Helping Clean the Boat vs. Steadying the Ark

We are probably all familiar with the biblical story of Uzzah, the guy who was struck

dead after trying to grab the ark of the covenant without having authority to do so. We have also probably all heard this story used by a sunday school teacher or local church leader as an illustration of God's displeasure with anybody who questions decisions made by church leaders or suggests that improvements could be made. The implication is clear: members should be afraid of what might happen if they don't simply allow leaders of the church to handle things their way or if they question anything done by church leaders.

While I believe there is a valuable lesson to be learned from the story of Uzzah, I do not think the story should be used to silence members with sincere questions or concerns, or those who would like to recommend possible course corrections despite the fact that they do not preside over the church. Unfortunately, my observation is that these members are far too frequently treated as if they deserve the fate of Uzzah even if they raise their questions, concerns, or suggestions through the proper channels of authority.

To make my point today, I would like to make emphasize the difference between inappropriately steadying the ark of the covenant and appropriately desiring to help clean and / or repair a boat, even the "Old Ship Zion." In short, whereas Uzzah was not authorized to touch the ark, each endowed member of the church has been instructed (and bound by covenant) to help make the Old Ship Zion the best it can be. Elder M. Russell Ballard recently gave a couple of talks using the metaphor of the Old Ship Zion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Similarly, Elder Dale G. Renlund compared the church to a boat in an excellent talk he presented together with his wife in 2019.

Elder Renlund related a fictional account of a young man stranded in the ocean. After the young man was rescued by a passing boat and regained his composure, he began to recognize various legitimate flaws with the boat (i.e., peeling paint, a dented rudder that caused the boat to veer to the right, stale drinking water, etc.).

Eventually, the young man became so bothered by the boat’s flaws he elected to jump back into the ocean and take his chances with the elements. Elder Renlund compared the boat in this story to the Church and encouraged church members to respond in faith and stay in the boat when they become aware of the church’s peeling paint, dented rudder, and stale drinking water. Please note that Elder Renlund did NOT suggest that members should ignore the flaws that exist in the church, nor did he suggest that the church is flawless.

Although the ultimate decision to jump out of the boat may have been foolish and fatal, the boy's observations about the boat were NOT incorrect. He wasn't wrong for noticing the flaws in the boat, and he didn't observe those things because he wanted to live a life of sin (as some misguided leaders and members might assume). The flaws did, in fact, exist!

Can you imagine if the story were revised so that they young man, rather than jumping out of the boat because of its flaws, were to offer to help the boat's captain fix the flaws so that other passengers might feel more comfortable on the boat. Can you imagine if upon hearing the young man's offer the captain were to throw the young man overboard because the captain concludes that anybody who acknowledges the boat's flaws is unworthy to remain on the boat???

My prayer is that leaders of the church realize that their reaction to those who recognize and attempt to address legitimate flaws in the Old Ship Zion through proper channels are likely more offensive to the Savior than the valid observations and efforts of the members. Recognizing, acknowledging, and wanting to address the deficiencies in the boat are NOT sins and should not be treated with disdain or disapproval. Wanting to help our wards, stakes, and the church as a whole move past some of the flaws that have existed for far too long is likewise NOT a sin, and should not be discouraged. These actions should not be viewed as comparable to steadying the ark.

Don't get me wrong, if the method used to try to address the deficiencies in the boat include trying to throw the captain overboard and taking charge of the vessel, this would certainly smell more like ark-steadying. I am not trying to defend the actions of those who are genuinely trying to cause problems for the church, or who are trying to accomplish personal agendas. I am simply acknowledging that there are many good latter-day saints who want to be faithful members and sustain their leaders while simultaneously helping the church fulfill its divine destiny by resolving and reducing some of its flaws. These two desires are NOT mutually exclusive.

There are those who mistakenly believe that the only people on earth authorized to recognize, acknowledge, or have inspired ideas of how to address flaws in the church (its organization, doctrine, policy, programs, etc.) are the fifteen men sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. This is very unfortunate because (1) there is no doctrinal basis for the idea, and (2) it ignores an important lesson to be learned from the historical context behind many of the significant revelations recorded in the Doctrine & Covenants (i.e., that the catalyst for many inspired improvements in the church was an inspired question or suggestion from a member of the church).

I would like to suggest two specific reasons why leaders and members should repent of any inclination to ignore or even silence faithful members who are attempting to share their concerns, questions, and suggestions for improving the church through the designated leadership channels. First of all, all endowed members of the church have covenanted to consecrate all of their time, talents, and blessings for the building up of the kingdom of God on earth. In my opinion, if the building up of God's kingdom is supposed to be one of our top priorities in life, to suggest that members should not look for ways to improve (or build up) the church, or that they should just ignore anything that they believe to be hindering the church's growth, seems completely contradictory to the frequently-repeated counsel from church leaders to strive to live our covenants with all our hearts.

Second, we have recently been taught by Elder Gerrit W. Gong (in an amazing talk) that every member has the responsibility to make the church become more as the Savior desires. Some of Elder Gong's quotes in the talk include:

We come to the Inn as we are, with the foibles and imperfections we each have. Yet we all have something needed to contribute. Our journey to God is often found together. We belong as united community--whether confronting pandemics, storms, wildfires, droughts or quietly meeting daily needs. We receive inspiration as we counsel together, listening to each person, included each sister, and the Spirit.

Jesus Christ invites us to become, like Him, a good Samaritan, to make His Inn (His Church) a refuge for all from life's bruises and storms....He trusts us to help make the Inn the place He needs it to be. (emphasis added).

He entreats us to make His Inn a place of grace and space, where each can gather, with room for all. As disciples of Jesus Christ, all are equal, with no second-class groups.

The Old Ship Zion, despite being founded and led by those authorized by God, has some significant flaws. Leaders and members who are offended at that suggestion are like those who have lived on a successful pig farm for decades and, consequently, no longer notice the stench of the farm but are offended if others mention the farm's potent smell. Although I agree with all of my heart that members should stay on the boat and should whole-heartedly sustain church leaders, I simply do not believe that this means we should turn a blind eye to obvious deficiencies in the boat or wait for somebody else to point those things out. I do, however, believe it means we should point out apparent flaws in the church in a humble and gentle way, through the appointed lines of leadership, and with an eye single to the glory of God.

I believe it is always best to raise your concerns first to whomever your immediate leader is. For most, this will likely be an Elders Quorum or Relief Society president. For some, it will be a Bishop or a Stake President. Youth should likely first speak with their parents and then with a member of the young women's presidency or the bishopric. Whoever it is, you should not hesitate or be afraid to approach your leader--in the spirit of sustaining and striving to help build up the kingdom of God--to discuss perceived flaws or possible solutions you feel God has impressed upon your mind and heart. If those leaders respond as the Savior desires, they will listen and seriously consider your comments and ponder on why the Lord wanted you to bring those things to their attention.

I am confident the Savior--who spent much of his ministry helping bring to light the flaws of the even older ship Zion--would not treat those members who follow the approach recommended here as Uzzah, the ark-steadier. I hope and pray more and more leaders of the church will learn to approach these faithful members more like He whom they claim to represent would do: with open arms, a listening ear, and a heart filled with love.