Turning down a General Authority calling?

[Duncan]

Do you think they are people who have turned down being called to be a General Authority? as in say Pres. Hinckley or Pres. Kimball or whoever extended the call to someone and they um, no thanks

[Calm]

Yes.  There may be very good reasons (usually family needs) why they would have to turn it down.

[Hamba Tuhan]

It's not the same thing, but my mission president had twice declined a call to serve in that role before he accepted it the third time. He said his wife's health had been his main consideration.

[Robert F. Smith]

2 minutes ago, Duncan said:

Do you think they are people who have turned down being called to be a General Authority? as in say Pres. Hinckley or Pres. Kimball or whoever extended the call to someone and they um, no thanks

Perhaps, but they wouldn't be saying "no thanks," but rather turning the call down out of a deep fear of the immense responsibility.  A humble man might very well think himself unqualified or unworthy.  He might have to be convinced, the one making the call advising him to fast and pray about it.  Most of those called have already been in the thick of it, and have proven themselves in many different circumstances, so most would likely accept the call from God as an obligation which must be met, no matter what.  His new Brethren would be very kind to him at the outset, introducing him to his duties here a little, there a little, and training him as best they can.

[Marginal Gains]

Wouldn’t deeming yourself worthy of being called as a General Authority be considered the sin of pride or a lack of humility?

[CV75]

8 hours ago, Duncan said:

Do you think they are people who have turned down being called to be a General Authority? as in say Pres. Hinckley or Pres. Kimball or whoever extended the call to someone and they um, no thanks

I do it all the time -- keeps everyone on their toes!

[Robert F. Smith]

18 hours ago, Duncan said:

Do you think they are people who have turned down being called to be a General Authority? .................................

There was a specific instance in which the Savior called someone to discipleship, and got turned down.  That may have meant a call to be a member of the Twelve, but we don't know that (Matt 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-23).  In that case, it was the rich young man who said:

Quote

"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good -- except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

 

 

Edited January 31, 2018 by Robert F. Smith

[Duncan]

7 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said:

There was a specific instance in which the Savior called someone to discipleship, and got turned down.  That may have meant a call to be a member of the Twelve, but we don't know that (Matt 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, Luke 18:18-23).  In that case, it was the rich young man who said:

 

 

oh, that's interesting! never thought of that!

[Guest]

22 hours ago, Duncan said:

Do you think they are people who have turned down being called to be a General Authority? as in say Pres. Hinckley or Pres. Kimball or whoever extended the call to someone and they um, no thanks

I don't know if I would call it "common", but I am sure it happens. Some because they do not feel worthy, and others because they have different plans for their lives. I know for a fact callings have been issued on the regional and Stake lever, where such callings has be declined, because of those called have unresolved issues, and others who wish to follow others life goals. I have none both, who have told me so. It is important to note as well, it is not a draft.   

[mfbukowski]

18 hours ago, Marginal Gains said:

Wouldn’t deeming yourself worthy of being called as a General Authority be considered the sin of pride or a lack of humility?

So you think accepting a call is a sin?

Where do you get this stuff?

[Duncan]

1 hour ago, Bill "Papa" Lee said:

I don't know if I would call it "common", but I am sure it happens. Some because they do not feel worthy, and others because they have different plans for their lives. I know for a fact callings have been issued on the regional and Stake lever, where such callings has be declined, because of those called have unresolved issues, and others who wish to follow others life goals. I have none both, who have told me so. It is important to note as well, it is not a draft.   

I heard of a Patriarch in Europe who essentially got released after a year or so, he apparently never gave any blessings because he didn't think he could do it and so i'm sure his leaders worked with him but after so much time they have to make a call and they released him and got someone else

[Hamba Tuhan]

1 hour ago, Duncan said:

I heard of a Patriarch in Europe who essentially got released after a year or so ...

Patriarch is an ordination, not a calling. No release. It is possible that a second patriarch was called. We currently have two in our ward, one active and one 'emeritus'.

[Duncan]

7 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Patriarch is an ordination, not a calling. No release. It is possible that a second patriarch was called. We currently have two in our ward, one active and one 'emeritus'.

I found the reference "I do remember once a patriarch I met in Europe in a serviceman’s stake, who had been in office for almost a year and who had not yet given a blessing, and who was later released having never given a blessing—not for unworthiness, but just honestly for a lack of faith that he could lay his hands on someone’s head and speak the words that God would speak"

https://www.ldsbc.edu/devotionals-archive/1071-strive-to-have-companionship-of-the-spirit.html

we have two in our Stake as well, one is totally inactive in the Church but the other is active!

[The Nehor]

On 1/31/2018 at 3:43 AM, Marginal Gains said:

Wouldn’t deeming yourself worthy of being called as a General Authority be considered the sin of pride or a lack of humility?

No more than considering yourself worthy to enter the temple or confidence in exaltation.

[rockpond]

My parents have been called into positions by President Uchtdorf on two different occasions and I can share what I learned from them...

In both interviews, he spent significant time asking about their family members.  I gather from this that if there are good reasons to turn down such a call -- family circumstances are high on that list.  My parents expressed concern about one particular family member and President Uchtdorf told them to have her come meet with him "anytime".

