Disclaimer: Lest you think I am just another “Yes!” girl, I will tell you I believe there are times it’s OK to say “No.” Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances of which ecclesiastical leaders are unaware. I also believe it’s better to decline rather than accept a calling one does not intend to fulfill.
I never learned CPR. Did you? Mostly I avoid it because I’m afraid of the pressure. If I don’t know CPR then I won’t be called upon to use it, right? Some time ago, however, someone turned that excuse around on me and pointedly asked, “What if you were all the victim had and you didn’t know how to do CPR?”
Recently (and suspiciously not even two weeks after I confessed here that I had the best calling in the church) I was called to be a den leader in my ward. You have to understand something. This is a hard calling for me. I can talk in church. I can teach. I actually enjoy teenagers. And I know enrichment meeting can be true. But packs of 8-10 year old boys scare me. (Pssst. Can I be really honest here? Some of the adults in scouting scare me.) And if that weren’t enough, the last time I served in scouting they left me in as den leader for something like five years because the people the bishopric kept calling to replace me kept turning them down.
I said “Yes,” but secretly I was devastated. At the time I was serving with one of my good friends as an Activity Days leader, which meant that essentially every two weeks I got to go play with 10-to-12-year-old girls. That is by far the best and easiest calling in the church.
Admittedly I agreed to serve in scouting again, more out of a sense of duty than with a willing heart. Truth be told, I accepted the call with a heavy heart. I was completely honest with the bishopric. (Can you believe that? It took all three of them to ask.) I told them this was a hard calling for me, but that I would do it simply because it needed to be done. I knew the current leaders were not holding any den meetings and hadn’t for months. I also knew this likely wasn’t one of those inspired situations in which the Lord wanted me because I was the best qualified (they actually called that person a few weeks later to work with me). The Lord simply needed someone who would say “Yes,” and actually do the job.
At the moment, I seemed to be all they had.
And so in spite of the fact that I am scared, I don’t fit in with “the lifers” (as we non-lifers affectionately refer to them), scout-yellow is not my best color and I’m not really likely to regularly attend round table, a soul so scout-rebellious as mine has been called and I will serve.
A couple my friends in the congregation actually noticed how after they sustained me in Sacrament Meeting I sort of slunk down back into my choir seat in a bit of despair. But during the sacrament I glanced down at the open hymn book and noticed the title of the hymn next to the sacrament hymn we had just sung. It read, “Thy Will, O Lord, Be Done.”
Nothing quite says “Gird up your loins!” like a message from an open hymnal.
If that weren’t enough, the substance of the Christmas message that day seemed to be about being willing to do what is required of us. To serve willingly.
Direct sermons. Nice touch.
And after the meeting my husband was conspicuously sure to describe in complete detail how my youngest son’s face lit up with joy as he realized I was going to be his den leader.
OK. OK. I get the point. I’ll go. I’ll do. I’ll even try my best to find the joy in it.
Because I’m all they’ve got.
What about you? Tell me how you really feel about saying yes or no to callings. What’s the hardest calling you’ve ever had. What’s your favorite?
i was brought up to say yes. and i have said yes even when i thought that the bishop was insane to give me that particular calling. for example, last year i was practically a single mom as my husband was going through the military Physicians Assistant program. and they called me first to be camp director. then, right before camp, the ward split, and i was called to be RS pres. i did it, and it ended up a good thing. but i didn’t just say yes. matt wasn’t able to go with me to talk to the bishop and i went back out to my car, called him, we talked about it. i sat and thought about it some more. i wanted to make sure i was really ok about it. my husband said no to a calling this past year. he initially said yes, but by the time sunday came, he really honestly did not feel as if he could do it. he had a hard time telling the counselor that, but he did it. he ended up with a perfect calling for him after our ward split. (he was primary chorister) i don’t believe we should just say yes without thinking about it, and we should ask all the questions we feel we should. and think about it. Heavenly father doesn’t want blind obediance. a pet peeve of mine is people that say yes to callings, but then do nothing.
