Latter-day Saint Life

Elder Ballard: "We Are Not Out of Touch with Your Lives"

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While criticism arises in the rest of the world about superficial characteristics of our Church leaders (like their age, race, or where they live), Church members know those are not distinctions that matter when it comes to Church leadership, "for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (Samuel 16:7).

Recently, Elder M. Russell Ballard took to Facebook to debunk another criticism people give about the General Authorities:

I have heard that some people think the Church leaders live in a “bubble.” What they forget is that we are men and women of experience, and we have lived our lives in so many places and worked with many people from different backgrounds. Although we have visited the White House in Washington, D.C., and leaders of nations throughout the world, we have also visited the most humble homes on earth, where we have met and ministered to the poor.
There is something about the individual and combined wisdom of the Brethren that should provide some comfort. We have experienced it all, including the consequences of different public laws and policies, disappointments, tragedies, and deaths in our own families. We are not out of touch with your lives.
Let me also observe that none of the Twelve are shrinking violets. We each have strong personalities. So when we are unified in a decision, you can rest assured that we have counseled together and come to that decision after much prayer and thoughtful discussion. We are young at heart, and the Lord blesses us to move His work forward in remarkable ways.

Lead image from Facebook.
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