Church leaders are human...

Sometimes people forget that the church is run by ordinary people - under God's direction, of course. I received the following email this morning illustrating just that point:

"May I offer counsel of a general nature, first with comments about
General Authorities. We recognize them as instruments in the hand of the
Lord, yet realize that they are ordinary human beings. They require
haircuts, laundry services, and occasional reminders just like anyone else.
President Benson once shared with us a story to illustrate. He
said:
"'Orson F. Whitney . . . was a great man to concentrate.
One day when he was traveling by train, he was so preoccupied that he did
not notice the train pass the station where he was to get off. So he had to
[be driven] back to where he should have been. Meanwhile the stake
president waited and waited. . . . Finally when he decided that something
had more than likely happened to Brother Whitney and he was not going to
make it, they commenced the meeting. As Elder Whitney approached, he was
greeted by the opening hymn, which was "Ye Simple Souls Who
Stray."'
"We honor such a man because of his
extraordinary calling. His official acts are valid on earth and in
heaven."
Topic: priesthood

(Russell M. Nelson, "Honoring the Priesthood," Ensign, May 1993, 39)