Duncan Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do?
carbon dioxide Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 The Lord is merciful to us that he is not going to give exaltation to only a few people who fulfilled the hardest callings the best. He simply wants us to do the best we can in whatever calling we have. We should be all thankful for that. The exaltation that awaits a righteous primary teacher who does their calling is the same exaltation that an apostle will get who does their calling well. We are not in competition with other saints. We are simply competing against ourselves 1
JAHS Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Parable of the talents - Matt 25: 21) If we faithfully do our best to serve others with the talents that the Lord has given us we will have a greater reward and joy in heaven. So, like they say, it's not where you serve, but how you serve 3
JLHPROF Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 33 minutes ago, Duncan said: I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do? We don't get to heaven because we have a specific position here. But there is a direct relation between our exaltation and how much we are willing to give to God in whatever he calls us to do or go through. 4
The Nehor Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 43 minutes ago, Duncan said: I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do? The meaning behind that is it does not matter what your calling is. It does matter how you do it. Being a Bishop will not get you into heaven but being a shoddy Bishop (or shoddy Assistant Hymnbook Coordinator) might keep you out. 1
Meadowchik Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 I think it goes back to attitude. What direction are we going? What faith are we proofing and testing? Are we loving? 2
Bobbieaware Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 8 hours ago, Duncan said: I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do? I think what the expression means is just because someone is called to be a bishop (for instance) that doesn't mean he is any more likely to to obtain celestial glory than, say, a primary teacher who has a strong testimony and serves faithfully. So it's not the supposed "importance" of a calling that makes one a saint but strength of testimony and living faith in the Lord, regardless of calling.
rpn Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 (edited) "What ere thou art, act well thy part." It isn't where you serve, but how you serve wherever you are--- both in calling and skill set, says a lot about your discipleship. Edited May 12, 2016 by rpn
CV75 Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 10 hours ago, Duncan said: I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do? We don't get into heaven by the calling itself, but by what we do in the calling -- the relationship between faith, works and grace. This relationship has to also play out in every other thing we do and circumstance in which we find ourselves. 1
stemelbow Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 How we perform in our callings seems to matter very little eternally speaking. I think we have them so we learn to love and serve others. But, doing them often just serves ourselves I've noticed. Somehow, somewhere along the way these callings are there in order to keep us busy doing useless time wasting things, or provide tasks designed to get others to notice us so we can "progress" onto greater callings, thus holding greater honor and standing in the Church. There's far more we can do in the world than keeping ourselves busy "serving" ourselves. No doubt many LDS get that, but there seems to be a pretty significant sized group who don't. 1
salgare Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 11 hours ago, Duncan said: I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do? A rewards based on works religion is broken ... The Christians keep telling you that. Of course the apologist will say it ain't so, but funny how, just like this OP, its a question always on a Mormons mind ... Am I worthy of fill in the blank , hmm I need to work harder.
Gray Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 A lot of callings don't seem to have a great deal of meaning. Some are of course very important. But I think of primary importance is how we treat each other, and not so much at how good of an activities coordinator we are. 3
salgare Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 I wonder if God punishes Primary Children instructors for doing an excellent job of indoctrinating little girls and boys with a worldview that chain them down from receiving a fullness of what they were born into this life to become?
rongo Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 One emphasis of Elder Oaks through the years (I first heard it from him at a regional conference in Germany in 1995, but he's said it often since then) is that what we do or don't do, and how we do and don't do it, determine whether we make it to the terrestrial or telestial kingdoms. Making it to the celestial kingdom, on the other hand, is determined by what we ARE --- what we've become. Are we celestial? Applying that, I would say that dropping the ball in callings, and many other things, make it crystal clear to God, angels, and ourselves, what we are. Are we celestial people, or something less? It's like the red herring of the "faith vs. works" argument. It's incorrect to see it as a clipboard with checklists, but if you do or don't do certain things, you demonstrate through your choices and actions exactly who you are. With respect to position or calling, anyone who magnifies their "lower" calling is in a better position than someone in a "higher" calling who doesn't magnify his. The parables of the talents, the laborers in the vineyard, etc. are insightful in this regard. 2
Storm Rider Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 11 hours ago, Duncan said: I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do? Duncan, did you ever hear about the parable of the widow who gave two mites?
