What are your thoughts on the reasons why members of the Church are called to specific callings, why mistakes are made, and judging the Church based on the merits of those who perform these callings.

[waveslider]

I was discussing callings because I was recently called to a new calling, which I have done three different times in the past. I was hoping it wasn't because I am good at the calling from past experience. I asked the counselor, who called me, if he was sure that the Lord had inspired the decision. He told me that my name kept coming up because I was the best one at this calling and there were too many problems that weren't being taken care of properly since I had been released a year ago. I told him that I only wanted to do this if it was the Lord's will because I am still really burned out on that calling. I accepted when he reassured me that it was indeed an inspired decision. My understanding is that we are called to things not because we are experts in any particular calling, but rather because we are going to grow as we magnify in these callings. It was a good discussion because the person I was talking to went inactive for a long time because she thought that the leaders should be doing a better job of things, since the church is true. I am now on a mission to find out what else I am supposed to learn from all of this.

So what are your thoughts on this subject?

[The Nehor]

I have been in many bishopric meetings where people are called. Sometimes we would discuss several names and choose one and feel inspired about it. The Bishop would always make sure no one had any reservations (both practical or feeling a spiritual prompting) before proceeding. Sometimes there are several people who could have the calling and God just validates that the one we choose is one of them. Sometimes odd names pop out or someone (usually the bishop) comes up with an out of the blue calling suggestion that just feels perfect that we would never have thought of.

I am sure the process is slightly different depending on the bishop but I suspect most are inspired.

[ksfisher]

Perhaps if you were to focus less on how the calling affects you and more on how you can bless the lives of those you serve it would help you understand why you have been called again.

Edited July 15, 2016 by ksfisher

[James Tunney]

I think a lot of callings are a result of who the higher ups know. I grew up in a ward that had several 70s and apostles over the years and so it wasn't surprising to me when half the ward were called as mission presidents. It's also not surprising that there are a lot of familial relationships among the Q12/FP with past leaders. You call who you know already. You call people to callings that you know people can handle, especially if it's a calling that no one else wants.

[Calm]

JT, do you believe there is any actual inspiration at all?

[Traela]

Did you ask The Lord yourself if you are supposed to have that calling?  You are allowed to do that.

 

[ladyshanae]

I've talked too many current and former bishops about this very recently because I was really upset about being released from a calling I'd been in for barely a year and called to one I've now had 5 times.  They all said the same thing: Sometimes it's inspiration, sometimes it's desperation. 

My current bishop did say something that I loved and have oft repeated: You should sacrifice for your calling but you shouldn't suffer for it. 

[Stargazer]

Having served in a bishopric for several years, as the clerk, and as a branch president myself for one year, I can say that my experience was that most callings seem to be inspired, but there are a few others which seem to come because it was known that a particular person was ideal.  A few years ago, a sister who had had past difficulty as a RS counselor was called by the new bishop to be the RS president.  The new bishop hadn't been in the ward when she previously served in the RS presidency (and she had asked to be released), so didn't know the history of the calling.  I was surprised at the calling, but this sister has turned out to be an exemplary RS leader.  I believe that the Lord had been preparing her all this time, and when the time came, the bishop was inspired to call her.

When I was the branch president of a small serviceman's branch in Europe, we called a sister to be the Primary President.  Given that we had a lot of little children, this was no unimportant calling.  She was disbelieving when I issued the call, and asked me if the call was from the Lord or if we had flipped coin or something.  I told her that I felt it was the Lord who was calling her, but if she had any doubt about that to pray about it.  She did, and accepted the calling.  Truth was, there weren't many sisters in the branch anyway, so the argument could possibly be made that we didn't have much of a choice.  But we did have a choice.  There were four or five sisters who we thought could handle the calling, but this sister stood out when it came to praying about it.  I didn't expect that the Lord would issue thunder and lightning over it, but He did provide a still, small voice.  And it worked out well.

This is why I tend to trust the issuing of callings.  The process seems to allow the maximum amount of likelihood that the Lord is behind it.

