Callings aren't linear? Are they quantum or linear or neither?

[nuclearfuels]

So I'd appreciate a little illumination on this...

Callings aren't linear like each brother in the Church does not need to move from one calling to another such as: Elders quorum presidency, Young men's president, bishopric, stake presidency, mission presidency, Temple presidency, Area Authority, General Authority, Member of the Twelve, First Presidency, etc. right?  Each sister doesn't need to progress from Primary to RS to stake primary to stake Primary and so forth, right?  Following such a procession of callings does not demonstrate an increasing testimony nor acceptance of the gospel (which I love) anymore than say a random assortment of callings, right?

If so, would it not stand to reason then that in our post-mortal life that we may each progress on infinitely different paths of eternal progression?  Would it not stand to reason that each of us followed an infinitely different path of premortal progression?  

If so, how did we each end up at the same exact event: birth, death, eternal progression to godhood, etc. and God still be a God of order and not confusion?

On the other hand Satan proposed the plan where everyone does exactly the same thing, never varying, leading us to a progression-less mortality and post-mortality so of course we can't all proceed in callings in a prescribed order.

Since the gospel is true would it not behoove some of us to move to areas further out from large cities to serve in leadership positions in smaller branches that are short on priesthood? I've heard that some GA's regret that so many highly educated people live in UT instead of moving out and "lengthening they cords and strengthen thy stakes."  If callings aren't linear, it does not truly behoove us to become unemplyed to strengthen a struggling branch...but if the gospel is true and it is, why would anythign else matter if we had sufficent faith?

[Kenngo1969]

I've read your opening post twice now, and I still can't make much sense of it. Simple minds, I guess.  I'll venture a reply based on what I think you're trying to say: Although I don't think He's a micromanager, God has a way of putting us where He needs us, when He needs us there.  I think people should, subject to confirmation by the Holy Spirit where applicable (I once heard a counselor in a stake presidency describe four potential answers to prayer: "Yes," "No," "Not yet," and "What do you think?" And President Brigham Young taught that if we seek Heaven's inspiration, yet we receive no discernible answer as to what course we should pursue, but we come to the best decision possible with the tools and information available to us, God is bound to honor that choice) move for the usual reasons that people tend to move (job, family, budget, et cetera), and the whole "Yes-but-where-does-God-want-me?" thing will take care of itself.

Now, having said that, are there reasons having to do with Church callings why plans to move tend to fall into place (or not)?  Yes.  Many years ago, my brother and his wife were trying to sell their house.  It was on the market for some time, yet they had no offers.  I told him, "Thomas, you know, maybe there's a reason you haven't been able to sell your house."  And he said, "I know, we've been thinking that, too."  Shortly after that, he was called into a bishopric, then as a bishop, then as a stake president.  So, yes, that does happen, but it's probably less the rule than it is the exception.

P.S.: Do you think that someone who is released as a stake president one week and is called as a primary worker in his ward the next somehow has displeased God?  I don't think that's the way He works.

Edited February 16, 2017 by Kenngo1969

[Robert F. Smith]

I don't know about Quantum applications, but callings are not linear.

[Meadowchik]

So in other words, you're asking that while we are asked to give so much in the Church why dont leaders call well-qualified members to migrate to struggling, more remote units? Or why doesn't it just happen through the Spirit, maybe?

[cdowis]

In my understanding of your question, it is quantum == stake president is released and called as primary music leader.  Challenges different aspects of his character and presents new learning experiences.

Linear would be a calling as an area authority, etc.

[Jeanne]

16 hours ago, nuclearfuels said:

So I'd appreciate a little illumination on this...

Callings aren't linear like each brother in the Church does not need to move from one calling to another such as: Elders quorum presidency, Young men's president, bishopric, stake presidency, mission presidency, Temple presidency, Area Authority, General Authority, Member of the Twelve, First Presidency, etc. right?  Each sister doesn't need to progress from Primary to RS to stake primary to stake Primary and so forth, right?  Following such a procession of callings does not demonstrate an increasing testimony nor acceptance of the gospel (which I love) anymore than say a random assortment of callings, right?

If so, would it not stand to reason then that in our post-mortal life that we may each progress on infinitely different paths of eternal progression?  Would it not stand to reason that each of us followed an infinitely different path of premortal progression?  

If so, how did we each end up at the same exact event: birth, death, eternal progression to godhood, etc. and God still be a God of order and not confusion?