JAHS Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 27 minutes ago, rongo said: One emphasis of Elder Oaks through the years (I first heard it from him at a regional conference in Germany in 1995, but he's said it often since then) is that what we do or don't do, and how we do and don't do it, determine whether we make it to the terrestrial or telestial kingdoms. Making it to the celestial kingdom, on the other hand, is determined by what we ARE --- what we've become. Are we celestial? Applying that, I would say that dropping the ball in callings, and many other things, make it crystal clear to God, angels, and ourselves, what we are. Are we celestial people, or something less? It's like the red herring of the "faith vs. works" argument. It's incorrect to see it as a clipboard with checklists, but if you do or don't do certain things, you demonstrate through your choices and actions exactly who you are. With respect to position or calling, anyone who magnifies their "lower" calling is in a better position than someone in a "higher" calling who doesn't magnify his. The parables of the talents, the laborers in the vineyard, etc. are insightful in this regard. Apostle Dallin H. Oaks: "From such teachings we conclude that the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become." (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” New Era, Aug. 2002, 12) 3
Jeanne Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 I have a hard time now understanding being "set apart" for a position. As if I was really being called by God and felt that way. When I gave 100% and then some to my calling in RS, so many women were angry at me. I have never been satisfied with a calling since I was president over the youth many moons ago. I am embarrassed now because I took it way too seriously and let pride take so much priority in it. Get this, I had a youth testimony meeting called on a Sunday evening because we had lost a sixteen year old in a head on collusion. I did this without Priesthood involved. The meeting was beautiful...but I got in so much trouble!!!
Duncan Posted May 12, 2016 Author Posted May 12, 2016 2 hours ago, Storm Rider said: Duncan, did you ever hear about the parable of the widow who gave two mites? mites? are those like ticks or something? never heard of that parable!
Bobbieaware Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 2 hours ago, salgare said: I wonder if God punishes Primary Children instructors for doing an excellent job of indoctrinating little girls and boys with a worldview that chain them down from receiving a fullness of what they were born into this life to become? In the LDS religion, the fulness of what little girls and boys born into this world can become is infinite and eternal queens and kings, goddesses and gods. But I would imagine in the atheistic worldview the ultimate destiny of little girls and boys is to live lives of no eternal significance and then become mouldering corpses that will eventually disintegrate into dust -- nothing lost, nothing gained. 1
Storm Rider Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 24 minutes ago, Duncan said: mites? are those like ticks or something? never heard of that parable! 1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. Luke 21:1-4 1
toon Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 4 hours ago, salgare said: A rewards based on works religion is broken ... The Christians keep telling you that. Of course the apologist will say it ain't so, but funny how, just like this OP, its a question always on a Mormons mind ... Am I worthy of fill in the blank , hmm I need to work harder. When you have a largely volunteer based organization, seems like guilt (or something less than exaltation) is the incentive.
jkwilliams Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 16 hours ago, Duncan said: I've heard it said more than a few times that we don't get to heaven by the callings we have. My question is if we don't then does it matter how well we perform them here? if nothing comes from them then why do a good job when a shoddy job will do? If it's done right, it should bless people's lives. If we're serving in hopes of getting something for ourselves out of it, we're doing it wrong, whether it's in the church or not. 1
The Nehor Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 5 hours ago, salgare said: A rewards based on works religion is broken ... The Christians keep telling you that. Of course the apologist will say it ain't so, but funny how, just like this OP, its a question always on a Mormons mind ... Am I worthy of fill in the blank , hmm I need to work harder. I am worthy right now for exaltation (through the atonement of course). Is everyone else really as anxious about these things as you say?
VideoGameJunkie Posted May 12, 2016 Posted May 12, 2016 I've always believed a nursery worker that fulfills their calling and is worthy will get the same exaltation President Monson would get.
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