my hardest calling so far was RS pres. food orders, early meetings, (my husband spent 90% of his time out of school studying so it was hard for my husband to keep them while i was at my meetings), dealing with one of the counselors in the bishopric, doing my best not to have someone slip through the cracks.
i became really bitter about a calling. i was primary pianist. at the time, i worked full time and taught piano after work. i wasn’t able to go to enrichment, or anything else. and obviously not RS on sunday either. my VT was someone i had known since 6th grade. my husband was also in the primary, and i didn’t know anyone. few people knew that we were in the ward. i couldn’t understand why a bishop would put a newly married couple into the primary where they weren’t able to get to know anyone. he did that to another couple too, and when that couple gave talks right before they moved, someone said something like “too bad you’re leaving. we didn’t even know you were here!”
so, i do say yes, but i don’t do it without thinking about what i’m saying. and when we say yes, we should actually do the calling. i don’t know if i could do the scouting thing. my mom was in it for a long time, and scouters are a little crazy…..but not all of them.:)
wow, my comment didn’t look that big in this little box…
I was called to be a den leader in December. I must plead temporary insanity because I said yes.
I spent a week or so whining about it to myself and a few other people.
Talked with my Sister about how good it is to have a calling where you can attend your sunday meetings with no worries.
Talked with someone who has no boys about how they would not have to worry about cub scouts, it seems they mostly choose those with boys.
Saw how excited my soon to be eight and a cub scout son is about it all.
Went to round table and was amazed at some of the ‘lifers’.
I decided to make the best of it, after all, I’ve done it before with Webelos (2 years) and lived through it then.
So, I’m going to do my best to make it a fun and successful program for the boys, and hope that they don’t leave me in there for 5 years like the last den leader.
One of the hard things about the timing of this calling for me was that they redid the YW presidency on the same sunday. I have two girls in YW, and a third that enters in the spring.(my son doesn’t go into cub scouts until summer!) My two YW girls were disappointed that I wasn’t put in YW. And truthfully I was also. It is sometimes hard to remember the Lord is in charge (even of cub scouts). Because
I think my situation is alot like yours, they needed someone who would actually do the calling, and I will do it. So here I am.
I guess I just told you my whole cub scout story because I feel your pain, and I thought you would understand how I have felt. Thanks!
Oh, I wear the tan shirt, I like it better then yellow.
Terina, thanks for sharing that. I agree it’s important to ponder and pray, ask questions and get a confirmation about our callings. It adds something to the way we will serve.
Karen, thanks for the tip about the tan shirt. I don’t think they even had those last time I was in. And yes, I do understand. I’ll write more about my recent experience with YW later.
Between me and you (and all of Blogdem), I hate scouting! I wish with all my heart that the church would come out with a Y.M. program similar to the Y.W. and likewise for the Primary aged boys. But, it comes from our leaders with whom I sustain so we participate. I think my worst calling was Weeblos leader. I have a hard time with 10-11 year old boys in general. They don’t listen and are rude and they think they are SO funny. It was a challenge for me. But I did it and as I look back on it, I did learn to love those boys. (One is leaving on his mission today.) Also, you can be a good scout leader and not wear a uniform. When I went to training, this weird women lectured us on the importance of leaders having a scout shirt. She said if you need money, do an extra project to earn the money like a woman she knew who sold scrap metal to buy a shirt. I remember sitting there thinking, “Yeah, right. I’m going to collect metal just to buy a stupid, ugly, overly-priced shirt.” So, I never wore a uniform. I think the whole idea of uniforms is ridiculous. But that’s another discussion for another day. Good luck! You will be a great leader and I’m sure they will have a lot of fun with you!
My toughest callings have been all in Primary. Various primary callings for 10 years. 10 years (with few other concurrent callings sprinkled in there). I say yes and think, “AGAIN?” and wonder what I am not learning from this calling. I am not one of those who talks in a sweet, sing-songy voice with kids or anything like it. We have moved a lot and the Primary is the always the first to come and welcome us and shortly thereafter we are asked to serve in Primary. There is always a need. And I say yes and teach my lessons, though not always with the happy heart I should have. With the repeating lessons, I know all them all quite well.
