RICHARD - Can you define what righteous indigantion means from a Gospel point of view. Can a any living member of the Church allowed to use righteous indignation to someone who has wrongfully accused or hurt someone else. When can this be used and how is it to be done without causing anger between two individuals. Please can you provide any information what our prophets and leaders have said concerning this. My only thought I have is that a person must be moved upon by the Holy Ghost for this to happen.
Would a form of chastisement, counsel or advise be regarded as righteous indignation?

JOEL - The concept of "righteous indignation" implies that a judgment must be made on the propriety of what someone else has done. We must make judgements every day about situations and other people in order to protect ourselves, and yet at the same time we have been taught in the scriptures not to get angry or offensive or come across as being judgmental.

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; (Prov. 16:32, See also Eccl 7:9, Ps 37:8, Col. 3:83 Nephi 11:29)

And the term can sometimes be used incorrectly to make excuses for why one gets angry over something, when in fact they were simply unable to control their quick temper.

"He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly:" (Prov. 14:17)

Probably the best examples of righteous indignation was demonstrated by Christ Himself when, out of reverence for His Father's house, he twice cleansed the temple in a seemingly angry fashion. (John 2:16.) and by Moses when he broke the tablets containing the new and everlasting covenant (see Exodus 32:19).
And there are many instances in the scriptures where God displays His own righteous anger and wrath against those who sin or break His commandments. (John 3:36, Eph 5:6, Heb 10:26-27, 2 Neph 1:17)
But we should also remember that vengence is the Lord's alone. (Rom. 12:19, Morm. 8:20.)

Perhaps there are moments when our righteous anger is justified, the question is, how do you know when that is?
As parents dealing with children there are certainly many opportunities to display what we might call "righteous indignation" when they say or do something wrong that could put them in danger.
I guess the difference between righteous indignation and just plain anger depends on the motive. Are you angry because you personally are annoyed or insulted by what the other person did and could not control your temper, or are you expressing your feelings out of love and concern for the person?
President Spencer W. Kimball taught:
“Jesus lived and taught the virtues of love and kindness and patience. He also taught the virtues of firmness and resolution and persistence and courageous indignation. These two sets of virtues seem to clash with each other … , yet both are necessary. If there were but one, love without discipline, love without deep conviction of right and wrong, without courage to fight the wrong, such love becomes sentimentalism. Conversely, the virtues of righteous indignation without love can be harsh and cruel” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 245).

It never hurts to let the Holy Ghost play a part in how we react. As you mentioned, we have been told we can reprove "with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;" (D&C 121:43)

I would submit that a person who demonstrates "righteous indignation" correctly would not be accused of being "angry" by those to whom it is directed.

You asked, "Can any living member of the Church be allowed to use righteous indignation to someone who has wrongfully accused or hurt someone else. When can this be used and how is it to be done without causing anger between two individuals?"
I can't give a general answer for this. It would really depend on the situation. Once again, if the motive is love for the person being hurt and love for the person who did the hurting, and you are in a position of responsibility for one or both of the persons, then perhaps it is time to have the courage to fight the wrong, as president Kimball said. But I would hope you would be able to resolve the problem peacefully and not hold on to any hate or bitterness against someone.

RICHARD - Is the 'Power of the Holy Ghost' and the'Power of the Priesthood' the same or interrelated with each other? I refer to D&C 20:60 & Moroni 3:4.

JOEL - Here are the scriptures:

"Every elder, priest, teacher, or deacon is to be ordained according to the gifts and callings of God unto him; and he is to be ordained by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is in the one who ordains him." (D&C 20:60)

"And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them. (Moroni 3:4)

All priesthood power comes from God, which includes the Holy Ghost. While it may be related to priesthood power I think it is something different.
The Holy Ghost has specific powers that He uses to reveal things to people and sanctify them. Notice in both verses it says they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is within them. The person ordaining has priesthood power and authority to perform the ordinance, but he also has the gift of the Holy Ghost "within him" so that he can proclaim blessings and give direction to the recipient through inspiration. By using this power the one being ordained can be sanctified and receive revelation so he can perform the priesthood duties.

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