Excellent question, Mizz. I can't imagine how hard that would be for me. I might have to move to another ward just to survive. I think sno, schmoe, hawkwing and some others had good thoughts. Ultimately, we don't know why the Lord calls a given individual to a calling, and sometimes that is the test for us. A favorite scripture of mine: D&C 101:4 applies here; "Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son". I think this would be an Abrahamic trial for me, because I think this man is pure evil, on a level with Nancy Palosy and our illustrious president. These three have our great country on the verge of complete collapse, and they are doing it on purpose.
Socialism (as these three advocate), differs diametrically from the United Order in the two central tennets of both. First: socialism takes by force, the wealth from those who have, and gives to those who have not, while the UO is lived voluntarily, and provides for the needs and wants of all. Second: Socialism leaves it at that: (we have helped the poor), while the United Order requires all to share in the work. All may not be able to do that which creates the wealth, but all are able to contribute to the well being of the community. Socialism creates indolence, while the United Order fosters industry. Beyond that, socialism NEVER does what it claims to do, which is redistribute the wealth to make all equal. Those who advocate socialist reform paint the rich as evil usurpers who have stolen their wealth from the people, then by revolution or legislation, endeavor to take the wealth from the those currently in power and put themselves in the position of wealth and power. Look at any successful socialist revolution and you will see that it never does away with the wealthy, it just changes the faces. In the United Order (the Lord's kingdom), all share equally. Ultimately, if we live worthy, partake of his atonement and endure to the end, we will share all with him, even his glory. we will be "even as he is."
Back to the original question: I have had many good bishops, and a few who have tried my faith. Sometimes I have really wondered why an individual was called. The toughest bishop (for all the ward) I have had was a really good man who was called at a young age, and was very dogmatic in his approach to his calling. He really tried the ward and drove some away. Many wondered why he was called, and why he remained in his calling for so long, while his flock suffered. I believe in this case, he was called to train him for the next time he is called, when his strength, spirituality and knowledge will really be needed, coupled with the wisdom he will have gained from looking back on his first experience and realizing the mistakes he made. There are troubling times ahead, and this man will now be prepared to lead his flock through them.
In another case, I know a man who was swindled out of a lot of money in a business deal, by a member of his ward, who was just plain dishonest and unscrupulous. Shortly thereafter, the man was called to be my friend's bishop. This would have had to be a Harry Reid type of deal for my friend and for many others in his ward. My friend's wife left the church over this calling, but when I last saw my friend, he was still active, and the man was still the bishop. I don't know why this man was called. It seems impossible that the Lord would call such a man, but the Lord sees far beyond what we can see. Maybe this was the thing that made the man turn his life around. Maybe he was called because he was the only one who could help a specific person or group within the ward, or his family, or elswhere, and the Lord had another plan to help those who the man hurt. Maybe he was the Abraham moment for someone in the ward. This might simply be the Lord's way of allowing this man to have his own Abraham moment, and repent...or seal his own fate.
I only hope that I am never faced with the dilema of sustaining or not sustaining someone like Harry Reid.