[Rain]

I think callings come for different reasons:

1. Inspiration that the calling needs a specific person

2. Inspiration that the person needs the calling

3. It doesn't  matter who it is, just that someone needs to be there - and we don't  need to be commanded in all things. 

4. The leader, needing to learn something, is inspired to ask for someone,  but the call is wrong. (I was in this position. The Lord felt I needed to be humbled by me asking for her. The bishopric said no.)

5. The leader is inspired to ask someone, the call is wrong,  but the person being called had a need/solution that came from being asked - it woke the person up, the person needed to discuss something wih the bishop etc.

6. Sometimes mistakes happen because we are not perfect. 

There may be more. 

Edited July 15, 2016 by Rain

[BCSpace]

I believe that using one's God-given brain to make decisions is the same as using the Spirit.  D&C 93:36 etc.  When one is properly attuned to God, the mind is cleared, quickened, and expanded, super-charging our intelligence and becoming more receptive to what God puts there.

So if I recognize that a person teaches lessons well and brings the Spirit, then by golly, I'm calling that person to be a gospel doctrine teacher unless God puts it into my mind otherwise.

If I recognize a dedicated person who is good with the young men, then by golly, I'm calling that person to be the Young Men's president unless God puts it into my mind otherwise.

If I recognize a good sister who is spiritual, busy, organized, can juggle many things, and respected by all, then by golly, I'm calling that sister to be the Relief Society President unless God puts it into my mind otherwise.

If you gave a talk just last Sunday and God puts it into my mind that you should speak again this Sunday, then by golly, I'm calling you to speak again this Sunday.

Capiche?

Edited July 15, 2016 by BCSpace
Addendum

[rongo]

What an important topic! 

Brigham Young, who is my favorite prophet (Joseph Smith being in his own category), had two insights about revelation with a special bearing on callings and other things that are very important to us, personally.

If I do not know the will of my Father, and what He requires of me in a certain transaction, if I ask Him to give me wisdom concerning any requirement in life, or in regard to my own course, or that of my friends, my family, my children, or those that I preside over, and get no answer from Him, and then do the very best that my judgment will teach me, He is bound to own and honor that transaction, and He will do so. (February 17, 1856. Journal of Discourses 3:205)

It is only when experience fails that revelation is necessary. (April 6, 1853. Journal of Discourses 2:32. Said as part of his remarks at the southeast cornerstone of the Salt Lake temple, after the First Presidency and the Patriarch had laid the stone).

Both of these are very true in my experience, and crucial for members to understand. I'm in my second go-around as a bishop, and I served as a bishopric counselor in two prior bishoprics. I don't like it when people ask "Did you pray about this?" or "Did you receive inspiration?" when they are extended a calling. In my experience, members who say this are not happy about the calling, and that's why they say it (granted, most are willing to accept it in the end, but they use this passive/aggressive way of gently registering their protest). 

That said, I have had people decline callings, and I have "pulled out of the dive" myself when discussion about the calling and circumstances reveals that it would be best not to go forward with the calling. I've had a member of the 70 tell me, proudly, that he has never had a person decline a calling while a bishop, stake president, or general authority. Where people declined or expressed concerns, he played the "this is like it's being extended by Jesus himself" card. I don't like that. In my book, we extend callings to people who have agency, and I respect their agency (I really respect it, which means that I continue to respect them when they exercise it contrary to what is convenient for me in managing callings). I have learned of genuine concerns and circumstances that I feel counseling together with them has yielded further light on the matter, and I don't regard it as being a "bad member" per se if a calling is declined or concerns are expressed.

What I get out of Brigham Young's statements above (and my own experience) is:

1) God doesn't always give us revelation. Even when we are worthy, and even when we really need it. In his wisdom, it is better for us to not have our prayers always instantly answered (or sometimes, answered at all). We grow through the total experience of positive and negative --- and sometimes no --- revelation.