Surprisingly, ward choir director and Gospel Doctrine teacher were easier for me than teaching Primary.
I actually received this bit of inspiration while sitting outside the bishop’s office, before I was offered the Mother of All Callings: “Whatever it is, just say yes.” I thought we were there for my husband’s new calling, whatever it was. Yikes!
I hear you on “lifers” - some of them seem like rejects from the Planet Scout.
I was just released about 8 months ago after 3.5 years as a den leader. I struggled with my feelings about it the entire time! I think that I was a pretty good den leader, and I tried hard to magnify the calling and do a good job with it. But it was so hard to be fulfilled by it. I have been thinking about why Scouts is so hard for women. I think one reason is because it’s not a “spiritual” calling, at least not overtly. I also think it’s because it’s hard for many of us to get into “boy stuff”. The idea of organizing a bicycle safety fair or teaching boys to tie knots is just not very appealing to me. Also, Scouts is a time-consuming calling–it’s really a lot of work.
I was recently put in as stake primary music leader and went to my first presidency meeting last night. There was quite a bit of discussion about scouts and frustration expressed by one of the people over scouting (not a presidency member, but an outsider who had been invited) over den leaders not doing their jobs. This person was a “lifer” and I felt he was really out of touch with the challenges felt by most people who get called into scouts. I can only think of a couple of people I know who were actually excited about being in scouts–most women actually shed tears when they receive that calling. Rather than griping and complaining about the den leaders, I think the focus should be on helping them get enthused about Scouting–and this has to be done in the right way. Like others have said, going to Roundtable and seeing weird people dancing around and handing out corny neckerchief slides is not the way to get people enthused about being den leaders! There has to be a better way to communicate the spirit of scouting and help people see the vision of what it can do for the boys.
This person spent a lot of time griping about how leaders aren’t going to roundtable, and I just thought that was the least of the problems. I rarely went to roundtable and probably wouldn’t if I was put back in scouts either.
One comment that was made was that bishoprics should be quickly releasing the people who are doing a poor job and keeping those who do it well in for a very long time to provide continuity. But from my perspective as a former den leader, that is one of the worst things to do. It bugged me so much to think that in order to ever get out of Scouts, I would have to do a bad job at it. I could never do a bad job at it–that would be totally unfair to the boys–I had to do my best. But by doing my best, I was practically guaranteeing that I would never get released! That conflict really frustrated me.
I believe that there are circumstances in which it is OK to say no to a calling, but I believe that in general, I should accept whatever I’m asked to do, even if it is not something I would pick for myself. My years in scouts were difficult for me, but I did learn things and gain skills that wouldn’t have come any other way. I especially learned how to be organized–I could never have survived if I hadn’t learned things like planning 3-4 months in advance for den meetings. I also believe that sometimes we just need to do things because we’re needed. The calling may not be a perfect fit, but they need people to simply be willing to serve. I think this is especially true in scouts where people often turn down the calling. This sense of duty got me through some tough times with my scouting calling.
My least favorite calling is any calling that doesn’t have clear guidelines about what is expected. There are a number of them and sometimes I wonder if someone is making them up for people they don’t know what to do with or how to relate to.
The two most frustrating for me have been first, the now defunct calling Teacher Development Coordinator. The job description was to work with the presidencies of organizations to improve the teaching in the auxiliaries. Go to Ward Council. Work with a member of the Bishopric, hold a quarterly meeting and provide a class, Teacher Development, to be held during Sunday School time. The only real way to do this job without stepping on someones toes was to not do this job.
The second and equally discouraging job was ESL Coordinator for the two wards in our building. No job description other than the charge to hold an ESL class and oversee the teaching. The Spanish speakers would come once or twice and then not show up. The Asians were the most diligent. The teachers were lazy and wouldn’t follow the selected curriculum because of the irregular attendance. It didn’t make much sense to hold this class since there was already an abundance of ESL classes available in the community.
I think sometimes it is all right to say no. I am thinking of a friend who was asked to do something with the scouts. She said she knew there was someone else who had been prepared for the calling and would be better than she. So they called a lady without any children who loved working with the boys. It turned out very well.
