The Lord’s servants come in a variety of packages and personalities.  They can be very different from one another; but because they follow the same Director, they effectively accomplish the same things.

I’ve been thinking about the presidents under whom I’ve served.

Darrell Lindsey was the stake president who called me to be elders quorum president the second time I served in that position.  President Lindsey was a no-nonsense, no-smiles-allowed type of man.  My bishop dreaded his monthly interview with him.

I was the next bishop, and served under I. Dale Wyatt.  Contrariwise, I very much looked forward to the monthly interviews with my stake president because he was my best friend, or at least made me feel that way.  He was there to help me rather than to direct me.

Harold G. Hillam, former general authority, was the first Boise Temple president under whom I served.  His first counselor, Wendell Waite, was the one who issued the call for me to serve.  Wendell Waite was called to be President Hillam’s successor.  Both of these men were warm and approachable, knew me, and called me by name.  They were like Dale Wyatt.

When the temple reopened after being shut down for remodeling, President Brinkerhoff was called as president.  He was cut from the Darrell Lindsey mold.  So is my current mission president, Larry Brewer.

Most mission presidents that I’ve heard about are father figures to the missionaries who serve under them.  They’re remembered for a lifetime, and are spoken of nostalgically.  I can’t see that happening with President Brewer.  He’s the perfect man for the extremely demanding calling of overseeing this mission that covers three island nations and many, many different languages and cultures.  How he accomplishes what he does, I can’t imagine.  He’s not warm, approachable, or fatherly like mission presidents that I’ve heard about, but I can’t fault him.  When he finishes his mission in another six months, I’m sure that there will be no mission reunions, and I doubt that we’ll ever hear from him again.  He has put his heart and soul into his calling, has been indefatigable, and has been highly effective.  I greatly respect the man.  He runs a tight ship, and I’m sure he is exactly what these nations and this mix of missionaries needs.  He has done a magnificent job without giving one thought to popularity.

As Marjorie astutely points out, we’re not to only sustain those that we like or whose style we approve of.  We’re asked to sustain the man that the Lord puts in the position.  If you find yourself being critical of your bishop, stop it.  He wouldn’t be in that position if the Lord didn’t want him there.  If his style isn’t your style, it doesn’t mean that he’s either wrong or ineffective.  Though their administrative styles have been very different, every one of my presidents has been a great man.