2) If we earnestly seek for revelation for important things (in this discussion: callings), and he doesn't give it (and my experience is that this happens, and that it is wisdom in God that it is this way), then we use our heart and our mind and do the best we can. And God will "own and honor" that. In my experience, many/some experiences with callings are in this category.  Regardless of whether or not the bishop's inspiration meets the standard of the person being extended the calling, it is being extended through the priesthood keys for that ward. 

3) Further, as Brigham Young said above, "it is only when experience fails that revelation is necessary." For many, many callings, experience and knowledge are sufficient. The demand that each and every calling have a back-of-the-Ensign story attached to the inspiration for the calling is inappropriate and unrealistic. 

4) Personally, I don't leave people in callings longer than 18 months (sometimes, when people are really, really happy and really, really good in primary callings, I leave them in longer). This especially includes presidencies. And, I try more so than most, I think, to not simply rotate "the usual suspects" (the handful of most competent, strong people) among the various presidencies (RS, YW, P / YM, EQ). My "obvious presidency material" is largely in primary (I try to put my absolutely best people in primary). This means that a lot of different people have had or will have the opportunity to be in leadership, instead of just "the usual suspects." All of this is my personal "studying it out in my mind" outline, but revelation trumps it sometimes. And thank God for that!  

5) I am very sympathetic to people who have had a certain calling lots of times before, and are asked to do it again. I have changed my callings based on frank discussion about this with the person ("pulling out of the dive"). For some reason, many people do not want to be in nursery (and have been in it many times, including recently). To me, this is a valid factor to consider, and may be subject to change. I hope I get called into nursery when I'm done!

6) I also take very seriously the revelation/attempts at revelation for my presidents. We recently released our young women's presidency and called a new president. She submitted her proposed counselors and presidency members, and on paper it could not have been a worse list for a number of reasons. She was very sincere and discussed her thought process and attempts at revelation. As we discussed as a bishopric, my counselors had serious concerns --- especially with the group as a whole or as a unit. As we prayed about it, and had a second discussion with her, we felt to move forward with it except for one recommended replacement. The sisters and their husbands were very excited, and I'm excited to see what happens in the next year and a half with this presidency! It is not a presidency I am likely to have picked myself, and many of these sisters will now have an opportunity they would not have otherwise had. I'm grateful for the counsel we received in this process, and for the experience of the process itself.

7) Sometimes, powerful revelation comes, and it is unmistakable. It is not on demand, though. In my previous ward, we were nearing the point where we were going to release our Relief Society president. She had been in for around a year and a half, and was nearing her delivery date in her pregnancy. During sacrament meeting, I had a strong feeling in sacrament meeting that a young sister (25 years old, mother of two young children) should be the next RS president. When this clear thought occurred to me, I instantly had several counter-thoughts about why the idea was ridiculous. She was so young, she was a convert of just a few years, she and her husband had recently emerged from a two-year period of inactivity, she had strong liberal political views much different from my own, etc. As these thoughts came to me, a very forceful thought pressed itself into my mind: "Yes. Her."  I was struck by how forceful and powerful the thought was. The feeling was so different from my own thoughts, that it was almost like hearing the words spoken. I then imagined what things would be like, what she would do, if she was the RS president, and a very peaceful feeling came over me. Hard to put into words, but much more than a "peaceful, easy feeling." It was as if the veil were parted, and I could see what would happen --- all of it good. I shared my experience with my counselors, and we prayed about it and agreed to consider it longer. As the next week went by, every time I thought about it, I had the same feeling of peace, and this gave me absolute confidence to move forward with it. We released the presidency, called the sister (she was quite surprised, but did a good job of submitting a presidency). That Sunday, the outgoing president was in the hospital with her baby clinging to life, so she wasn't there for the release in front of the congregation. The timing was perfect, given the months of worry and hospital procedures that followed. And, the new presidency did an excellent job and served well. 

