Boyd Matheson: Any point of the compass influence

This is an editorial piece. An editorial, like a news article, is based on fact but also shares opinions. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and are not associated with our newsroom. 

One of the greatest challenges of living in the world is that mortals often view gospel, or eternal, principles from an earthly perspective. It is easy to look at the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through the lens of a worldly, or man-made, structure — like a business. Through such a lens you could see a pyramid structure with people working their way to the top of the organizational chart through connections, friendships, self-promotion or being in proximity to power. This worldly view is captured in the old adage, “It’s not what you know or what you do, it is who you know and what they do that matters.”

Likewise, looking through an earthly lens, one could look at the organization of the church and say that this group or that group doesn’t have enough “representation”  or “power”, based on age, gender, nationality or otherworldly identifier. 

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are NOT part of an earthly company but an eternal kingdom. Kingdoms are actually flat, NOT pyramid-style organizational charts. Every member has the opportunity, and responsibility, to have an impact and influence from any and every point of the kingdom compass.

Sometimes, for a season, members serve from the front and sometimes they serve from the back. At all times they are asked to serve and lead from every side, angle and position. The test of this life is to see if you can lead and make a difference, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, with or without a title or position. Can you impact your neighbors just because they are your neighbors or influence your family through all the stages and challenges of their lives? Can you minister to colleagues at work and members of your congregation? Can you find a direction or path to help those suffering far away and those struggling close to home?

Serving as disciples of Jesus through the seasons of life is an “all points of the compass” endeavor. The Gospel Kingdom is indeed flat like a compass. Like a compass, there are opportunities to minister and serve in every direction, from any angle, on every point and from every place on the compass.

When I was doing international business consulting and helping large companies hire top talent, I would often caution those making the hiring decisions that anyone can lead if you give them a corner office and title. The people you want to hire are those individuals who can lead from any point on the compass. Such individuals influence fellow employees, impact teams and transform organizations.

Note that scripture does NOT say that God placed prophets and apostles at the top of the organizational chart. The New Testament scripture declares that the Gospel Kingdom is built on the FOUNDATION of prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. [Ephesians 2:20]

The only thing the Lord measures is influence and impact — the way we live and the way we serve – from any and every point of the compass through every stage, state and season of our lives.

The widow described in The New Testament had an impact by casting in her mite from one point of the compass while Ester, Ruth, Sarah and Mary Fielding had influence from another. Joseph, the Father of Jesus, was influenced by one humbly unique point on the compass while Joseph of Arimathea, and Joseph Smith Sr. had an impact from another.

Oliver Granger is an incredible “any point of the compass” disciple who is often forgotten in the history of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ. When most of the Saints were driven from Kirtland, Ohio, the church left some debts unsatisfied. Oliver was appointed to represent Joseph Smith and the First Presidency by returning to Kirtland to settle the church’s business. Of this task, the Doctrine and Covenants records: “Therefore, let him contend earnestly for the redemption of the First Presidency of my Church, saith the Lord.” [D&C 117:13.]

Without position or title, and from a very humble point on the compass, I can imagine Oliver feeling the immense and crushing responsibility to redeem the First Presidency of the Church. The Lord clearly knew Oliver’s heart and his determination to do whatever he was asked to do. I love the Lord’s promise concerning Oliver Granger, “and when he falls he shall rise again, for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord.” Oliver Granger found a point on the compass from which to serve and left a legacy of influence in the process.

Sister Amy Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, was recently asked about what she does as a general officer in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a social media post, Sister Wright noted that her first answer was to rattle off a list of the many responsibilities and assignments she has in her current role. Then, typical of Sister Wright, she stayed with the question, reached deeper and thought higher, and then she offered a spiritually rich response.

“I believe that a call to serve in the kingdom of God is a call to a spiritual ministry,” Sister Wright wrote. “This is not a ladder to be climbed; it is a linear move. Sometimes we serve in one part of the vineyard, and other times we serve in another. The important thing to remember is that we all labor in the same vineyard, doing the same work and receiving the same eternal blessings, under the direction of our Savior Jesus Christ, whose mighty work this is.”

That is what an “every point of the compass” ministry looks like.

I have witnessed women and men called from obscurity to do extraordinary things. I have seen well-known individuals better build the kingdom from outside such as callings or roles — from other points on the compass. There are no small parts or players in an “any point of the compass” Kingdom. 

The women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints belong to one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the world — the Relief Society. The women of the church have become an internationally recognized force for good. Women lead and serve from every point of the compass, in ways that are recognized by governments, NGOs and non-profit organizations. Such women are the most impactful and influential people on the planet — coming at pressing local and national problems from every point of the compass — every single day.

Camille N. Johnson, General President of the Relief Society, has described this veritable “any point of the compass” army of women saying that on any given Sunday hundreds of thousands of women around the world are leading, teaching, influencing and having an impact in their congregations and on their communities. 

Likewise, the men of the kingdom serve both where they are called and where they can — building strong families, congregations, neighborhoods and communities. In a powerful address titled, “Lift Where You Stand”, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, likened this any point of the compass influence to a group of men attempting to move a heavy piano.

Elder Uchtdorf shared: “There were plenty of ideas (of how to safely move the piano), but not one could keep the piano balanced correctly. They repositioned the men by strength, height, and age over and over again—nothing worked.”

Elder Uchtdor concluded, “As they stood around the piano, uncertain of what to do next, a good friend of mine, Brother Hanno Luschin, spoke up. He said, ‘Brethren, stand close together and lift where you stand’… Although it may seem simple, lifting where we stand is a principle of power.”

The “any point of the compass” influence of the women and men of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in their communities, caused one international diplomat to insightfully say to me, “A donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is different from all others. A donation from The Church of Jesus Christ has a multiplier effect that cannot be measured.”

Every disciple of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been called to build the Kingdom in the Savior’s way. His kingdom is not a business or earthly organization. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is part of a rapidly growing Gospel kingdom that continues to expand to every point of the compass and fill the whole earth. The church rises and expands, not because it grows in a vertical organizational chart, but because it moves out across the world through individuals willing to create influence and have an impact by making a difference from any and every point of the compass.

Boyd Matheson is the host of Inside Sources on KSL NewsRadio. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.