Prophet Statesmen, Mark E. Petersen
There are people in the Church who sometimes complain because some of their leaders, either bishops or stake presidents, or even occasionally one of the General Authorities, gives advice on practical, everyday, temporal matters.
There are some who suppose that the direction of the Church leaders should be limited to spiritual matters and never touch the practical things in life.
They forget that all through the centuries the prophets of ancient times gave practical advice, even on political and other current questions. They did it as the prophets of God. They did it as the servants of God trying to guide and direct the people into paths of safety. There were some who objected anciently to this kind of advice, but in spite of objections the prophets gave it—the people could follow it or reject it as they liked, but the advice was there.
The leaders of the Church in our day from pioneer times on have been cognizant of the needs of the people in whatever field that need might occur. They have recognized that we have a practical religion, and that our religion will help them in all phases of their daily life, not just the contemplation of spiritual blessings to be had behind the “pearly gates.”
Mark E. Peterson, Church News June 20, 1959. Mark E. Peterson (1900-1984) served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also served as managing editor and, later, editor of the Deseret News.
