President George Q. Cannon

On the arrogance of leaders

In Collected Discourses, Vol.4, January 14, 1894

We do not know the rewards that God has in store for His faithful children. I often think of the parable which Jesus gave of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man never suspected that the poor, wretched creature who sat and gathered the crumbs that fell from his table was a favorite of heaven. He possessed riches; all his earthly desires were gratified; and in the plenitude of his power he never thought of the poor man. But death came, and he lifted up his eyes in torment; while the poor creature that was so insignificant and contemptible in his eyes was received into Abraham's bosom, and the remark was made to the rich man, "Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

There is many a humble and lowly man whom God loves. Many who are conspicuous, and who think in their pride that they are all right and they can do as they please, will find that there is a day when they, with all of us, will be judged for the deeds done in the body. Nothing then will escape the recollection of Jehovah; no act of our lives can be hidden; no word that we have ever spoken that has been harsh, cruel and wrong will ever be forgotten or blotted out, unless we have obtained forgiveness for it.

The Presidency of the Church, standing at the head of the people, cannot be harsh or cruel; they cannot presume upon their authority, without having to answer for it. Neither can the Twelve, though they have great authority, do this; nor the Presidents of Stakes, nor High Councilors, nor Bishops. They cannot presume on their authority and do things that God will not approve. God will not sanction wrong, if it be committed by an Apostle, or by one of the First Presidency. He cannot do it, because it is contrary to His attributes.

A man may in his arrogance think, "I am a great man; I hold a high position; what matters it about these lowly people?" But the moment he entertains that feeling, God leaves him to himself. Have we not seen it in this life? Have we not seen the wrongdoer, proud and lifted up, totter over, God withdrawing His Spirit from him and leaving him to himself? And will not this go on? Yes, in eternity; and we will get the measure measured to us that we measure to our fellow men, just as sure as God has spoken. If we have been merciful, kind, sympathetic, filled with charity and love, we will have these repaid to us; but if we have not exercised these heavenly qualities, we may depend upon it, unless we have repented and made atonement, they will be measured to us in the same manner that we have measured them to others. God is just, and He cannot even wink at iniquity, much less countenance it.

Therefore, if any have been oppressed, let them put their trust in God; let them bring their troubles to Him and leave their case with Him. We can all do this with perfect safety. He is not asleep; He has not gone on a journey; He is not deaf; but He is a living God, and He will hear the prayers of His children when they are offered to Him in humility and meekness.

We need not quarrel, therefore, we need not find fault with the Priesthood, nor with the organization of the Church; we need not stumble because we feel we have been wronged. All we need to do is to keep straight ourselves; to walk so that we shall have the testimony of a good conscience, and have the witness that God has forgiven us and we stand without condemnation before Him. Then we can leave the rest, perfectly confident that He will take care of it, and He will vindicate us in His own due time.

In the midst of trouble and affliction, in deep water or in the fiery furnace, He will be with us, on the right hand and on the left, to buoy us up, to strengthen us, and to carry us off victorious, as long as we put our trust in Him and serve Him with all our hearts. This is a glorious feature about this God of ours. This religion that He has taught us brings these hopes to us, and we know that they are not unfounded. They are hopes that are based upon eternal truth and upon eternal justice--attributes of our God.