8 ) Rain reminded me of something that isn't common, but still happens: sometimes, callings may not work out well for the ward or organization or the person himself, but can be instrumental for the person at the same time. I have a brother in our ward who transgressed as a prominent priesthood leader. He and his wife recently found out via a letter to the stake president that reinstatement will require First Presidency approval, and that they won't consider it for a minimum of five years. They are devastated, and struggling with it. I met with the sister recently, and in the course of our discussion, shared that I think that he was called into his position to bring about the full repentance process. He previously had not been honest with her or with other priesthood leaders, but his calling put things in motion that brought things to a head, and while it's painful and long process, he is finally fully resolving things. And this would not have happened if he had not been in his position. 

I believe it is possible that sometimes God's reason for why people are in a certain calling is to help them or others make the personal growth they need to make. This can look to us outwardly as a really bad choice or a botched calling. 

These are some thoughts that I have on this . . .

[waveslider]

I wasn't protesting by asking if he was sure about the inspiration, not by any means. I just wasn't feeling it at all, at the moment, but rather kind of like I do when I want to get up in Fast and Testimony meeting, but feel restrained to allow others the opportunity to bare theirs. I'm not saying they weren't inspired, I only asked if he was sure of that inspiration because I still kind of felt like surely someone else could use the growth that I had the privilege of receiving already from that calling. After all I didn't start out being the best one at that calling, that mastery only came with my growth within that calling.

When he said yes, I readily accepted without a second thought. When I prayed about it, I got nothing one way or the other, only that it doesn't matter if it was inspired, or not. God knew that this would happen and there is going to be only His good that comes out of it so it doesn't matter if he fully directed it or just allowed it to happen. It's not up to me to be the judge anyway. Since I have the calling I am just going to find out what else it is that I'm supposed to learn from it, as I have served in this capacity with well over four years of experience, much of which while I was still acting as Executive Secretary. It's nothing new to me to have long, or even multiple callings in this ward though. I was a Ward Missionary for almost nine years as well, often times with one or more callings at the same time. I remember teaching Elders Quorum, and then became Executive Secretary, at the same time I was still an active Ward Missionary. I finally had to tell them I needed to be released from the others because being the Secretary was overwhelming enough, all this as I was a single parent. I'm not complaining at all, but I really have a hard time thinking that every calling was always inspired as much as given out of convenience, with the Spirit just saying alright you can use that person if you want. At any rate I have grown in each of those callings, and somehow managed to raise my kids well enough through it all. I'm looking forward to what miracles may happen as a result of taking it on again, even though I have no clue as to what direction they will take me.

At the very least I was able to help my friend realize that most of the time the Lord calls people to callings that aren't good at them, on purpose, to allow for them to grow into them. Often times He doesn't call the qualified, but qualifies the person called. She now at least sees how there can be mistakes in church leadership positions, all while the church is trulhy being led by Christ himself. So that was the first good thing that came out of this calling.... talking about it to help someone else reactivate more strongly in spite of human errors.

 

Edited July 15, 2016 by waveslider
Up too late and needed to delete redundant wording

[CV75]

12 hours ago, waveslider said:

I was discussing callings because I was recently called to a new calling, which I have done three different times in the past. I was hoping it wasn't because I am good at the calling from past experience. I asked the counselor, who called me, if he was sure that the Lord had inspired the decision. He told me that my name kept coming up because I was the best one at this calling and there were too many problems that weren't being taken care of properly since I had been released a year ago. I told him that I only wanted to do this if it was the Lord's will because I am still really burned out on that calling. I accepted when he reassured me that it was indeed an inspired decision. My understanding is that we are called to things not because we are experts in any particular calling, but rather because we are going to grow as we magnify in these callings. It was a good discussion because the person I was talking to went inactive for a long time because she thought that the leaders should be doing a better job of things, since the church is true. I am now on a mission to find out what else I am supposed to learn from all of this.

So what are your thoughts on this subject?

We are called for so many reasons they cannot be numbered (and sometimes we are experts, and sometimes we're incompetent). The important thing is that one way or another, the call comes from God, and one way or another He is watching out for you.