On the other hand Satan proposed the plan where everyone does exactly the same thing, never varying, leading us to a progression-less mortality and post-mortality so of course we can't all proceed in callings in a prescribed order.

Since the gospel is true would it not behoove some of us to move to areas further out from large cities to serve in leadership positions in smaller branches that are short on priesthood? I've heard that some GA's regret that so many highly educated people live in UT instead of moving out and "lengthening they cords and strengthen thy stakes."  If callings aren't linear, it does not truly behoove us to become unemplyed to strengthen a struggling branch...but if the gospel is true and it is, why would anythign else matter if we had sufficent faith?

Wow...I have never thought of this..will be reading here on this thread!  To me, these are good questions.

[Stargazer]

On 2/15/2017 at 5:28 PM, nuclearfuels said:

So I'd appreciate a little illumination on this...

Callings aren't linear like each brother in the Church does not need to move from one calling to another such as: Elders quorum presidency, Young men's president, bishopric, stake presidency, mission presidency, Temple presidency, Area Authority, General Authority, Member of the Twelve, First Presidency, etc. right?  Each sister doesn't need to progress from Primary to RS to stake primary to stake Primary and so forth, right?  Following such a procession of callings does not demonstrate an increasing testimony nor acceptance of the gospel (which I love) anymore than say a random assortment of callings, right?

If so, would it not stand to reason then that in our post-mortal life that we may each progress on infinitely different paths of eternal progression?  Would it not stand to reason that each of us followed an infinitely different path of premortal progression?  

If so, how did we each end up at the same exact event: birth, death, eternal progression to godhood, etc. and God still be a God of order and not confusion?

On the other hand Satan proposed the plan where everyone does exactly the same thing, never varying, leading us to a progression-less mortality and post-mortality so of course we can't all proceed in callings in a prescribed order.

Since the gospel is true would it not behoove some of us to move to areas further out from large cities to serve in leadership positions in smaller branches that are short on priesthood? I've heard that some GA's regret that so many highly educated people live in UT instead of moving out and "lengthening they cords and strengthen thy stakes."  If callings aren't linear, it does not truly behoove us to become unemplyed to strengthen a struggling branch...but if the gospel is true and it is, why would anythign else matter if we had sufficent faith?

This is kind of amusing.

No of course there's no cursum honorum in the Church.  A priesthood holder can go from Sunday School teacher to Stake President.  If that's what the Lord wants.

As for moving out and into less dense LDS areas, I didn't live in a very dense LDS area in Washington state, but it appeared that the Lord wanted me to go elsewhere, and when it was my wife's time to depart for the spirit world, He sent me a wife from Britain, and I'm in the process of taking up permanent residence there now.  I moved from a town which had its own stake, and 200+ attendees at sacrament meeting, to a place where the typical ward has about 100 or less at sacrament, and the stake is spread over four or five hundred square miles.  I had managed to stay in the background, so to speak, with teaching and administrative callings (like ***'t clerk) for decades.  Now suddenly I'm in a priesthood leadership calling.  I'm kind of out of my depth, but if that's what the Lord wants, then I will do my best to be about His business.

On the other hand, to compare even a high leadership position on earth with what the Father does is like comparing a ripple in a bathtub to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.  It isn't that the Lord is training us for leadership in the eternities, because we can't possibly learn what we need to know here, no matter where He calls us.  This is Parable of the Talents.  The question in His mind is this: Will you be faithful and endure to the end?  Will you take what He gives you and do the best you can?  That's the question.  WHATEVER IT IS, WILL YOU BE FAITHFUL?  

When you read in DC 76 about those who enter into the Celestial Kingdom, i.e. verses 50-70, there is no mention whatsoever of any offices or responsibilities that might qualify anyone for that kingdom.  

 

[Kenngo1969]

Quote

Since the gospel is true would it not behoove some of us to move to areas further out from large cities to serve in leadership positions in smaller branches that are short on priesthood? 

Actually, that happens more often than you might think, when senior missionaries are called on missions.

Also, don't forget Paul's teaching to the Corinthians (in One Corinthians, as President Trump likes to call it.  I hear his favorite book, though, is Two Corinthians, as in, "Two Corinthians walk into a bar ..." )  Where was I?  Oh. First Corinthians, Chapter 12:

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12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one abody, whether we be Jews or bGentiles, whether we be cbond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the ahead to the feet, I have no need of you.

 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be amore feeble, are necessary:

 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2017 by Kenngo1969
Added scripture