GETTING CALLED OUT - THE MOSES/JETHRO DEBACLE

Well, I almost stepped in it today in Gospel "Doctrine" class.

The SS President, who is a former Bishop in the ward was teaching about how Jethro came and gave Moses some advice about getting a few counselors, so he basically would not get torn rotator cuffs during battles and so he would not otherwise get burned out with the administrative load.

I raised my hand and pointed out that Jethro was not steadying the ark or challenging the role of the guy who had the power and authority to do some butt-kicking miracles, but that he was a Patriarch and that Moses, as one who went to him to get his Priesthood, would have been deferential to his authority.  This did not sit well with the instructor - and I was slapped down moderately hard.  Prophet is always top of the food chain is the mantra.

Not so - I was thinking in my mind - people are too doctrinally simple.  In that day, the Patriarchal Order was in place - just as it will be in the Millennium after the smackdown takes place.  That is a terrestrial and definitely celestial model.....  The organization, in that day - just as it did in the days of Adam and down until the days of Moses had very few levels.  The highest authority was the Patriarch in each home.  If the father of the man of the house were still alive (as my 83 year old father is), then deference would be given to the living elder in matters of "tribal business".  Because we have rejected these basic principles, and indeed treat our elderly as throw away trash - neither honoring, nor respecting them, we will be cut off and our days will be made short on the land of promise in the day of our affliction here quite shortly.  The other problem - the reason the Patriarchal Order is dead - is that a majority of the men in the Church are completely incapable of healing, prophesying, leading and otherwise fulfilling that role in it's full measure - this due to general wickedness.  For this reason, we will be purged, as a people.  We are lukewarm - therefore, we will be spewed out.

My wife pointed Verse 12 out to me as we read scrips tonight :

      https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/ex/18.1?lang=eng#

 1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt;

 2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back,

 3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:

 4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:

 5 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:

 6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

 7 ¶And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.

 8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them.

 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.

 10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

 12 And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.

 13 ¶And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.

 14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?

In verse 12, Moses did not lead the whole assembled Priesthood in the ritual sacrifice, it was Jethro who had the honor, by right.  Holy smokes - I was not in an argumentative mood this morning - but this is crystal clear to me after a re-read......  Better than just using the logic, the Spirit bore confirmation of it as I was saying it.  I was answered with self-assured smugness that I was clearly wrong...  Sometimes I wonder if the "old sectarian preachers", as Joseph called them, will get more of a pass in the judgment than some of the "teachers" in our day who lead as blind guides, making twice the children of hell the adherents - because they will not or cannot teach sound doctrine.  Those "teachers of righteousness" in Jesus day had the same hang ups.  Smugness when confronted with someone they might well have paid attention to....  He kept warning them - one greater than Abraham, Queen of Sheba, etc is here.  They were too dense to get it (pounding head against wall, I am sure.....).

Further, just as when a Stake President comes into a Ward Meeting, the Bishop conducts, but the higher authority presides.  The same principle applies in the Patriarchal Order.  Arguably, the greatest prophet of all-time is Abraham who was shown things that even Joseph Smith was only given to study and then translate.  Yet, Abraham, the father of so many nations went and gave deference to Shem or Melchizedek, the Great High Priest of Salem when he went to pay his tithes and to have the sacraments given to him.  This deference was given precisely because Shem was the GHP of the day.  He was the oldest living one in authority - carrying that authority directly from his father, Noah.  Shem, unless I am mistaken, was also the last one to bear the original garment of the Holy Priesthood that was given to Adam (by God himself) in the Garden of Eden in order to cover his nakedness.  That relic has gone by the wayside - and I have not been able to pick up the trail......  Although, after that many years, I would surmise the scent trail would be easy to pick up.......  I have had to wear the same garment bottoms for two weeks (due to circumstance and in the summer) - and all I will say is - pee-uuuuuuu.

Sometime, I will go more into the narrative of the early garment in a more thorough and less irreverent manner.