[hope_for_things]

13 hours ago, waveslider said:

I was discussing callings because I was recently called to a new calling, which I have done three different times in the past. I was hoping it wasn't because I am good at the calling from past experience. I asked the counselor, who called me, if he was sure that the Lord had inspired the decision. He told me that my name kept coming up because I was the best one at this calling and there were too many problems that weren't being taken care of properly since I had been released a year ago. I told him that I only wanted to do this if it was the Lord's will because I am still really burned out on that calling. I accepted when he reassured me that it was indeed an inspired decision. My understanding is that we are called to things not because we are experts in any particular calling, but rather because we are going to grow as we magnify in these callings. It was a good discussion because the person I was talking to went inactive for a long time because she thought that the leaders should be doing a better job of things, since the church is true. I am now on a mission to find out what else I am supposed to learn from all of this.

So what are your thoughts on this subject?

Whenever humans are involved, things get messy.  If inspiration and revelation were infallible enterprises, then we'd be set.  Doesn't matter if your leader thinks he/she was inspired or not, you can't separate the human from the equation.  

My advice is to learn to trust your own inspiration as well.  I still remember the extreme angst I felt when I declined my first calling.  I had to talk to my parents, multiple friends, prayed, went to the temple, etc.  I felt it wasn't the right calling for multiple reasons, and I told the Bishop no after a lot of sincere heartache.  

[bluebell]

12 hours ago, waveslider said:

I was discussing callings because I was recently called to a new calling, which I have done three different times in the past. I was hoping it wasn't because I am good at the calling from past experience. I asked the counselor, who called me, if he was sure that the Lord had inspired the decision. He told me that my name kept coming up because I was the best one at this calling and there were too many problems that weren't being taken care of properly since I had been released a year ago. I told him that I only wanted to do this if it was the Lord's will because I am still really burned out on that calling. I accepted when he reassured me that it was indeed an inspired decision. My understanding is that we are called to things not because we are experts in any particular calling, but rather because we are going to grow as we magnify in these callings. It was a good discussion because the person I was talking to went inactive for a long time because she thought that the leaders should be doing a better job of things, since the church is true. I am now on a mission to find out what else I am supposed to learn from all of this.

So what are your thoughts on this subject?

I think we are called to do things for all sorts of reasons and not just because we will grow (though hopefully that happen).  I think sometimes the Lord calls the person He can count on to do what He needs done.  Other times, I think He calls someone because they are willing to do whatever is needed and that calling is what's needed at that time.  Sometimes i think he calls us to things as a test-a 'give you some rope and hope you don't hang yourself' kind of thing.

But i understand being burned out on something and wanting to make sure that the Lord was behind a calling and not just desperation.

[stemelbow]

I've never been able to take myself seriously enough to think God in His infinite wisdom, reached down to the bishop to call me, in particular, to be the ward greeter, for instance.  When I get callings I do my best to fulfill it because that's the society we live in--Church works best when we do it.  I owe it to others.  I could get tons of learning out of doing any calling, no calling, not going to the Church, and tons of other things.  I don't need a calling.  And God doesn't need me doing anything. 

The other thing that bothers me is the destiny of calling certain dudes in leadership.  "I know now he was meant to be called as my bishop..." kind of stuff.  If any of the other dudes in the ward were so called, someone is going to have that type of epiphany.  I just can't imagine God is tedious enough to stick His hand in every single calling offered in the Church.  People are called because they'll be fine--that's from the toppest of the top leaders (president Monson) on down.  I happen to think there are tons of people in the Church who could be sitting in President Monson's spot and would execute as well or better. 

[rpn]

It is important for each member to receive their own spiritual confirmation that Heavenly Father wants them to serve in a specific position: they will if it was inspired.

IME, there are some times when God needs a certain person in a certain calling at a certain time.  And when that is true, He does whatever it takes to get a listening leader to make that call.  (But, yes, sometimes leaders don't listen, and even for a long time.)

