Since the concept of authority is often clouded by the world’s view of power, and its use can stir up the flesh-based reactions of rebellion, I prefer to think of those to whom God has given authority as being granted stewardship over the group or individuals He so loves. In truth God always retains the ultimate authority, and only loans it out on conditions of righteousness. It was God who revealed that when a leader abuses authority or exercises unrighteous dominion, their authority is withdrawn, which is a great protection against our human tendencies to immediately exercise unrighteous dominion. D&C 121.
Thus, whenever God assigns stewardship, whenever keys are given, along with those keys comes the loan of authority to direct, lead and guide those over whom the stewardship is also given. Such loan includes keys of a Bishop to direct the ward, keys of a mother to direct her children, keys of the prophet to direct the church, keys of a mission president to guide the missionaries assigned to the mission, etc. Directing the work or the exercising of stewardship, not only entails giving specific directives and counsel, but since the goal is to bless and lift those over whom one has stewardship, at times stewards must also have authority to lovingly impose the consequences of unrighteous choices on those under their stewardship, in an attempt to save them. For example, the Bishop’s withdrawing of a temple recommend, disciplinary councils, a mother enforcing rules at home, a prophet directing that Korihor be smitten with muteness for his own good, as well as the good of God’s other children. Any and all such actions must be done by revelation, motivated by love, and done in accordance with the Father’s revealed will, since it is His authority they are exercising.
One way Satan seeks to instill rebellion in us, and to destroy our confidence in those appointed over us, it to convince us that those leaders are motivated by selfish pursuits, i.e greed, lust for power, etc. A good example is when Nephi was accused of his brothers of wanting to have authority over them. Because they were wicked and rebellious, they could not even conceive of what it meant to rule in God’s way, and so they projected their view, the worlds view of ruling, upon Nephi. Originally, they were not so much concerned about how he would rule, as about that it was not his place...it was theirs. They wanted dominion, they wanted the power, and they often exercised authority upon Nephi and others. Their attempts at worldly rule predicatively included physical force, threats, bondage, oppression, mocking, and ridicule. Thus their rule was rejected by God.
Lehi, the sad witness and sometimes victim of Laman’s and Lemuel’s projections of unrighteous rule upon Nephi, called them out on it near his death, explaining the truth: “And I exceedingly fear and tremble because of you, lest he shall suffer again; for behold, ye have accused him that he sought power and authority over you; but I know that he hath not sought for power nor authority over you, but he hath sought the glory of God, and your own eternal welfare.” 2 Nephi 1:25.
Joseph experienced similar misjudgments from his bothers even though initially he had no power over them to effect his will. They had the power, and exercised unrighteous dominion, with threats, oppression and eventually selling him away into bondage. Even after God had blessed the future Joseph, empowering him with mighty civil authority, Joseph still forgave his bothers, and selflessly sought the welfare of those brothers and his whole family.
The issue then was not unrighteous dominion by Joseph or Nephi, but the prideful, misjudgments and projections upon them of unrighteous dominion by their brothers who understood no other type of leadership.
NEXT: Submission