most of us don't have personal relationships with them (I don't, at least), but how do you relate to them? What's you dynamic?

Danimal, I wish you posted more often.

My relationship with General Authorities or Salt Lake is nonexistent. I have an excellent relationship with my bishop and the local leadership of my area. I trust them, confide in them, and am willing to help them out as a neighbor or a member of their congregation community. In my mind, somehow, they've become "the leadership" and Salt Lake is just an abstraction that I hear about from time to time.