Ark-Steadiers

D&C 85:8-"While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death."

This verse has reference to a story found in the old testament (2 Samuel 6:6-7) when God smote Uzzah because "Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it."

I have heard several explanations of this story but none impacted me as much as that found in the D&C student manual for this verse.  It reads:

"However well-meaning Uzzah's intentions, he had no faith in God's power.  He assumed that the ark was in danger, forgetting that it was the physical symbol of the God who has all power.  We cannot presume to save God and his kingdom through our own efforts.

"Uzzah was therefore a type of all who with good intentions, humanly speaking, yet with unsanctified minds, interfere in the affairs of the kingdom of God, from the notion that they are in danger, and with the hope of saving them.

"The Lord does not need the help of men to defend his kingdom.  Yet even today there are those who fear the ark is tottering and presume to steady its course.  There are those who are sure that women are not being treated fairly in the Church or those who would change the established doctrines of the Church.  These are ark-steadiers.  The best intentions do not justify such interference with the Lord's plan.

"The ark of God does not need steadying, especially by incompetent men without revelation."

I feel like if we understood this principle we would be much less likely to appose the Church's official position on controversial matters.  It doesn't matter if we disagree cognitively with the Church's stance, it is not in our jurisdiction to try and step in and change the Church's position.  If that is supposed to happen it will come through the proper chain of authority and in the proper time.

Let's look at a recent past example.  Before the revelation now known as Official Declaration-2, there were many people (from within and outside of the Church) that were pressuring the Church into removing its practice of withholding the priesthood from certain races.  These people were ark-steadiers.  They thought that the Church was being shaken and they needed to step in and take hold of the matter.  However, it was not their decision to make.  Even though the Church eventually changed their practice, does that mean that those ark-steadiers were justified in their disagreement with the Church?  No.  The same goes for gay-marriage.  Even if the Church were to change its position, that would not justify certain members opposing and preaching against this teaching.