How Should We Hold Up Our Leaders?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 106-108 and a lesson titled “The Order of the Son of God.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

At first glance, Doctrine and Covennts 107 seems to be only about organizing priesthood offices into a leadership structure for the Lord’s Church. By the time this revelation was published, Church membership was outgrowing the capacity of the few leaders it had in place. Outlining the roles and responsibilities of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Seventy, bishops, and quorum presidencies was definitely needed and helpful. But there’s so much more to the divine instruction in section 107 than just how Church leadership should be organized. Here, the Lord teaches us about His power and authority, “the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God” (verse 3). The purpose of the priesthood is to unlock “all the spiritual blessings of the church” so that all of God’s children can “have the heavens opened unto them” and “enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” (verses 18-19). In teaching us about His priesthood, the Savior is teaching us about Himself and how we can come unto Him.

The following principles are included in the lesson: (1) The Lord supports me when He calls me to serve (Doctrine and Covenants 106; 108), (2) The priesthood is “after the Order of the Son of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:1-4, 18-20), (3) The Lord’s servants are “upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the Church” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:22), (4) Prophets and Apostles testify of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 107:23-24, 33-35, 38, 91-92), and

(5) The Lord accomplishes His work through councils (Doctrine and Covenants 107:27-31, 85-89). All the principles would be suitable for discussion, but I feel that I should discuss principle #3 about how servants of the Lord are “upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the Church” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:22). I will start with the applicable verse of scripture.

22 Of the Melchizedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.

What is the meaning of the statement “uphold the Lord’s servants by your confidence? by your faith? by your prayer? We sustain – meaning to hold up -- our leaders formally when we raise our right hand to the square. We hold them up by supporting them in their calling, being obedient to their righteous counsel, and praying for them. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about holding up our General, Stake, and Ward leaders.