Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 26:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 26:2
"And all things shall be done by common consent in the church, by much prayer and faith, for all things you shall receive by faith. Amen."

I decided to read more about common consent. I know it happens when a name and calling is proposed in the church. As members of that ward or stake we raise our hands to show we sustain and support them. It's not a vote per say, but an opportunity to confirm our agreement and do all we can to help them in that calling. If we do know something that would make the person unworthy or question the calling we do have a chance to raise our hand to oppose. It does make me wonder if we don't feel we can sustain the person, but don't know of any reason why they shouldn't have the calling do we just not raise our hands? I have never been faced with that. I have actually been faced with needing to raise my hand to oppose the calling, and spoke with the leader afterwards of my concern. It is comforting to know the Lord's house is a house of order, and we know who is acting under authority.

"Again I say unto you, that it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by some one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church."
(Doctrine and Covenants 42:11)

"President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) taught that the purpose of a sustaining vote is not to express personal preference regarding those whom the Lord has duly called: “The priesthood selects, under the inspiration of our Father in heaven, and then it is the duty of the 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 wrong doing, of transgression of the laws of the Church which would disqualify him for the position which he is called to hold” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1956], 3:123–24).
After the Church members sustained President Thomas S. Monson as the President of the Church for the first time, Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphasized the covenantal nature of the law of common consent in the Church. He taught that when we raise our hands to the square, it is “not just a vote” but more “a private and personal commitment, even a covenant, to sustain and to uphold the laws, ordinances, commandments, and the prophet of God” (“Gaining a Testimony of God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 29).
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 11: Doctrine and Covenants 26-28, "All things shall be done by common consent in the church")

"Do not listen to those who have not been ordained and/or set apart to their Church calling and are not acknowledged by common consent of the members of the Church."
(M. Russell Ballard, "The Trek Continues!", Oct 2017 General Conference)

"Today, at this solemn assembly, we have complied with the will of the Lord, who said that “it shall not be given to any one to go forth to preach my gospel, or to build up my church, except he be ordained by … one who has authority, and it is known to the church that he has authority and has been regularly ordained by the heads of the church.” This law of common consent has been invoked, and the Church will move forward on its prescribed course."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Salvation and Exaltation", Apr 2008 General Conference)

Day 3615