586. No person may function in the Church in any official capacity without the consent of the people, after the call to serve has been made.
No man can preside in this Church in any capacity without the consent of the people. [D&C 26:2] The Lord has placed upon us the responsibility of sustaining by vote those who are called, to various positions of responsibility. No man, should the people decide to the contrary, could preside over any body of Latter-day Saints . . . as they are assembled in conference, or other capacity, by the uplifted hand, to sustain or to reject; and I take it that no man has the right to raise his hand in opposition, or with contrary vote, unless he has a reason for doing so that would be valid if presented before those who stand at the head. In other words, I have no right to raise my hand in opposition to a man who is appointed to any position in this Church simply because I may not like him, or because of some personal disagreement or feeling I may have, but only on the grounds that he is guilty of wrongdoing, of transgression of the laws of the Church which would disqualify him for the position which he is called to hold. That is my understanding of it. CR1919Jun:92
Church officers are empowered to act within the scope of their appointments, only if they are first, called by revelation, and second, sustained by vote of the Church. The appointment comes by revelation. Conferences are empowered to approve or disapprove when the names of church officers are read. (Common Consent pamphlet, 1955, pp. 12-13) TLDP:96
Every officer of the Priesthood or auxiliary organizations, though properly nominated, holds his position in the Church only with the consent of the people. Officers may be nominated by the Presidency of the Church, but unless the people accept them as officials, they cannot exercise the authority of the offices to which they have been called. All things in the Church must be done by common consent. This makes the people, men and women, under God, the rulers of the Church. Even the President of the Church, before he can fully enter upon his duties, or continue in the office, must be sustained by the people. It is the common custom in the Church to vote on Church officers in the general stake and ward conferences. This gives every member an opportunity to vote for or against the officers. Meanwhile, the judiciary system of the Church is such that there is ample provision whereby any officer of the Church, if found in error, may be brought to justice and if found guilty be removed from his position.
The doctrine of common consent is fundamental in the Church, and is coincident with the fact that the Church belongs to all the people. Since the authority of the Priesthood is vested in all the people, it follows that the officials of the Priesthood must be responsible to the people. The responsibility and work of the Church are not only for but by the people as a whole. (A Rational Theology, p. 109) TLDP:96
They are faithful men chosen by inspiration. The Lord has given us the way to do these things. He has revealed to us that it is the duty of the presiding authorities to appoint and call and then those whom they choose for any official position in the Church shall be presented to the body. If the body reject them, they are responsible for that rejection. They have the right to reject, if they will, or to receive them and sustain them by their faith and prayers. That is strictly in accordance with the rule laid down of the Lord. CR1907Apr:4
587. All organizational things that the Church does—the procedures that it follows, and the officers that it appoints—must be done by common consent.
All of the organizational things which the Church does—that is, the procedures which it follows and the officers which it appoints—must be done by common consent, by much faith and prayer. . . .
General Church business cannot be transacted in secret. No man, for instance, could be appointed in secret to head the Church or to carry on some supposed great program for the salvation of men. Conferences are to transact the business of the Church.
. . . . No man can so much as be ordained to any office in the Church without a vote of the Church. There is no such thing as a secret ordination to office, either high or low, in the Church of Christ. The Lord does not work in dark corners. His great works are trumpeted in the ears of all living so that every soul who is willing to do so may learn of them.
. . . . Even after a proper ordination, the elders of the Church have not power to act independently of the direction of the Church. They cannot presume to have any right or prerogative that has not been specifically given to them. Those holding priestly offices just have certificates of ordination. Elders must be properly recommended for special labors and must carry certificates so certifying. And no elder can receive a license to act in his calling without a vote of the Church, or by direction of a conference.
. . . . Church officers are empowered to act within the scope of their appointments, only if they are first, called by revelation, and second, sustained by vote of the Church. The appointment comes by revelation. Conferences are empowered to approve or disapprove when the names of church officers are read. (Common Consent pamphlet, 1955, pp. 12-13) TLDP:96
We convene in conference in the various stakes that everything pertaining to the interests of the stakes may be considered in those conferences, and that all matters may be properly represented, and all the saints have the privilege of voting for or against those officers who are presented to the conference for their acceptance. It is also usual to vote for the officers of wards in the wards over which they preside, such as bishops and their counselors, with all the lesser priesthood, so that there may be perfect unanimity in all our acts. Because the church of God is based upon the principle of perfect freedom of action. . . . It is proper that all of these authorities should be presented from time to time before the people, that all the people everywhere, not only in a stake, but in all the stakes, as well as at the general conference, may have the opportunity if they know of anything wrong, anything immoral or unrighteous associated with the acts of any of the leading authorities of the church, of speaking of it, that everything and everybody may be properly presented and that the conduct of all men may be intelligently scrutinized; for, if we cannot bear the scrutiny of our brethren upon earth, how shall we be able to meet the scrutiny and investigations of our Heavenly Father when we shall stand before him. And if there is anything immoral or unrighteous, of any kind, it is proper and expedient that it be righted; and this applies quite as much to the presidency, the twelve, and the leading authorities as to any other individual in the church, in order that everything may be presented in its proper form, and everybody have a full opportunity of offering his ideas and views in regard to these matters. (At Ogden, Utah, Jan. 21, 1883, JD24:32-33) TLDP:97
But there is more than voting to the system the Lord has instituted by which we "sustain" the officers of the Church. There is an expression of determination or purpose in it likewise. There is the token of a covenant.
As we vote to sustain our Church officers we permit them to act and officiate in their callings: but we also pledge our support of them, which means that we will follow their inspired direction, we will cooperate in carrying forward the program of the Church, and willingly accept assignments of responsibilities from them.
The work of the Church is not confined to a few men only. Every person in it must take a part. Every one must "work out his soul's salvation," by participating in the program of the Church. Each assignment accepted and fulfilled means further soul development, added skill in activity, deeper faith and testimony.
It is the inactive who "rust" and fail in development. Without "works" faith is dead.
Sustaining the authorities of the Church is as much a principle of the Gospel as baptism or the resurrection. Without the co-operative effort which is permitted by it, there would be chaos. (A Faith to Live By, p. 310) TLDP:97-98
Related Witnesses:
At times, particularly in the smaller units of the Church, opposition votes are cast. Occasionally it is suggested that a branch be discontinued, or that it be merged with another ward or branch. Never is action taken to effect such a proposal without first submitting the matter to the vote of the people concerned.
This voting is no rubber stamp procedure. There have been times when the proposals have been turned down by the people, and the change has never been made. And this has been done without any prejudice on the part of the presiding officials.
It is inherent in the organization of the Church that its work shall be done "by the voice of the people." No appointment is ever thrust upon the people. (A Faith to Live By, p. 309) TLDP:96
