Why things are not perfect in the church

[spamlds]

There are a lot of facets to the OP's question.  Here are some things that come to mind.

I heard President Hinckley say once that "Even in the highest councils of the Church, the "still, small voice" is still the "still, small voice."  The same Spirit that guides you in your life is the same Spirit that guides the Church.

D&C 8:2-3 says:

Quote

 2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

Think of what that says.  One of the greatest Biblical miracles, the parting of the Red Sea, came from the Holy Ghost speaking to Moses' mind and heart.  It was what we call a prompting.  A great miracle can come about from a revelation that is almost imperceptible to an outsider.

I've been in Ward council meetings where such promptings came to leaders and inspired guidance was received.  Many of us can testify of receiving personal guidance in this manner.  It's just the way the Lord works.  Sometimes it's necessary for him to come down and straighten things out--like the First Vision.  The whole world had the nature of the Godhead so wrong that he had to appear to set it straight again.  Most issues aren't that critical and the Lord lets us work our way through them.  

Paul called it seeing through a glass darkly.  Everything is a test for us, every single day.

Another reason things are not perfect is because of opposition.  There has to be opposition in ALL things.  Whatever great plans we make based on God's inspiration inevitably must be opposed.  That makes our plans less effective and we have to struggle our way through them.  Opposition tests our vision of what we desire.  If our desires are true, then the vision will endure the opposition.  If our desires are just wishes or whims, they'll fail when opposed and we won't be able to maintain the vision of what we desire.  

The Church is perfect in its organization because it responds to revelation.  We tend to think of something perfect as unchangeable.  That's a false sectarian concept, like the "inerrant" Bible in which they believe.  The ability to adapt to changing circumstances guided by divine inspiration is a hallmark of a perfect organization.

 

Edited October 9, 2016 by spamlds
fix spacing