Avatar4321 Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 Taught the elders quorum lesson a few weeks ago and there is a line that is still sticking out to me.If you want to get the spirit of your office and calling … try fasting for a period. I don’t mean just missing one meal, then eating twice as much the next meal. I mean really fasting, and praying during that period. It will do more to give you the real spirit of your office and calling and permit the Spirit to operate through you than anything I know.What does it mean to get the Spirit of your office and calling? What is president Benson trying to teach us?
rpn Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 That members sometimes, with the best of intentions, use their secular skills in a calling, without seeking and using the power that comes from God. When that happens, the results might be as good, but is likely not to be as effective or longlasting. 1
Kenngo1969 Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 To make what rpn said a little more explicit, to get "the spirit of your office and calling" involves getting The Spirit, getting the heck out of the way, and letting that Spirit work through you in whatever duties you're asked to perform in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, rather than trying to perform the duties of "your office and calling" by your own devices.
janderich Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 Each person has a unique role in God's divine plan. We have specific purposes to fulfill and specific people to help. In our best moments we will recognize the Lord leading and guiding our path, moment by moment and person by person. This is the spirit leading us forward and giving us direction. But, sometimes we begin to focus on the material side of our service. In such a state our role begins to seem heavy, our service insignificant. In this frame of mind we will find our self having to push our way forward. Every activity will seem a chore. If we find ourselves in this state we must reach back to the Lord and find his hand again. The Savior spoke of such a moment. After talking to the woman at the well his disciples urged him to eat, "But he said unto them, 'I have meat to eat that ye know not of.' Therefore said the disciples one to another, 'Hath any man brought him ought to eat?' Jesus saith unto them, 'My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work'" (John 4:31-34). Just as with the master, our service can become the meat that sustains us. 1
mfbukowski Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 (edited) Taught the elders quorum lesson a few weeks ago and there is a line that is still sticking out to me.What does it mean to get the Spirit of your office and calling? What is president Benson trying to teach us?To not use old fashioned phrases that confuse people nowadays?I think certainly not that there are certain spirits of callings floating around that need to possess us.More like get into the right way of thinking about your calling. Study it out, pray, and do your best. Edited July 2, 2015 by mfbukowski
KevinG Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 Having often found myself in over my head in callings and work, one of my favorite prayers is "Father help me!" Being more proactive and fasting and praying prior to being in crisis would fall under the category of "getting into the spirit of my calling". 1
Avatar4321 Posted July 3, 2015 Author Posted July 3, 2015 Follow up:Are office and calling different in this usage?Is calling as in a calling or as in our calling and election?
Avatar4321 Posted July 3, 2015 Author Posted July 3, 2015 While I was pondering this my mind kept going to the new testament when the disciples tried to rebuke an evil spirit and failed."And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? 29 And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Mark 9:28-29) 30
mfbukowski Posted July 3, 2015 Posted July 3, 2015 Follow up:Are office and calling different in this usage?Is calling as in a calling or as in our calling and election?In my opinion, no not different. Calling as in calling. But the other sense is related- more of a question of degree. One is a microcosm of the other. Small steps lead to big ones. Line by line and all that
mfbukowski Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I have prayed to understand my callings before and it helped immeasurably. Is that what you are asking?
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