IME, it is unheard of for a leader to get inspiration that someone absolutely must not be called to whatever position the leaders are considering.  I've wondered why He doesn't prevent people who are going to harm others from being put in positions with vulnerable people.   But since I know for certain by personal experience that He absolutely does keep doing things to get leaders to choose specific people at specific times, and I know that sometimes people in church callings  do things that any reasonable mortal would prevent if they knew it was going to happen, there must be a reason of some kind that He doesn't prevent leaders from issuing callings that put others at risk, that is as yet unfathomable to me.

But most of the time, any number of willing members can do a particular calling.  And many willing members can grow and become "better" in the process.    In these cases, different people in a council might at first make differing suggestions of who might be called, but ultimately God will ratify whatever choice is made.   And when the member prays about it, s/he too will receive confirmation that it is right.

I've been in circumstances where leaders gave little thought to who God wants because the congregation has a need and few to fill it, or sometimes because they simply didn't have the vision of what ward members could become rather than what they were presently, or had some class or other bias.    Music callings are often in this category, specific home and vting assignments might be.  Even the cliques where the same people rotate all the "important" callings.    And it sounds like in your case, that position is.  

If you are really not  getting confirmation that you should serve, why don't you agree to take it if they will give you an assistant to train and release you when that person knows has demonstrated that they can do what your bishop now thinks you are the only one who can.  Or maybe you agree that if they call someone else, you will train them until they can do the job.

(Of course you could also take the calling, and do your personal best, as a sacrifice to God, even though you think the leaders are screwing up and uninspired.)

[gopher]

I've also attended countless meetings where callings where discussed (stake presidency, high council, and bishopric).  The discussions are very open and frank, with the opinions of the clerks and secretaries even solicited.  I've never seen a calling extended without everyone in complete agreement.  I've seen callings held up until everyone was on board.

Sometimes inspiration is needed.  I know a Bishop who was called for a newly formed ward where he didn't know any of the members.  The first year he was able to fill all the callings as the most of the names came to him through revelation.  However, the next year when he needed to make changes, he didn't receive the revelation as he did previously.  He discussed this with the stake president who told him he was expected to know his members well enough after a year to extend callings without needing each one revealed to him.

[stemelbow]

11 minutes ago, gopher said:

I've also attended countless meetings where callings where discussed (stake presidency, high council, and bishopric).  The discussions are very open and frank, with the opinions of the clerks and secretaries even solicited.  I've never seen a calling extended without everyone in complete agreement.  I've seen callings held up until everyone was on board.

Sometimes inspiration is needed.  I know a Bishop who was called for a newly formed ward where he didn't know any of the members.  The first year he was able to fill all the callings as the most of the names came to him through revelation.  However, the next year when he needed to make changes, he didn't receive the revelation as he did previously.  He discussed this with the stake president who told him he was expected to know his members well enough after a year to extend callings without needing each one revealed to him.

It's kind of an odd mindset we have.

So the callers think about names, pray about it and decide on one.  That one is then taken to God.  The calling is made and the person fulfills it or not, feels like it was good for him or not, but we continually with any evidence we can squeeze out of it say, "I know I was called by God through revelation, because..."  When that which happened could have happened in another calling, something could have been learned, or someone else might have done it as well or better, and might have learned some more valuable if he/she was called, or whatever.  We feel ourselves with confirmation bias and tell ourselves over and over again that God's doing all of this.  eh...whatever. 

[Rain]

I just received a new calling on Sunday. Wolf leader. 

Years ago I was called to that as well.  At that time it felt so wrong.  I prayed about it.  I had my husband pray as well because I was really bothered about possibly turning it down.  I finally did turn it down,  but with experience since then, I wish I would have gone about it in a different way. 

A week or so ago I started to feel I would get a new calling. That it would come from the primary.  I asked myself how I felt about it.  In the past I have really struggled with primary callings.  A LOT. But this time I felt ok with it.  Not peaceful really.  Just ok. I did find it kind of funny that it was the one calling I had turned down - wolf leader. 

