Missionary Journal
October 13, 1970
Brother B. talked about stewardship at his “Living Prophets”
Lecture last Wednesday.(Institute)
Stewardship is a responsibility for something we do not own. Scripturally it is mentioned in D& C 72, 100 and parts of 70. God has given us stewardship over three important things: our bodies; our minds; and our spirits. It might also be noted that actually we “own” nothing (except for our intelligence, and we’re not sure about that.) Our bodies have been called the “temple of God.” In the creation our Heavenly Father created our Spirit from intelligences (Heavenly Mother played her role too.) Intelligences are: 1) matter; 2) eternal; 3) not created; 4) cannot be destroyed; and 5) have agency.
Even Christ was owned
by the Father and he turned his agency over to the Father. “Whose I am, even
the Father.” (D&C 19:1)
It seems to be an everlasting principle that our ego must be
satisfied. There is a righteous way; ie
desire to be clean and acceptable before God; and an unrighteous way or the
other way: ie to be acceptable before other people. (Keep this in mind when vertical and
horizontal stewardship are discussed.)
We do not do our will, but the will of Christ, and even He
has openly acknowledged his stewardship.
A beautiful solution to the “I” problem is to go through the gospels and
note Christ’s commitments to God. In
D&C 104 the law of consecration is discussed (vs. 11) Our stewardship
increases eternally; it is immeasurable.
“All things are mine” (vs 14). He
owns it all and He’ll provide “in my own
way.”
We cannot magnify our stewardship without the Holy Ghost or
else we are doing it “our way” and not His.
Note the following Mosiah 2:25, D&C 38:16, Mosiah 4:22.
Brother B. suggested that we are always tempted before great
challenges, (or) increase in stewardship.
Note the three temptations of Christ:
1)
Rocks to bread- physical – hunger
2)
Call on angels – show a sign- mind- appeal to
intellect
3)
Offered the world – worship Satan – spirit-
selfishness
Selfishness is the plague of the spirit. Ego is part of that spirit. There are three basic relationships amongst
men: fathers, sons, and brothers. Your superiors, your peers, and those whom
you have responsibility for.
Using Moses 5:1;2, Brother B. suggest Chauncy Riddle’s *concept of “Brother’s Keeper.” Are we,
are we not? The Answer is : We ARE
NOT! Think of the definition of
keeper. A zookeeper assumes complete
responsibility for his animals. Their
agency has been given to him. Cain assumed
Christ’s stewardship by killing Able. He
had no right to take Able’s life- it was not his. (note here: blasphemy is a
form of insubordination). Let’s look at
this graphically in terms of vertical and horizontal stewardship. Man owes his allegiance to God not men. He has obligation to those over him and
responsibilities to those beneath him.
He has no authority over those on his own level. The patriarch is a steward over his son
(“brother”) who is steward over the “son”.
Neither brother or son have stewardship over other brothers or
sons.
There must be good[lr1] correlation always but without proper authority correlation falls through.
Notice, our government cannot act as a universal helper since it doesn’t have that stewardship. We cannot be our brother’s keepers – only our brother’s lovers. (government loves man more than God) Note also that our Constitution actually promotes Stewardship.
One girl mentioned the greatest act of love would be to lead a person to their proper steward. Want to help someone? Put him in his stewardship.
The Beatitudes set up stewardship. First, we must serve God and then serve man.
Nephi recognized his stewardship (1Nephi: 17).
Now priesthood correlation
seems more important than ever. It’s a
“perfect” organization after the patriarchal order.
I seem to have precluded any chances of early
leadership. I’ll be in the Lamanite
Program for at least 2 or 3 months. I do
not want to “wash out.” I hope I am capable of handling the choice Lamanite
Spirits. This seems to be a fulfillment
of the calling I felt I had from the prophet Enos. I read Elder D.’s article in this month’s Pathfinder. His reaction to appointment to the Indian
program was much like mine. Shock and
momentary disappointment. I’ve been labeled
as a spiritual missionary. This will be
my test.
President W. visited us on Sunday. He informed us of the transfers. My heat was in my throat. I love it here in Moscow. In a private conversation I explained my
feelings about Moscow and leadership.
The President explained how he wanted to strengthen the Lamanite program
and how he was going to need new leaders there.
Does he want me as a Lamanite DL? It was good to know he had confidence
in me. I needed that desperately.
I’ve met some choice people here in Moscow. D. M and L.J.M. probably stick foremost in my
mind. These two PNM RM’S ware really
fired up on missionary work. Both are
converts of only a year when they came out.
Both came from rugged, hard lives into the light of the gospel.
C. W. has touched my heart.
She’s such an enthusiastic little girl.
Often she’s too ready to offer advice or promote her ideas, but her
desire is to promote the work. She is
very spiritual most of the time and when
she can’t maintain the (spiritual)plane she wants
to, she becomes very depressed. The institute
is lucky to have her working for them. D. and C. have great ideas about baptismal services. Maximum involvement. All the students are involved. C. prepares a Book of Remembrance and has
each guest sign it. Between the baptism
and the confirmation, the students bear their testimonies. It’s choice.
After the baptism, there is a reception at the Institute. This is a casual, friendly gathering. Refreshments are served, there is
entertainment, and the Book of Remembrance is presented. A photographer records the baptism and the Book of Remembrance presentation.
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| Chauncy C. Riddle |
“His Father in Heaven asks Cain, “Where is Abel thy brother?” and Cain fires back, “I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9) Maybe the answer to that question is—as Professor Chauncey Riddle once said to me—”No, Cain, you are not expected to be your brother’s keeper. But you are expected to be your brother’s brother.” (On Earth As It Is in Heaven, p. 142) J. Holland
Chauncey Cazier Riddle graduated from Brigham Young University and received his MA and PhD degrees in philosophy from Columbia University in the city of New York. He taught at BYU for 40 years, serving as Professor of Philosophy, Chairman of the Department of Graduate Studies in Religious Instruction, Dean of the Graduate School, and Assistant Academic Vice President.
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