Tag: callings

Categories
life

New Calling

The vast majority of those reading this probably already knew this, but I was recently called to be the Elder’s Quorum President in my ward. I’ve known for a couple of weeks as I had to have time to identify the rest of the presidency and get them called but I did not want to announce it here before it was official (which happened yesterday but I was slow to sit down to write about it) despite the fact that the chances of anyone within the ward reading this before it became public were extremely slim.

The day I was called was exceptionally exciting for me because I have so much respect for my stake president, President Taylor. To have the opportunity to sit with him and answer questions of worthiness and talk about spiritual things from the ward conference we had just had was thrilling. In the few minutes that we had before Laura joined the interview he learned that Laura had missed the stake conference where he was called as Stake President and President Eyring taught about the principle of gathering as well as missing the ward conference two weeks before our interview where President Taylor told of his experience when he was called and felt impressed that gathering was the message for our stake. When President Taylor learned that he volunteered to come to our house and teach our family personally that afternoon. We had been praying for President Taylor, Bishop Tueller, and the First Presidency and Apostles as a family ever since the ward conference (due to an impression I had felt at that meeting) and the children knew each of the people they were praying for except for President Taylor either because they had met them (Bishop) or through their pictures. They enjoyed meeting him so that they knew who they were praying for and Laura and I felt so much love as he taught us about gathering and actually gave us a copy of the talk he had been giving at ward conferences on the subject. What a great way to start our relationship with him as I will have more dealings with him through this calling than I could expect to have without it.

Anyway, I’m very excited to have this opportunity to serve. I have a great presidency with Wes Austin, Jon Nieman, and Alex Monson. Best of all I have an amazing quorum and get to work with a Bishop and Stake President that I really admire. Ever since I was first called I have begun to have greater feelings of respect and concern for the men in the quorum and I’m happy to be in a position where I will have the information which will enable me to reach out and help them in any way that they need it.

Categories
life

Walking Blind

I spent much of last night awake and thinking about my current situation. It is not the unemployed factor that I was considering, but the repeated bouts of frustration and hope. Each time I get an interview I hope something will come of it. Each time I hit a roadblock I just want to give up in the search. In the back of my mind is the omnipresent desire to be in a situation where employment was optional so that I could focus my time on just helping anywhere that I could be useful.

As I thought last night I began to wonder if I should be more focused on humbling myself so that I could accept whatever the Lord has in store. Another option might be that I need to be more humble so that I can hear the will of the Lord and follow Him. Right now I feel as if I am being tossed about. I hope for every possibility because I don’t know what the Lord desires for me with regard to employment. Neither do I know what lesson He may have in mind for me to learn from my unemployment.

Categories
life

Stake Conference

Sitting through meeting for stake conference has left me reflective. Our stake was split today and I realized that Laura and I have moved into this stake twice and had temple recommends twice from the same counselor in the stake presidency, who is now the president of the new stake which does not include our current residence, but it does cover where we lived the first time we moved into the stake.

None of that is of any great importance.

I have also been reflecting on some other insights into myself which have left me questioning. As I sat through the priesthood leadership meeting I found it amazing at the questions that some people have about proper church operations. Upon reflection I have realized that I have spent a lifetime observing and taking mental notes as to the proper organization and management of the church. I have been blessed to serve as a secretary in two bishoprics and serve as an ordinance worker in the Provo Temple. These callings have given me opportunities to observe the management of the Lord’s kingdom on earth in such a way as to afford observation of some details which would never be visible to someone who had not been in those positions.

I reflect that in addition to those wonderful opportunities to observe the order that the Lord wants for His church, I have also spent many years trying to cultivate in myself (and teach to others where appropriate) a proper and complete understanding of the doctrines of the gospel. That will always be a work in progress, but I believe that with the progress I have made so far I have built a firm foundation. If that were not enough I have also been blessed to “be able to have an understanding concerning the great latter day work.”

When considering all these factors I am left to wonder – why? It would seem that I have never been in a position to put this compilation of observation and understanding to any use in the work of the Lord. Not only that, but I do not seem to be on any track that would lead to being able to make use of any of it. This is not a matter of discontent. I would willingly continue doing the things I am currently called to do, but I just wonder at the fact that what I am called to do does not seem to make any use of the lessons that I have been taught thus far in my life. When will my previous lessons be brought to bear in the work that the Lord gives to me?