I haven’t had a “worst” calling yet. I’ve had “HARD” callings (teaching early morning seminary for 2 years…hard because I am SO NOT a morning person…and hard because I put so much work and heart into it and sometimes teenagers just don’t give a damn) The other hard calling was teaching a group of ctr a…when 3 of the boys were unruly.
My favorite callings… teaching in YW… and my current calling that I hope they NEVER EVER release me (knock on wood) is the ward newsletter gal. I ADORE IT! I also have enjoyed activities…but that was when I was in college.
I think that there are some callings that are definitely inspired. But I think sometimes we use that to make people do what needs to be done. We’re a lay-church. So…I have no problem saying “No” or asking to be released if the calling is affecting my family or myself in a negative manner. I think it’s our duty to be frank/honest with our leaders when they ask us “what do you think about this calling?”
I LOVE DALENE WEDNESDAYS!
ps. Sorry about scouts…my hubby is feeling that since he was called to be Sunbeam teacher (glorified babysitter) BUT Kalea is in that class… and she loves him there.
Hardest calling I can remember? Young Women president. But that one was also extremely rewarding . . . both times. First time around when I was released I broke down and wept in church. Embarrassing! Hardest assignments? Last year’s YW camp and a YW camp years back where the camp director and assistant camp director HATED each other and played war all week.
I don’t know that I have true favorites. I’ve loved my ‘leventy-million YW callings, I’ve loved (and hated) teaching, I loved working with publications and still like my ward history calling, I loved serving in the RS presidency because it changed my life. I didn’t really love being in the Primary presidency, but I loved Sunbeam Olivia who, on the front row, used to strip down as near naked as she could get before being caught and belting out “I am God!”
I have only ever turned down one calling–and it made me sad to do it. I was called to go to girls camp, and was SO excited, but felt increasingly like I needed to say no. So I left the voicemail and a few days later found out that my husband was going to be gone to Army during girls camp, so Jooj would have been all alone. So it was a good thing.
But I did recently go to the bishop and say “I am not asking to be released. But I want you to know that I am completely aware that I am doing a HORRIBLE job as the activities chairman/entire committee. I will continue to do a horrible job for quite some time, as my husband is leaving for 15 months. But I will keep trying and, hopefully, next year, after he leaves, I will get better at it. I am saying this because I want you to know that I understand if you feel like you need to release me, and I will not be offended.” And he got this look of relief on his face and said “Thanks for telling me that. No one ever tells me stuff like that. And I don’t think you are doing a horrible job, and let me know if it gets too hard.”
So I was glad I talked to him.
Hardest calling EVER for me (thus far) was being in the nursery with a 1 pm church time, which means nursery was smack in the middle of primo nap time. Which equaled 2 hours of crying, pooping, barfing, cranky, poke my eyes out kind of fun.
I really struggled with that calling, even though I enjoyed all the people I served with. Because of the church time the kids were just more than I could handle, and they left us in there for much longer than we were told upon accepting the calling. It’s the one and only calling I’ve ever asked to be released from. It took me a long time to get to that point too but finally I decided for my own sanity and for the safety and well-being of the children it was best I exit.
And I don’t feel bad about it anymore either!
Hardest: Relief Society President because I didn’t love the sisters, and I knew it.
I believe in saying yes if I will make an honest effort to do my calling. I will say no, though. One time they tried to give me a fourth calling, and I said that I would only accept it if they released me from one or two of my other ones. Since they were unwilling to release me from them, it ended up being a ‘no.’ There were plenty of people in my ward without callings, too! I didn’t get it.
Wow, hot topic! Good post again…no surprise
“A soul so scout rebellous as mine”–so funny, and it describes me as well. I will admit, even having been the wife of a scout master (maybe in part because of it), I really, really don’t like scouts. So far I have avoided a calling in scouting, and to be honest, I don’t know if I’d say yes if I were called. Maybe this is why God doesn’t call me. I’ve never said no to a calling, but I have asked to be released, once from the RS presidency, and recently as a VT. My worst and best calling was one and the same.