In extending their last call, he referred to it as "culminating".  My mom is holding tight to that particular word in the belief that this will be their last call to serve outside of their local ward and stake.  I know she'll be tempted to say "no" to anything else but I doubt she would.

Edited February 1, 2018 by rockpond

[Duncan]

11 minutes ago, rockpond said:

My parents have been called into positions by President Uchtdorf on two different occasions and I can share what I learned from them...

In both interviews, he spent significant time asking about their family members.  I gather from this that if there are good reasons to turn down such a call -- family circumstances are high on that list.  My parents expressed concern about one particular family member and President Uchtdorf told them to have her come meet with him "anytime".

In extending their last call, he referred to it as "culminating".  My mom is holding tight to that particular word in the belief that this will be their last call to serve outside of their local ward and stake.  I know she'll be tempted to say "no" to anything else but I doubt she would.

that's interesting,I was reading last night about a man in the 60's who was considered for a Mission President calling but he couldn't get the time off work so they never extended the calling but if he could get it then he suspects maybe they would have 

[Jeanne]

I have seen their job...I wouldn't want it..

[Bernard Gui]

Is it common for members to share their experiences with declining callings? Or those giving callings to publicly out those who decline?

[Marginal Gains]

On 01/02/2018 at 3:55 AM, mfbukowski said:

So you think accepting a call is a sin?

Where do you get this stuff?

I was asking a question, the clue was the question mark at the end of the sentence.

I think accepting a call as an Apostle might be deemed intrinsically prideful. After all, what kind of person would consider themselves meriting a calling as an Apostle?

[rongo]

1 hour ago, Marginal Gains said:

I was asking a question, the clue was the question mark at the end of the sentence.

I think accepting a call as an Apostle might be deemed intrinsically prideful. After all, what kind of person would consider themselves meriting a calling as an Apostle?

Why would accepting it be prideful? It often happens that people are floored by callings and feel themselves unworthy and inadequate, but how can accepting the calling in faith possibly be construed as prideful? 

It seems like you automatically assume an attitude of "Hmmm. Now *that's* more like it!" to those called as apostles. 

[cinepro]

On 1/30/2018 at 8:52 PM, Duncan said:

Do you think they are people who have turned down being called to be a General Authority? as in say Pres. Hinckley or Pres. Kimball or whoever extended the call to someone and they um, no thanks

There is a very rigorous interview process before being called as a GA (hours-long phone interviews, in-person interviews with member of the FP), so I'm pretty sure they try to make sure the people are on-board (and free of extenuating circumstances) before actually extending the call.  Calls for Mission Presidents might have a little less investigation.

[Stargazer]

8 hours ago, Marginal Gains said:

I was asking a question, the clue was the question mark at the end of the sentence.

I think accepting a call as an Apostle might be deemed intrinsically prideful. After all, what kind of person would consider themselves meriting a calling as an Apostle?

That's a very interesting principle you have going there!  Anyone who would consider accepting a call to be an Apostle is unworthy of the office?  This means that no-one should be able to accept such a call, and therefore the Quorum of the Twelve should ideally be entirely empty of Apostles?  What about the person making such a call?  If no one can accept a call to the Apostleship because to do so is prideful, then making such a call is intrinsically a recognition and accusation that the callee is unacceptably prideful, since only a prideful person could accept such a call, and there would be no point of issuing such a call unless the expectation was that the call would be accepted.

So, Christ issued calls to fill the Twelve because He believed everyone one of them, from Peter on down to Judas were intrinsically prideful?  Because surely he expected that they would accept the call.

 

[Teancum]

On 1/30/2018 at 11:52 PM, Duncan said:

Do you think they are people who have turned down being called to be a General Authority? as in say Pres. Hinckley or Pres. Kimball or whoever extended the call to someone and they um, no thanks

A close friend of mine got a call for a Skype interview with then Elder Nelson.  It was an interview to discuss his and his wife's ability and status both from a worthiness standpoint and a financial standpoint to serve as a mission president.  

My friend and his wife were fine on the worthiness issues.  Not so much on the financial side and they stated as such.  They both figured that was that and no call would come.

But not so.  About six weeks later President Eyring's office set another Skype call and called them to be MPs of a mission in South America.

They accepted and served.

Nice outcome is it did not harm them financially as much as they thought.  I could explain more but want to be vague to protect anonymity.  

 

[Calm]

17 hours ago, Marginal Gains said:

I was asking a question, the clue was the question mark at the end of the sentence.

I think accepting a call as an Apostle might be deemed intrinsically prideful. After all, what kind of person would consider themselves meriting a calling as an Apostle?

You sound like you see an Apostle as some almost superhuman individual.

Why would it be any more prideful to accept a calling as an Apostle than it would be to be a bishop or to think one is worthy to enter the temple?

Or even be a parent?  No one deserves to have that life and death, molding of their innocent minds power/responsibility.

Edited February 15, 2018 by Calm

[churchistrue]

I turned down a scoutmaster calling once. So yeah.