I don't necessarily feel the call was inspired. I feel I have the skills for it.  I have the reliability for it.  My gut feeling is that this calling just needed someone who would do it and I was willing.  

I have no feelings this was an inspired calling and I'm ok with that. My feelings that I would be getting the calling are separate from that.  I just needed some time to reflect on how I would feel about a calling in the primary. Really just Heavenly Father letting me know an invitation was coming rather than that the calling was inspired.

It's interesting to me.  I have had callings I felt were inspired, but in some ways this isn't any different.  It's hard to explain,  mostly because this is the first calling I've had where I really feel the calling just needed someone and I was available. I think it is because now that I have it, then how I work it is the same as if an angel had come down and told the primary president and bishop I was the one.  At this point it doesn't matter if the calling was inspired or not. 

Edited July 15, 2016 by Rain

[Jeanne]

When I was called for a position in the RS, the Bishop let me know that I was the RS President's choice. How does this work?  Was I called to a position because I was God's choice, the RS President's choice or the Bishop?  Does input from others make a difference on whether it is a calling from God?

[stemelbow]

14 minutes ago, Rain said:

I just received a new calling on Sunday. Wolf leader. 

Years ago I was called to that as well.  At that time it felt so wrong.  I prayed about it.  I had my husband pray as well because I was really bothered about possibly turning it down.  I finally did turn it down,  but with experience since then, I wish I would have gone about it in a different way. 

A week or so ago I started to feel I would get a new calling. That it would come from the primary.  I asked myself how I felt about it.  In the past I have really struggled with primary callings.  A LOT. But this time I felt ok with it.  Not peaceful really.  Just ok. I did find it kind of funny that it was the one calling I had turned down. 

I don't necessarily feel the call was inspired. I feel I have the skills for it.  I have the reliability for it.  My gut feeling is that this calling just needed someone who would do it and I was willing.  

I have no feelings this was the inspired calling and I'm ok with that. My feelings that I would be getting the calling are separate from that.  I just needed some time to reflect on how I would feel about a calling in the primary. Really just Heavenly Father letting me know an invitation was coming rather than that the calling was inspired.

It's interesting to me.  I have had callings I felt were inspired, but in some ways this isn't any different.  It's hard to explain,  mostly because this is the first calling I've had where I really feel the calling just needed someone and I was available. I think it is because now that I have it, then how I work it is the same as if an angel had come down and told the primary president and bishop I was the one.  At this point it doesn't matter if the calling was inspired or not. 

Callings like wolf leader, often get extended to about 10 people before someone accepts or even feels like they have the time and ability to accept.  I wouldn't doubt it at all if they needed you to fill a spot because no one else would or could. 

[Rain]

10 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

When I was called for a position in the RS, the Bishop let me know that I was the RS President's choice. How does this work?  Was I called to a position because I was God's choice, the RS President's choice or the Bishop?  Does input from others make a difference on whether it is a calling from God?

You may be overthinking this. You would have to ask what he meant by that to get those answers.  I can see a whole lot of things he meant by that which would change the answers to your questions. 

[smac97]

14 hours ago, waveslider said:

I was discussing callings because I was recently called to a new calling, which I have done three different times in the past. I was hoping it wasn't because I am good at the calling from past experience. I asked the counselor, who called me, if he was sure that the Lord had inspired the decision. He told me that my name kept coming up because I was the best one at this calling and there were too many problems that weren't being taken care of properly since I had been released a year ago. I told him that I only wanted to do this if it was the Lord's will because I am still really burned out on that calling. I accepted when he reassured me that it was indeed an inspired decision. My understanding is that we are called to things not because we are experts in any particular calling, but rather because we are going to grow as we magnify in these callings. It was a good discussion because the person I was talking to went inactive for a long time because she thought that the leaders should be doing a better job of things, since the church is true. I am now on a mission to find out what else I am supposed to learn from all of this.

So what are your thoughts on this subject?