Several years ago after asking to be released from my RS calling, and being assured that I would have a little time off, I was surprised by being called to be the primary chorister. I had just had a major surgery, my father was dying and I was actually living from a hotel away from my husband and children with my mom and sister, then besides the fact that I was having a great deal of personal struggles, we had a few more family crisis’–bing, bing, bing, AND bing– one after another. I didn’t enjoy the calling because I couldn’t fulfill it. But for whatever reason, the primary presidency hung in there with me…and I am soooo grateful they did. When my life settled somewhat, that calling became one of the greatest blessings of my life. I LOVED IT!!! In fact I continued serving in that calling for the next 5 years, until I was called to serve as the stake primary music leader, which I enjoy not near as much, but is better suited for my life at this time. Heavenly Father has been good to me, as I have not yet (other than the close call mentioned above), been called to a calling that wasn’t just right for my life at the time. I’m grateful, because although most people would never guess, I really struggle with organized religion, and I really don’t know if I can handle being stretched in that way. (How’s that for a little self-admittance?!)
I don’t think I’ve ever said “no” to a calling yet, but I have struggled with some. I got called to be the Primary president in our last ward the same month that I was starting graduate school (and I had a one-year-old and my husband was a student). I was terrified because I’d never been in charge of anything before and because I thought I didn’t like kids very much. Plus most of the women in my ward were much older and more experienced than I was. It turned out pretty well; I don’t feel like I had many transcendent experiences or anything during my three years, but I enjoyed working with the other people who were in the Primary and I learned a lot about my capacity for leadership. I also feel the same thing about scouts–it’s hard and takes up a lot of time. I think it’s hard because it’s a specialized sort of thing and few people are really enthusiastic about it, yet someone has to do it. I mainly felt annoyed because in every other area of primary they encourage us to simplify and make things easier, yet scouts just seems so complicated and time-consuming!
There is at least one calling that I said ‘yes’ to that I should have said ‘no’ to. Instead, I was resentful and I didn’t fulfill the calling. It is still one of my regrets in life, because I’ve never NOT tried to fulfill a calling. I learned from that one that you can say ‘no’ and it will be better than saying ‘yes’ and being a millstone.
I loved Young Women’s, even though I thought I’d hate it. I just love to teach: Relief Society, Sunday School, whatever.
I’ve never had to say “no” to a calling yet, either. Some are definitley better than others, and some grew on me. Some were weird (Ward Public Affairs Director for 2 months in a BYU student ward), and others were a dream come true! (ward choir director)
I was also called to be a den leader. I was confused at first, because I was new in the ward, and I thought my talents would be better served elsewhere (oh, the arrogance of youth! Okay, nevermind, I’m still young). But I was taught to say “yes”, so I did. It turned out to be wonderful! We had 12 Nine-year old boys, and so there ended up being three of us leading the Den. We did videos of fun skits to show at Pack Meeting, way fun field trips, and a couple of great bike trips. Of course, I never did go to Round Table. Nor did I buy a shirt. I just didn’t see the purpose. But nobody was upset with me (or even reminded me). Soon after I was called to the Dream Calling, but if I was asked to be Den leader again? Yeah, I would do it. Not so much because I loved/love it, but because I know it’s not the end of the world.
But I like how other people talk about the struggle to accept, the acceptance, and then growth. I don’t think I’ve ever had a calling where I didn’t learn something, and I really hope I never have to turn one down.
The callings where I said YES and I really should’ve said NO were when I was called to be the primary pianist and then later the choir accompianist. Oh, did I mention that I DON’T PLAY THE PIANO?!?! Since my sister and my mother play the piano beautifully, everyone assumes that I also play. I took lessons for about three months. I DON’T PLAY THE PIANO! At the time I said yes because I was told to never turn down a calling and I was a stupid teenager. Now I’m older and have no problem saying NO.
Oh, GEO, I hope I wasn’t the assistant camp director that made your life miserable. I apologize if I was.
No comment (because I have far too much to say AND I’m superstitious!).
