Calling Confidential

[The Nehor]

7 minutes ago, CV75 said:

The handbook particulars are in place (a) because enough leaders asked the same question; and / or b) enough members have been harmed in the same way.

Incidentally understanding this made reading the missionary handbook much more entertaining. You get to imagine what some missionary did that created each prohibition or explicit instruction.

[bluebell]

3 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Incidentally understanding this made reading the missionary handbook much more entertaining. You get to imagine what some missionary did that created each prohibition or explicit instruction.

We always joked on my mission that the missionary who made the specific rule necessary should have their picture next to it in the white handbook.

[The Nehor]

Happened to a friend of mine. He was in a bishopric and the other counselor was brand new to the ward and the calling. They were choosing a Ward Mission Leader and chose a recent returned missionary who was still a bit on fire from missionary work and was actively involved in the Ward Mission. The new counselor was so new he was not part of the discussions but was asked to extend the calling. He dutifully called the member and set up an appointment to meet the man in his home.

Since he did not know the ward or that the person was supposed to be in his 20s he ended up speaking to the returned missionary’s father (who had the same name) and extended the calling. The man was shocked since he was inactive, had Word of Wisdom issues, and felt totally unprepared. The Spirit hit him hard though and he gave up the Word of Wisdom problem and started attending.

When the counselor reported what had happened and how touched the guy was the Bishop was confused but figured out what happened and was nervous until he got a prompting to let the calling stand and told the counselor to call the son as Assistant Ward Mission Leader and it strengthened their bond until the son left for college a year later. Baptisms skyrocketed.

I wanted to share an uplifting story where the human bumbling of leadership seems divinely inspired in hindsight. Sometimes our human ineptitude is a good thing.

[The Nehor]

8 minutes ago, bluebell said:

We always joked on my mission that the missionary who made the specific rule necessary should have their picture next to it in the white handbook.

 

[Rain]

52 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Happened to a friend of mine. He was in a bishopric and the other counselor was brand new to the ward and the calling. They were choosing a Ward Mission Leader and chose a recent returned missionary who was still a bit on fire from missionary work and was actively involved in the Ward Mission. The new counselor was so new he was not part of the discussions but was asked to extend the calling. He dutifully called the member and set up an appointment to meet the man in his home.

Since he did not know the ward or that the person was supposed to be in his 20s he ended up speaking to the returned missionary’s father (who had the same name) and extended the calling. The man was shocked since he was inactive, had Word of Wisdom issues, and felt totally unprepared. The Spirit hit him hard though and he gave up the Word of Wisdom problem and started attending.

When the counselor reported what had happened and how touched the guy was the Bishop was confused but figured out what happened and was nervous until he got a prompting to let the calling stand and told the counselor to call the son as Assistant Ward Mission Leader and it strengthened their bond until the son left for college a year later. Baptisms skyrocketed.

I wanted to share an uplifting story where the human bumbling of leadership seems divinely inspired in hindsight. Sometimes our human ineptitude is a good thing.

Years ago I told the ward mission leader about the husband of a friend.  Told him that the man was not ready, but that we would see how things go.  A couple of months later I was surprised to find out the man was getting baptized.  What shocked me was when the ward mission leader stood up and talked about the inspiration of Sister Rain telling him he should send the missionaries to this man! 

[CV75]

2 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Incidentally understanding this made reading the missionary handbook much more entertaining. You get to imagine what some missionary did that created each prohibition or explicit instruction.

Ha ha and some still go ahead and do it anyway... 

[The Nehor]

59 minutes ago, CV75 said:

Ha ha and some still go ahead and do it anyway... 

The account of David eating the shewbread is the best missionary justifying scripture ever. If you are on the Lord’s errand you can bend the rules.

Also the white handbook being flexible and the gospel involving symbolism. You can bend the white handbook which suggests you can bend the rules within. If the rules were meant to be inflexible it would have been a hardback book.