God Himself Leads His Work and His People
Doctrine and Covenants 132:8
8 Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.
President Joseph F. Smith said:
“God has established all things in their order. The house of God is a house of order, and not a house of confusion. In this house God Himself is the Supreme Head, and He must be obeyed. Christ is in the image and likeness of His being, His Only Begotten Son, and He stands as our Savior and our God. . . . Next unto God and Christ, on the earth is placed one unto whom the keys of power and the authority of the holy Priesthood are conferred, and unto whom the right of presidency is given. He is God’s mouthpiece to His people, in all things pertaining to the building up of Zion and to the spiritual and temporal salvation of the people. . . .
“No man will lead God’s people nor His work. God may choose men and make them instruments in His hands for accomplishing His purposes, but the glory and honor and power will be due to the Father, in whom rests the wisdom and the might to lead His people and take care of His Zion. I am not leading the Church of Jesus Christ, nor the Latter-day Saints, and I want this distinctly understood. No man does. . . . Remember that God leads the work. It is His. It is not man’s work. If it had been the work of Joseph Smith, or of Brigham Young, or of John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, or Lorenzo Snow, it would not have endured the tests to which it has been subjected. . . .
“Honor and praise be unto [the President of the Church,] that instrument in the hands of God of establishing order in the midst of uncertainty, and certain rules by which we know our bearings.”
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 222.)
