Vocations in the LDS Church

[rpn]

Oh, I think there are some members who do choose an area of interest in their service to God. Maybe they teach in primary, they sign up for everything scouts, become expert in family history or preparedness or the go to people for homemaking arts. And others decide to do little in the church but are actively involved in civic affairs or run for office, serving God in more public ways, without representing the church at all, but rather their personal way of living their faith.

Personally, I don't see any way to beat a church organization in which leaders are trained to and do seek to administer all affairs not on behalf of the church, but in accordance with the will of God Himself, whom they believe called them to do so. Taking authority because one feels to do something isn't likely to be as effective generally, as seeking to do what He wants us to do, having entrusted us specifically including giving the keys to do it by blessing will be.

[MiserereNobis]

7 hours ago, rpn said:

Personally, I don't see any way to beat a church organization in which leaders are trained to and do seek to administer all affairs not on behalf of the church, but in accordance with the will of God Himself, whom they believe called them to do so. Taking authority because one feels to do something isn't likely to be as effective generally, as seeking to do what He wants us to do, having entrusted us specifically including giving the keys to do it by blessing will be.

I absolutely agree with you on this and this is what the Catholic Church teaches, too.  Anyone who chooses a vocation because they want it and not because God called them to it is not acting in accordance to Catholic teaching.  The whole point of discerning vocations in Catholicism is to discern what God wants us to do with our individual unique lives.  Then, as 3DOP emphasized, that discernment (if it for a religious or ordained vocation) must be confirmed by someone in authority.

I wanted to clarify this because one possible reading of your post is that what you said is somehow unique to Mormonism, when in fact Catholics would agree with you, too.

[Mormons Talk]

On 2/24/2017 at 11:57 AM, MiserereNobis said:

Now, my question is, is there something similar in Mormonism? 

I don't think there is, but I think people ought to find their own vocation and run with it.

[Tacenda]

On 2/24/2017 at 7:12 PM, The Nehor said:

I was on my mission there when the Preston Temple was dedicated. Stayed in those accommodations during the Open House. I really should go back and visit soon. Maybe show up at one of those and meet someone.  

My husband's sister and brother-in-law are temple workers at this temple, they are soon going to be finished with this 18 month mission.

[RevTestament]

In the LDS Church there are essentially no paid spiritual vocations with the exception of the general authorities and mission presidents. The paid vocations have to do with services and professions like lawyers and accountants. There are a few paid janitors or other service and managerical jobs.

[Mormons Talk]

8 hours ago, RevTestament said:

In the LDS Church there are essentially no paid spiritual vocations with the exception of the general authorities and mission presidents. The paid vocations have to do with services and professions like lawyers and accountants. There are a few paid janitors or other service and managerical jobs.

Exactly. That's what I meant when i talked about finding your vocation - choosing whether you wanted to be an accountant or a janitor.  

[Paloma]

Very interesting topic!

As a Protestant (or, as an Anabaptist which some would say is neither Catholic nor Protestant), I'm thinking of applications of this conversation in my own life.

Early in my adult life, my husband and I were missionaries in Africa for almost 15 years.  Before being accepted by the interdenominational faith mission with which we served, we needed to give evidence of our having been "called" to this missionary vocation.

Another way of understanding the importance of ministry 'vocation' that I see in my own spiritual life involves discerning my spiritual gifts and operating out of this awareness and discernment.  A number of Protestant groups and individual believers use the voluntary and very helpful tool of Spiritual Gifts studies to understand how they can best discover who God made them to be and how they can best serve God, their own spiritual community and the wider world.  Some Christians decry spiritual gifts studies thinking that they tend to limit people rather than free people to operate out of their God-given strengths, and that could be the case when improperly used.  Such studies aren't meant to narrowly define or to limit, but to bring focus and discernment to believers as they live out their lives in personal faith and ministry.

I"m finding that, more and more, Protestants are seeing the benefit of contemplative devotion and spiritual practices.  We've been hugely enriched by discovering Ignatian, Franciscan and Benedictine spirituality.  And by more modern Catholic writers/practitioners such as Henri Nouwen and Jean Vanier.  There is now an emphasis on Spiritual Direction in our theological colleges and seminaries that wasn't there in previous generations.  I know a number of Protestant believers who have Spiritual directors.  Twice a year we have something called A Retreat in Daily Life (for one intensive week, or over 4 - 6 weeks), whereby participants are given guided studies and are under the care of a spiritual director (in a one on one relationship) during that time.   I myself have been meeting with a group of 8 women once a month, for 11 years now, where we share each others' spiritual life journeys in terms of how we understand God speaking to us, deepening our relationship with Him, and using us in ministry.

Please forgive me for bringing my own perspective into this, as I know the thread is intended to explore and compare Catholic and Mormon faith traditions.  I hope you don't mind a brief peek into my alternative experience and thoughts.

 

 

[Mormons Talk]

1 hour ago, Paloma said:

Very interesting topic!

As a Protestant (or, as an Anabaptist which some would say is neither Catholic nor Protestant), I'm thinking of applications of this conversation in my own life.

Early in my adult life, my husband and I were missionaries in Africa for almost 15 years.  Before being accepted by the interdenominational faith mission with which we served, we needed to give evidence of our having been "called" to this missionary vocation.

Another way of understanding the importance of ministry 'vocation' that I see in my own spiritual life involves discerning my spiritual gifts and operating out of this awareness and discernment.  A number of Protestant groups and individual believers use the voluntary and very helpful tool of Spiritual Gifts studies to understand how they can best discover who God made them to be and how they can best serve God, their own spiritual community and the wider world.  Some Christians decry spiritual gifts studies thinking that they tend to limit people rather than free people to operate out of their God-given strengths, and that could be the case when improperly used.  Such studies aren't meant to narrowly define or to limit, but to bring focus and discernment to believers as they live out their lives in personal faith and ministry.

I"m finding that, more and more, Protestants are seeing the benefit of contemplative devotion and spiritual practices.  We've been hugely enriched by discovering Ignatian, Franciscan and Benedictine spirituality.  And by more modern Catholic writers/practitioners such as Henri Nouwen and Jean Vanier.  There is now an emphasis on Spiritual Direction in our theological colleges and seminaries that wasn't there in previous generations.  I know a number of Protestant believers who have Spiritual directors.  Twice a year we have something called A Retreat in Daily Life (for one intensive week, or over 4 - 6 weeks), whereby participants are given guided studies and are under the care of a spiritual director (in a one on one relationship) during that time.   I myself have been meeting with a group of 8 women once a month, for 11 years now, where we share each others' spiritual life journeys in terms of how we understand God speaking to us, deepening our relationship with Him, and using us in ministry.

Please forgive me for bringing my own perspective into this, as I know the thread is intended to explore and compare Catholic and Mormon faith traditions.  I hope you don't mind a brief peek into my alternative experience and thoughts.

 

 

What an inspiring act of service - 15 years!  May God bless you. Thank you for your example.