But ‘cept….I LOVE DALENE WEDNESDAYS TOO!!
What a great post! I LOVE my primary presidency counselor calling. Love it! But I know the scouting program is tough. It’s tough for us to keep filled and we are combining with other wards to get our numbers up, and they are still low. I am not over the scout’s, so I still don’t know anything about it. But I will tell you that if it is run well, those boys love it. Some of our activity days girls are jealous of the scout’s activities.
They are lucky to have you!!
Oh, and I am not a good nursery leader. But my circumstances were difficult when I was put in, but I went in, like you, because no one else would do it and I had a kid turning 18 months. What could I do???
When I was pregnant with my second child they called me to be camp director. I stewed, I fretted, I did not sleep for two nights. I went to the doctor’s and he told me I shouldn’t do it (I have had to go on bed rest because of high blood pressure)… Whew. I love my doctor. So I said I’d be happy to help prepare for camp, but actual camping, that I could not do. And they found someone else.
Such is my guilt tripping, though, that it took me a long time to get over saying no, even under those circumstances.
And I love, love, the Scout stories. They are funny. I think good Scout leaders go to the Celestial kingdom. I think by “good Scout leader” I mean “someone who is aware of the ridiculousness inherent in Scouting but loves the boys anyway and implements the program as best he can.” If you’re not aware of the ridiculousness (is that a word?) of parts of the Scouting system, then you will never be able to reach the boys who think it’s corny.
Also good nursery leaders, celestial material for sure. My kids have vomited on our nursery leader. I was mortified, but she just handled it with such grace and love. She is zipping right past me on her way to heaven.
Lois, believe me, you were wonderful in your calling. I think you’d remember if you’d participated in a WAR.
One time I was called to be the Primary Chorister. The counselor in the bishopric prefaced the call with, “Oh, this will be such an easy calling for you because you’re so musical and all. It will be a piece of cake!” When he told me what the calling was, I nearly burst into tears. Being able to play the piano and carry a tune does not mean that being a Primary Chorister is an “easy calling.” Sure, I can play anything on the piano, but having to TEACH music in front of a bunch of little kids? That requires an entertainer, and that is something I have NEVER been. I told him I had to go home and think about it.
I cried nearly every day for a week. I prayed about it, I pondered it, I did everything you’re “supposed” to do, but I never got an answer. It didn’t feel right to say yes, but it didn’t feel right to say no either. I finally decided to just accept it and make the best of it. One month later, they divided our ward. We were part of the new ward, and they put me in as Primary Secretary. (Hallelujah! Something I was good at!) It was my favorite calling ever. I cried when we had to move not long after that, but then I got the same calling in our new (now current) ward. (I had that calling for about 5 years total.)
I came away from the chorister experience feeling like I had participated in a test of the Emergency Calling System. Kind of like those annoying tests they do on the public TV stations. “BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP…This is a test of the Emergency Calling System. This is only a test. If this had been an actual calling, you would have been given specific instruction to accept the calling…etc.” But I also realized that it was okay to say “no” if it felt like the right thing to do.
My husband always asks if the bishop (or stake president, as the case may be) has actually prayed about giving him whatever calling they are extending at the time, and he will ask what the answer was. The first time he did this, I nearly died of embarrassment. I was taught to never question stuff like that. But I soon realized the wisdom in the question. If the Lord truly wants you there, you have the right to know it.
Excellent comments. I love how experiences serving in the church can be both unique and universal at the same time.
I too was taught to always say yes, but I think if I didn’t feel good about something after praying about it (which was not the case with this one) I would go back to the bishopric to discuss it further. But I did recently witness an instance when a friend was given a calling for which there were extenuating circumstances (not worthiness issues, but family and social issues) and it was rescinded after the explanation was made. I learned something from observing it happen.
Hardest calling? Co-Activities chair with my husband in a young married ward.
Favorite calling? Young Women (even though I had 24 Beehives and an often-absent partner), Co Ward Newsletter Editor with one of my best friends, Compassionate Service Leader (another story for another day) and Activity Day Leader with another good friend.