A few thoughts:

First, there are some passages in the Doctrine & Covenants that, to me, indicate that the Lord gives His servants latitude and discretion in taking a particular course of action.  See, for example, D&C 75 (instructions to missionaries, and also to the Church re: supporting the families of missionaries sent out to the world) (emphasis added):

Quote

 25 Wherefore, I, the Lord, give unto you this commandment, that ye obtain places for your families, inasmuch as your brethren are willing to open their hearts.

 26 And let all such as can obtain places for their families, and support of the church for them, not fail to go into the world, whether to the east or to the west, or to the north, or to the south.

Similarly "loose" or "discretionary" instructions are in D&C 80 (emphasis added):

Quote

 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servant Stephen Burnett: Go ye, go ye into the world and preach the gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of your voice.

 2 And inasmuch as you desire a companion, I will give unto you my servant Eden Smith.

 3 Wherefore, go ye and preach my gospel, whether to the north or to the south, to the east or to the west, it mattereth not, for ye cannot go amiss.

 4 Therefore, declare the things which ye have heard, and verily believe, and know to be true.

I think there are times when a bishop can have several viable, yes-the-Lord-is-good-with-that options to fill a particular calling in his ward.  That's not to say that the Spirit is not part of the process, but rather that that Spirit may approve of several different courses of action, because there are times when a bishop "cannot go amiss."

Second, there are also times when a bishop (and his counselors) are constrained by the Spirit to call a specific person to a specific calling.

Third, bishops (and their counselors) can be susceptible to issuing a calling without (sufficient) guidance from the Spirit.  They are human.  They can make mistakes.  They can make decisions without fully ascertaining the mind and will of the Lord on the matter.  That's not to say they are operating in bad faith or anything, but rather that there are times when exigent circumstances trigger a hastier-than-it-should-have-been decision to issue a calling.  Or maybe they just did not give the matter sufficient consideration and prayer.  This is, I think, perhaps one of the key roles that a bishop's counselors are supposed to play.  They are to "counsel" when needed, not merely to rubberstamp the bishop's decision.  Indeed, this is one of the things that make the councils in the Church so important. 

Fourth, given the foregoing possibility, we are each of us entitled - and I think expected and required - to seek confirmation from the Spirit about a calling that may not feel right.  Some folks are ready, willing and able to serve in pretty much any calling anywhere because owing to their circumstances in the moment they "cannot go amiss."  But we need to be reasonable about such things.  There are times when we can "go amiss."  There are times when a calling may be too much of an undue, running-faster-than-you-have-strength burden, or otherwise not the right fit.  If that is a possibility, it is incumbent upon us to seek spiritual guidance for ourselves (we're entitled to it), and to counsel with the bishop.

Fifth, service in the Church is not always going to be easy.  Some callings are rather demanding.  In most instances, they should not consistently hinder a person's substantive time with family, or their work (bishops and RS presidents are the most susceptible to such things, IMO).  But the Lord expects us to put our hand to the plow, to labor in our callings.  That's the gig.  We should do such things "in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength."  But we should do them.  "Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills and flourish."

Thanks,

-Smac

 

Edited July 15, 2016 by smac97

[gopher]

50 minutes ago, stemelbow said:

It's kind of an odd mindset we have.

So the callers think about names, pray about it and decide on one.  That one is then taken to God.  The calling is made and the person fulfills it or not, feels like it was good for him or not, but we continually with any evidence we can squeeze out of it say, "I know I was called by God through revelation, because..."  When that which happened could have happened in another calling, something could have been learned, or someone else might have done it as well or better, and might have learned some more valuable if he/she was called, or whatever.  We feel ourselves with confirmation bias and tell ourselves over and over again that God's doing all of this.  eh...whatever. 

I just see it as people trying to find something positive, uplifting, and satisfying in our callings.  Some callings stink and require much more effort to find any value.  Other callings can truly change us.  Teaching 7 year old Primary kids was one of the best callings I've had.  Preparing them for baptism was a great experience.  But I think I understand what you are saying.