Service in the church...question

[yorkiebeebs]

When you join the LDS Church do you fill out a questionnaire letting them know where you could best serve or help out?

I've always heard that there are only a few people in the church who are really active (not this church). Sometimes I got the impression that it was a clique situation and that they were threatened to bring more people into the circle.

The LDS Church is organized differently, am I correct? Do you include everyone in serving? If a person has a talent or an interest in a particular area, does your church use them in that area of service?

How would they know unless you tell them?

Do you sit back and wait to be called or do you initiate it?

[pam]

Good questions Yorkie. Moving into new wards the only kind of questionaires I've ever filled out were more geared towards preparedness. If there were an emergency, what are you trained in or have skills in that might be helpful.

As far as callings go, callings are made through inspiration by our local leaders. Many times you see people called to positions and think what? Why in the heck were they called? Not all callings are based on our strengths. Many are given based on our weaknesses to help us build them into strengths.

Not everyone has a calling. Usually our local leaders are very much aware of special circumstances a person may have that prohibits them either physically or mentally to fulfill callings. While being a single mom and working numerous long hours, my Bishop didn't give me a calling because he knew of my limitations with time and my energy. But I was asked to assist with various things as they came up. My talent is music and I was asked sometimes to fill in when a chorister couldn't attend a meeting. I had the opportunity to bring in meals to families when circumstances arose. I could volunteer a couple of hours at the local Bishops storehouse or cannery. Numerous ways to still serve.

Edited July 28, 2010 by pam

[applepansy]

There isn't a questionaire. Sometimes we are called to positions we have no clue about, but we learn and do and gain a new skill. Callings are blessings if we choose to see them as such.

Bishop's are encouraged to give everyone in the ward a calling. Being of service is the best way to feel included and foster a sense of self worth. There are lots of reasons to make service a part of your life in and out of the church. The church does have a large focus on service.

You can initiate a calling. I did... Now I have three callings

[Guest]

  yorkiebeebs said:

When you join the LDS Church do you fill out a questionnaire letting them know where you could best serve or help out?

I've always heard that there are only a few people in the church who are really active (not this church). Sometimes I got the impression that it was a clique situation and that they were threatened to bring more people into the circle.

The LDS Church is organized differently, am I correct? Do you include everyone in serving? If a person has a talent or an interest in a particular area, does your church use them in that area of service?

How would they know unless you tell them?

Do you sit back and wait to be called or do you initiate it?

No. You can get called to do anything even if you don't have the talent for it or you just sit in the back seat quietly. Everybody can get called at any time for anything as long as you have the proper authority - for example, you cannot be called to the Bishopric unless you have the Milchezedek priesthood authority. But everybody can accept or refuse the calling.

For example, my very first calling (one week after baptism) was to teach Relief Society. I've never taught before and I only had a "basic" grasp of LDS principles.

But, that was a time when I grew the most in my learning.

After that, I got called to teach Primary. I didn't have children then and I had no idea how you can teach a 3-year-old about "restoration". But, that was a different learning experience for me too.

It is just like how Moses was called - he didn't feel he had the skills to lead the people out of Egypt but God gave him everything he needed to accomplish it.

Edited July 28, 2010 by anatess

[MarginOfError]

The Church's Membership and Leaders Services (MLS) software actually has a database in which you can track people's interests and hobbies. It is intended to be used to help identify people to give lessons, seminars, etc, but can also be helpful in identifying people with skill sets that may be necessary for certain callings. For instance, when calling a stake technology specialist, it is imperative the the person have familiarity with networking, audiovisual set up, and computers. At the same time, calling someone with very little comfort or talent at teaching children into sunbeams can devastate testimonies.

So yeah, when considering callings, people's interests and skills are weighed. Ideally, however, none are issued until they are confirmed by the Spirit.

My ward used to distribute a survey that asked about these things when new members moved in. Since I've been clerk, I've discontinued that practice--mostly because I"m too lazy to record the data.

[pam]

  MarginOfError said:

The Church's Membership and Leaders Services (MLS) software actually has a database in which you can track people's interests and hobbies. It is intended to be used to help identify people to give lessons, seminars, etc, but can also be helpful in identifying people with skill sets that may be necessary for certain callings. For instance, when calling a stake technology specialist, it is imperative the the person have familiarity with networking, audiovisual set up, and computers. At the same time, calling someone with very little comfort or talent at teaching children into sunbeams can devastate testimonies.

So yeah, when considering callings, people's interests and skills are weighed. Ideally, however, none are issued until they are confirmed by the Spirit.

My ward used to distribute a survey that asked about these things when new members moved in. Since I've been clerk, I've discontinued that practice--mostly because I"m too lazy to record the data.

You must not be the only lazy clerk MOE as I've never been asked any questions other than concerning emergency preparedness. At least that's how it was always presented to me.

[Tarnished]

I have seen a questionare in only one ward that I have been in, that was the first ward I was in as a newlywed. The ward was for married college students and the Bishopric had new members fill out a questionare about their interests and so forth. I put down on mine that I liked to take pictures and they called me as the ward photographer (we often had new members and I had to take their pictures for the ward directory). Most wards though they don't really ask, and often you are called to something you never thought you would be called for. It all works out though, it helps to build your weaknesses into strengths.