One of the things I have noticed is that who you work with can make the best calling seem a burden or the hardest calling seem a joy.
Oh, and Primary Chorister is hard for me too–I’m an alto and I can’t sing quite that high!
I think my favorite calling so far has been as first counselor in the Primary Presidency. We had just moved into our current ward and were there only two weeks when I got the call. Nothing like diving right in, but I absolutely loved every minute of that calling. Six months later they called me to Young Women’s President and all I could do was cry. For obvious reasons, and also because I didn’t want to leave the kids. Though I knew the YW Pres calling was coming. The spirit was working hard on me and I kept commenting to my husband for a three week period about my concerns for the Young Women in our ward. Three weeks later, BAM! Young Women’s President you will be!! I love my girls, but I sure do miss the kids.
The calling I still hate to this day is “Visiting Teacher”. That is my evil, unfaithful side talking. I absolutely hate everything, EVERYTHING, about visiting teaching. Every time I say it, I feel like a bad person. I’ve been trying to convine the Relief Society President to just let me visit teach my Young Women leaders. I’m with them all of the time, I can tell you anything you want to know about their lives. I am okay, they are okay, we are still alive, please don’t make me visit teach! Not that she makes me of course, but still, it’s the “need to do”, “ought to do” that I really hate to do.
Dalene, I just found you! I love this site. I’ve read alot of the older posts and wanted to comment, but to this I have to tell what I did.I too was brought up knowing that you should accept every calling. I got a phone call from the ward secretary to meet with the Bishop. I asked if I needed to bring hubby, he said no, that it was not going to be a big deal. I felt sick to my stomach the whole day before my appt. because I just knew somehow I was going to end up going to camp. I’m not exactly the best camper. The last time I had gone to camp as a leader, I came home with kidney disease which took me out for about two months. I’m sure the symptoms were there all along, but I blamed it on camp. I thought this calling might be as a yw leader, and that’s ok, but there was something telling me it was not that. I went into the office and there is the Bishopric and I was asked to be Assistant camp director. Well, in one of my prouder moments I started to cry and shake. They asked me if I was ok and my response was “I thought you guys were my friends and you suck!” I told them of course I had to accept but I was VERY mad about it. the worst part was that it happened before church on Mother’s day and it was also the farewell of one of my daughters good friends. I walked into the meeting bawling and this boys mother asked me if I was okay. I told her what happened and she thought it was so funny. I cried during that entire meeting, and I’m sure nobody could understand why I was crying so hard that this boy was leaving on his mission. duh! Definitely one of my prouder moments. After all that camp was fine last year, I did’nt get sick again, and I’m fairly organized for this year. Go figure - maybe I’m supposed to learn something….
Jill–I’m so writing about visiting teaching. Very soon.
Tonya–yay! I’m glad you found me. I’m extremely glad you love the Segullah blog. I remember when there used to be just one member of the bishopric asking you to serve–why do they have to gang up on us? It’s like they know when it’s going to be a tough sell. And I heard camp was great last year. This year sounds like a great time too–I’ll be sending warm thoughts your way, though. Brrrr!
Hi,
Just wondering if someone could answer a question for me??? I am new in the Church and wondered…when the Primary President is released is everyone serving with her released too? Example- Her counselors. If this is what happens..then are her counselors set apart again if they are called by the new president even though they served with the past Primary President? Thanks
Hi Tammy–and welcome!
Generally that is what I have seen, but it’s possible there is leadership that may choose to do things differently. We recently got a new stake presidency and I loved how the general authorities who came were very open about the process. They do interview all the potential candidates before they call the stake president. They then invite to him to choose his counselors through prayer and inspiration. They did mention that if he were to choose someone other than how they were inspired they would invite him to pray again about it.
As for being set apart again, I really don’t know. My husband served in our bishopric and he said he would guess they would set the counselors apart again, but he doesn’t know for sure either.
Thanks Dalene! Have a great week.
Psst. I’ll let you in on a little secret.
I actually had fun in cub scouts today.
(Shhhh. Don’t tell anyone.)