Callings, Burnout And Postmortality

[Duncan]

I think all of us know people who burnout in the Church and one reason could be their calling is too demanding, not enough help to do it etc. I was wondering if you accept the Gospel in the next life would you be tested or something with some calling that could make you lose your way? If not then why does God give callings to people he can see stumble and fall away and others don't have any callings and not tested by it.  Let's face it some members don't make it easier on others. Me Mum laments sometimes she worked with a RS Pres years ago who had them all handwrite invites to various conferences (this was before copiers) but this lady thought a handwritten invite meant more then some carbon copy one and so my Mom and others spent hours and hours writing out these invites to all the Stake RS Sisters...and she still talks about it today!!! Where is the fairness if he gives some callings and others not?

[ERayR]

I think all of us know people who burnout in the Church and one reason could be their calling is too demanding, not enough help to do it etc. I was wondering if you accept the Gospel in the next life would you be tested or something with some calling that could make you lose your way? If not then why does God give callings to people he can see stumble and fall away and others don't have any callings and not tested by it.  Let's face it some members don't make it easier on others. Me Mum laments sometimes she worked with a RS Pres years ago who had them all handwrite invites to various conferences (this was before copiers) but this lady thought a handwritten invite meant more then some carbon copy one and so my Mom and others spent hours and hours writing out these invites to all the Stake RS Sisters...and she still talks about it today!!! Where is the fairness if he gives some callings and others not?

 

Where do you get the idea that it has to have the appearance of fairness?  You will only see that, when the whole plan is again spread before you.

Edited September 10, 2014 by ERayR

[ksfisher]

 Where is the fairness if he gives some callings and others not?

 

Can you be a member of the church and not have a calling sometime during your life?

[Duncan]

Can you be a member of the church and not have a calling sometime during your life?

 

I dunno! I should would like to try though!!! but what I am saying is what about the next life for people who accept the gospel there

[Ahab]

Can you be a member of the church and not have a calling sometime during your life?

Yes. You can always say no or decline to accept a call to serve.

[Duncan]

Where do you get the idea that it has to have the appearance of fairness?  You will only see that, when the whole plan is again spread before you.

 

 

does anyone have the whole plan of salvation spread out before us? Are we not looking through the glass darkly?

[Guest]

I think all of us know people who burnout in the Church and one reason could be their calling is too demanding, not enough help to do it etc. I was wondering if you accept the Gospel in the next life would you be tested or something with some calling that could make you lose your way? If not then why does God give callings to people he can see stumble and fall away and others don't have any callings and not tested by it.  Let's face it some members don't make it easier on others. Me Mum laments sometimes she worked with a RS Pres years ago who had them all handwrite invites to various conferences (this was before copiers) but this lady thought a handwritten invite meant more then some carbon copy one and so my Mom and others spent hours and hours writing out these invites to all the Stake RS Sisters...and she still talks about it today!!! Where is the fairness if he gives some callings and others not?

You are right some callings are too demanding. This is why they come with assistants, counselors, etc. Just as Moses had his brother and sister to hold up his arms...so we do as well. Thus giving cause to The Lord explaining, "whom The Lord he qualifies".

[VideoGameJunkie]

I always had the belief that you should never turn down a calling, since the calling was inspired by the Lord.

[ERayR]

does anyone have the whole plan of salvation spread out before us? Are we not looking through the glass darkly?

 

On the other side of the veil.

[Guest]

I always had the belief that you should never turn down a calling, since the calling was inspired by the Lord.

A good policy...but someone should never accept a calling that they are not worthy to accept, nor accept a calling they don't intend to perform.

[JLHPROF]

Can you be a member of the church and not have a calling sometime during your life?

 

I think you can, but if you don't magnify and grow through serving the Lord you will probably be less prepared for exaltation should you still be able to achieve it.  This is why consecration is one of our eternal covenants.  Even God spends all his time on his calling (work and glory...).

No calling, no service, no consecration could seriously hinder progression.

[Ahab]

I always had the belief that you should never turn down a calling, since the calling was inspired by the Lord.

Stick with that thought for as long as you like. It won't do you any harm and in some sense it is true.

What I know now is that our Lord structured the Church to include key positions of responsibility, namely apostles and high priests including the presiding high priest of the Church, and that the men who were first called and appointed to those positions had our Lord's authority to delegate some of their responsibilities to others and, in some cases based on position, call and appoint others to fill vacancies and even create new positions. Which means that even when someone is recommended for a "calling" (or called to serve in a position) by someone in a "higher" calling (meaning a position which has the responsibility of presiding over that position), each call is approved by the Lord, when it's approved by a presiding officer, because he is the one who structured the Church to function that way.

[mnn727]

I always had the belief that you should never turn down a calling, since the calling was inspired by the Lord.

 Some are Inspiration, some are Desperation.

 

 

The only callings I have turned down are in Primary -- I'd have the kids crying after 10 minutes.

As I approach retirement age, me and little kids are not a good mix.

Edited September 10, 2014 by mnn727

[Jeanne]

There are those that not only want to do a calling well, but want to be exceptional.  Some people are ingrained with perfectionalism and who would not want to do a good job for their Heavenly Father?  I believe a calling should also be fun and enjoyable/

[Rain]

I think all of us know people who burnout in the Church and one reason could be their calling is too demanding, not enough help to do it etc. I was wondering if you accept the Gospel in the next life would you be tested or something with some calling that could make you lose your way? If not then why does God give callings to people he can see stumble and fall away and others don't have any callings and not tested by it.  Let's face it some members don't make it easier on others. Me Mum laments sometimes she worked with a RS Pres years ago who had them all handwrite invites to various conferences (this was before copiers) but this lady thought a handwritten invite meant more then some carbon copy one and so my Mom and others spent hours and hours writing out these invites to all the Stake RS Sisters...and she still talks about it today!!! Where is the fairness if he gives some callings and others not?

