Comments on: Through Heaven’s Eyes

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:33:43 +0000

My husband and I have never felt that getting a certain calling was any kind of accomplishment. We just felt like it must be our turn…and we try not to think of it as a burden, lol!

By: Motherboard

Motherboard — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:04:45 +0000

I really liked what justanotherguy had to say. It really made me feel a lot better about a lot of things! Thank you.

From the time I was about 12, I had my “church news bio” figured out. It sounds stupid, but I grew up reading the church news, and the “resumes/bios” of the newly called mission presidents. I wanted my photo right there on pg.3.

It was a huge shocker to me when my husband (10+ years into our marriage) confided that not only did he NOT want that church bio– he did not want those “big dog” callings either. If he could just be the scout leader forever, he would be happy. I am embarrassed to admit that when my husband said that, I was sort of devastated. No church bio for you! (said in my soup Nazi voice)

But, I have come to understand that the Administrators are just that– Administrators. Those of us who serve in the trenches are the Ministers. The Lord needs us to “lift where we stand”. No matter where that is– bio or no bio!

By: Michelle L.

Michelle L. — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:32:41 +0000

Thanks Jana! I love that! We discussed “Lift Where You Stand” in RS last week and one woman said, “It’s a long process of self-actualization to understand that what you are, who you are is enough and that God truly loves each one of us.”

So more than anything it comes down to that– do I really have faith in God’s love?

By: Jana

Jana — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:39:56 +0000

I worked at the Church office building for 10 years in the mailroom. One of my responsibilities was delivering mail to the brethren in the administration building. One day I was delivering mail to David B Haights office and he was sitting at his secretary’s desk. I was kidding and made the comment, “Oh, My, you’ve been demoted!” I was just kidding, he stood up and came over to me, put his arms around me and said “My sweet sister, there is not one calling in the building of His Kingdom that takes more importance over another.” I never have forgotten that …

By: Jana

Jana — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:38:31 +0000

I worked at the Church office building for 10 years in the mailroom. One of my responsibilities was delivering mail to the brethren in the administration building. One day I was delivering mail to David B Haights office and he was sitting at his secretarie’s desk. I was kidding and made the comment, “Oh, My, you’ve been demoted!” I was just kidding, he stood up and came over to me, put his arms around me and said “My sweet sister, there is not one calling in the building of this Kingdom that takes more importance over another.” I never have forgotten that …

By: Michelle L.

Michelle L. — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:32:57 +0000

I can’t express my appreciation for all the honest and heartfelt comments here. It reminds me of a good Sunday School lesson where the teaching is simply a springboard for the thoughts of others.

Your words have clearly illustrated the importance of “invisible callings” such as den mother, librarian, nursery leader, visiting teacher and, of course, Sunday School teacher. It’s amazing the amount of service we gove each other. I remember going to lunch with a friend who’d just been called as Primary President. Our non-member friend was intrigued and quizzed her about her new position. Her final question– “So what kind of salary do they pay for all that work?”

By: justanotherguy

justanotherguy — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:20:26 +0000

I have been the Bishop of my ward for several years. Before that I was a counselor in two other Bishoprics, and the EQP.

In extending callings, I have “passed over” a number of individuals for leadership callings because they were really good teachers of children or the youth. I thought that was much more impportant.

I have “passed over” outstanding individuals for certain leadership callings because I thought they were too burdened with family demands.

I have chosen certain individual as counselors because they had personality traits or talents that were different from mine, and not because I thought they were better than numerous other candidates.

I have “passed over” certain men as counselors and “passed over” certain women for other leadership callings because I thought they were doing too much good elsewhere.

I am really good at some aspects of my calling, and rather ineffective at others. There is nothing special about me that could not be duplicated by a great many others.

A good friend of mine was recently called as a Bishop in our Stake. He is a good man, I know him very well, but I could easily name a dozen men who I believe are better people and would be more effective leaders. I don’t pretend to know why he was called (and he doesn’t either), but it sure isn’t because he is in any way more worthy or more of a “man of God” than a large number of others. (I would say the same about myself.)

A leadership calling is not an accomplishment. It is just a calling to serve in a specific capacity. There are so many reasons to extend or not extend a calling that worthiness is almost never a consideration. We really must eliminate this idea that the receipt of any particular callings is in any way evidence of our personal worthiness, or standing in the Church. When we hold on to this idea, even if only subsconsciously, it can damage us, and it can damage our spouse if we allow ourselves to question their value, worthiness or faithfulness because of their lack of leadership callings.

By: m&m

m&m — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:19:10 +0000

p.s. to that thought…the positions are about the people.

By: m&m

m&m — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:18:07 +0000

Listening to Pres Monson — “the question we will be asked is not what positions we held, but how many people we helped.” (And I doubt that will be about numbers, either, but intent.)

By: Luisa

Luisa — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:49:24 +0000

I know there’s already tons of comments on this but I had to add mine as well. I struggle with feeling of value to the Lord and so sometimes I do want a calling that says I have worth. One of my main reasons is I’m always typecast. I’ve held the same 4 callings over and over– primary music leader, ward music chair, choir director. . . you get the idea. Sometimes I wonder if I have other skills than just the music skills– if there’s more to me than just that.