Review
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Title: Men of Covenant. Oaths, Covenants, and Transcendent Promises.
Author: Robert L. Millet
Publisher: Deseret Book, P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130
Genre: Non-fiction
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 151
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62972-030-2
Price: $19.99.
Reviewed by Michael J. Thompson for the Association of Mormon Letters
This book is a short book. However, it is a book that looks deeply into LDS doctrines not understood by many members of the Church.
One doctrine, seemingly misunderstood today, is that a General Authority in the Church is without error in everything he says. We seem to believe everything our personal favorite General Authority says, and hold him up as “perfect” because of his calling.
The LDS Church is a “lay church” just as the Church established by the Savior was. There was no “professional” clergy set up by our Savior. Brother Millet tells us: “It is inevitable in a lay church like ours, which is exactly what the first-century Christian Church was and the restored Church is, that we will come face to face with differences in point of view, oddities and peculiarities, and even serious mistakes. It is hard to imagine that as members of the restored Church we would not have occasion during a lifetime in which decisions were made with which one or another of us disagreed; in which politics or procedures were put in place that rubbed us the wrong way; in which the lifestyle of leadership of a new bishop or stake president made us uncomfortable. That comes with the turf of mortality, doesn’t it? Don’t human beings regularly see things differently quite often?”
This, for many, is going to be a new doctrine, one which will hit them with personal responsibility for their own actions, rather than ignoring what a General Authority says, while sustaining them in what they believe is a “perfect” position.
We are brought, face-to-face in “Men of Covenant” with our responsibilities as followers of our Savior. What are our responsibilities?
1. To love and pray for and uphold our leaders…
2. While knowing full well they have their own challenges and are not perfect.
3. We must learn to adapt to changes in leadership, style, etc.
4. We must realize that people are different, meaning they will do things differently than that to which we are accustomed.
5. We must learn to hear the words of our leaders in “all patience and faith.”
6. We must realize we sometimes have to wait to understand why certain things are done.
One thing I thought was very poignant was a question asked of Brother Millet by BYU professor Shon Hopkin: “Do you really want to belong to a church that is created in your image?” We have to realize that no one’s pronouncements are going to be 100% in harmony with our own. We do not believe in prophetic or apostolic infallibility.
In support of these positions, Brother Millet refers to several sources completely recognized and accepted by most members of the LDS Church.
President David O. McKay: “Recognize those who preside over you, and when necessary, seek their advice. . . .Let us, too, recognize the local authority. The Bishop may be a humble man. Some of you may think you are superior to him, and you maybe, but he is given authority direct from our Father in heaven. You recognize it. Recognition of authority is an important principle.” (Conference Report. October 1965, 105.)
The Bible: We accept this as the word of God, but also recognize that many plain and precious things have been removed or lost in it. We still seek to pattern our lives according to its timeless teachings.
Prophets of old: We know Moses made mistakes, but he still retained the mantel of a prophet, leading the Jews to Canaan, though he was not allowed to enter himself. Peter made mistakes, three times denying the Savior. Paul made mistakes, but we recognize all the good he did. James pointed out that Elijah “was a man subject to like passions as we are.” (James 5:17) We need to remember Elijah had such power from God that the heavens were shut in answer to his prayers, so there would be no rain for the space of three years and six months.”
With this power from God, Brother Millet outlines all the ways we can obtain such power ourselves, and act in that power so we can effect change with the acceptance of the heavens. Millet points to the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood, that we made this covenant in the premotal life with God, while He took an Oath to bless us for our obedience to it. The doctrine of Calling and Election made sure is discussed, along with many others.
A review of this book, could easily be as long as the book itself, as there are so many such doctrines addressed in detail which add such light and depth to them that we must personally determine for ourselves what path we will take.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson: “It should be remembered that not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. It is commonly understood in the Church that a statement made by one leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, not meant to be official or binding for the whole Church.” (Ensign, May 2012, 88).
Brother Millet, in “Men of Covenant,” reminds us of our personal responsibility concerning every single doctrine of the gospel, and seeking personal confirmation and revelation from the Lord on these doctrines. This is perhaps the foundation of “Men of Covenant” –that we must find out for ourselves, it must become a part of us, personally, not relying on the words of others. In this, we become truly converted to our Savior and his teachings, learning them, making them part of our soul, of our daily lives, of the way we treat others. This is a beautiful principle, and Brother Millet hits the nail straight on the head in teaching this principle.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “Brothers and sister, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction. . . . So be kind regarding human frailty-your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteers, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but he deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work.” (Ensign, May 2013, 93-94).
Joseph Smith: “I told them I was but a man, and they must not expect me to be perfect; if they expected perfection from me, I should expect if from them; but if they would bear with my infirmities and the infirmities of the brethren, I would likewise bear with their infirmities.” (Joseph Smith, 522). In this, I got the impression we may be expecting more perfection from our leaders that from ourselves, allowing ourselves to sin in many things each day, but allowing for no infirmities from those who lead us.
In conclusion, I will quote Brother Millet, as this sums up our personal responsibility concerning all aspect of the gospel, and our personal responsibility to have a very personal relationship with our Savior: “To enjoy the spiritual power that comes only to those who are loyal to the Lord’s anointed, we must ensure that we see and feel what the leaders of the Church feel. As President Lee said: ‘One is converted when he sees with his eyes what he ought to see; when he hears with his ears what he ought to hear; and when he understands with the heart what he ought to understand. And what he ought to see, hear, and understand is truth-eternal truth-And then practice it. That is conversion.’” (Stand Ye In Holy Places).
I would highly recommend this book to everyone. This is a book for Father’s Day, to give to all Priesthood holders in the Church, that they may more fully, through personal revelation, understand and practice the principles related to bearing the Holy Priesthood of God.