 

If that were to happen to me on a regular basis I would say no and quote President Uchtdorf to back up my reasons, "Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade potholders for each member of your class may not be.".  It's too bad he didn't quote that in conference for her while she was in.   

I always had the belief that you should never turn down a calling, since the calling was inspired by the Lord.

 

 

 

I've been called 4 times and not served.  One of those times I turned it down.  I felt it wasn't right for me.  My DH felt it wasn't right. 

 

Three times I I didn't turn it down.  The first time I humbled myself.  I waited for an answer and felt I should accept.  DH had to tell the bishopric because it was too hard for me.  They decided I shouldn't have the calling.  The second time I prayed about it.  Felt it really wasn't a calling that I felt right about, but I didn't feel wrong about it either.  I  went with the idea of not being commanded in all things and accepted, but had a hard time with it.  The bishopric decided it wasn't for me.  The third time I prayed and waited and prayed and waited.  For weeks.  I struggled with it.  I cried over it.  Finally I decided I should take it.  I finally felt good about it.  We drove into the parking lot the day I was to be sustained and emotionally it just slammed into me.  The opening song was "I'll go where you want me to go." I cried through it.  Afterwards the bishop took me into his office and told me they had decided that morning the calling wasn't right for me.  

 

Now that you have a novel - the only time I regret not having the calling was when I turned it down.  I should have communicated better with the bishopric/asked them to pray again.   I should have trusted the Lord. 

 

That doesn't mean that there are not others who have legitimate reasons to turn down a calling. It just means I didn't trust the Lord in that instance and should have tried that before turning it down.

 

Bolding is not on purpose here.  I just can't figure out how to get rid of it. Sorry.

[guerreiro9]

I always had the belief that you should never turn down a calling, since the calling was inspired by the Lord.

As someone who has been in several bishoprics I can say not all callings are "uniquely" inspired.

What I mean by that is in most cases there are a number of people who could be called, and the Lord would be equally pleased.

In the same vain at a given moment in time you could be called to one of several open positions and the Lord would be equally pleased.

Occasionally the promptings of the spirit are overwhelmingly strong indicating that a calling should or should not be extended, but this is the minority.

If you don't want to accept a calling let a member of the Bishopric know. It is much better to have someone in a calling they would like to accept.

In most cases you probably think the calling is more inspired than the bishopric does.

-guerreiro9

[Duncan]

 

If that were to happen to me on a regular basis I would say no and quote President Uchtdorf to back up my reasons, "Dedicating some of our time to studying the scriptures or preparing to teach a lesson is a good sacrifice. Spending many hours stitching the title of the lesson into homemade potholders for each member of your class may not be.".  It's too bad he didn't quote that in conference for her while she was in.   

I've been called 4 times and not served.  One of those times I turned it down.  I felt it wasn't right for me.  My DH felt it wasn't right. 

 

Three times I I didn't turn it down.  The first time I humbled myself.  I waited for an answer and felt I should accept.  DH had to tell the bishopric because it was too hard for me.  They decided I shouldn't have the calling.  The second time I prayed about it.  Felt it really wasn't a calling that I felt right about, but I didn't feel wrong about it either.  I  went with the idea of not being commanded in all things and accepted, but had a hard time with it.  The bishopric decided it wasn't for me.  The third time I prayed and waited and prayed and waited.  For weeks.  I struggled with it.  I cried over it.  Finally I decided I should take it.  I finally felt good about it.  We drove into the parking lot the day I was to be sustained and emotionally it just slammed into me.  The opening song was "I'll go where you want me to go." I cried through it.  Afterwards the bishop took me into his office and told me they had decided that morning the calling wasn't right for me.  

 

Now that you have a novel - the only time I regret not having the calling was when I turned it down.  I should have communicated better with the bishopric/asked them to pray again.   I should have trusted the Lord. 

 

That doesn't mean that there are not others who have legitimate reasons to turn down a calling. It just means I didn't trust the Lord in that instance and should have tried that before turning it down.

 

Bolding is not on purpose here.  I just can't figure out how to get rid of it. Sorry.

 

 

 

okay, I LOVE that quotation from Pres. Uchtdorf, do you know where he said it?

[Rain]

Sorry, meant to add the link, but I was having all sorts of problems. You can find it in his "Forget Not" talk here: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2011/11/forget-me-not?lang=eng

It was kind of funny because I was called to the RS committee right after then and I really tried to encourage that kind of thinking. I remember in January suggesting we have a veggie tray because so many work on fitness then and a number of sisters avoid sugar for various reasons throughout the year anyway. The leader jumped in and said we could have both. I suggested per his talk we should keep it simple and have one or the other. Everyone agreed.

Then that evening there was the veggie tray ... and cookies because she thought I "would forget" I was bringing the veggies.

Edited September 11, 2014 by Rain

[CV75]

Can you be a member of the church and not have a calling sometime during your life?

Absolutely--I've fallen through the cracks and enjoyed that time immensely! I was very busy, though--somehow i kept getting assigned to this or that "special project" and substituting in various things, etc.

[CV75]

I was wondering if you accept the Gospel in the next life would you be tested or something with some calling that could make you lose your way?

I think so. But I don't think He tests us in this life or the next intending that we lose our way, but that we develop faith in Him. If we do lose our way, there is repentance for the accountable (for as long as mercy is extended; or in other words, as long as the probation is still active) and grace for the not-accountable.