Would you asked to be released from a calling?

[pam]

I'd personally believe what the RS President said. I've know a few that thought their calling was equal to the Bishop and they had a right to know everything. Well they aren't and they don't.

[Backroads]

I don't see any reason not to believe what was said. There are nut cases within the church.

[jayanna]

Okay, so maybe you do need to be released, and maybe you were called b/c of that RS pres...something to think about.

I would believe that comments about the RS Pres. b/c I have had experiences similar and worse...I won't say what they are, but it is disturbing. When someone is saying or doing something like that to me, I can only stand there with my mouth hanging open...not thinking of a response until they have walked away and the moment is over. Shocking and disturbing to think that someone in a leadership position can be that wrong, it is much more a problem to me than a sister considering quitting a calling

I have asked to be released before b/c of health issues. It was really hard, but the bishop already felt that I should be released, he said that he knew it would be hard for me to be without a calling and that he had been stalling a little...for about a week...so I told him something he already knew...we were both so relieved and left the meeting feeling much better.

Does your nervousness have something to do with the behaviors of the RS Pres? I mean the reason you are nervous, is it because of the past experiences with the RS pres. or the feeling of something bad going on? Could it be a reaction to a very bad, consistent, persistent, bad spirit in meetings/dealings with her? Talk to the bishop, tell him what's wrong, he can't fix the problem until you present it to him.

I want you to know that you are not alone, the Savior also experienced pain and hardship, and He is with you through this.

[nomtchairs]

What your RS PRes said is shocking and sounds like unrighteous dominion and/or a lack of understanding of her role. As for asking to be released, I'm learning more and more how very important PERSONAL REVELATION is. If you are FEELING you should be released, I find going to the bishop is a time to invite and/or confirm the revelatory process. You know how you have felt. As you take that feeling and talk with him in the spirit of counseling, you invite revelation. You can discuss with him your concerns and feelings and as he listens and you listen you might discover together that it IS time for a release rather than just going in and asking to be released. Then you know it is God's will by the "law of witnesses". We often fall short of utilizing that gift we all have for PERSONAL REVELATION. Going to the bishop with that Personal Revelation gives us that second witness which helps us not feel bad about those feelings.

[ladybelle]

Ask to be released. If you physically are not up to it then you should be released and maybe put into a different calling that will still keep you active in church but not demand so much of your time. Just be honest with your bishop. As for facing your ward, I can understand that it would be hard for people to think horrible things because you asked to be released. But that is between you, the bishop, the relief society president and God. You need to decide what is best for you and your family.

[Guest]

[ladybelle]

I don't understand what makes people in the church feel like they can talk to other people like that!! If your husband has the preisthood and is worthy of it than his blessing is no better than if it were to come from the prophet. And if you had sins to confess, they would be to the bishop not her. And she doesn't release or call people to postions. She can submit names to ba called and then the bishop desides if that is a good choice or not. I can't believe that woman talked to you like that. I would tell the bishop what she said.

[jb789]

She told me that the only reason anyone is ever depressed is because they are doing something bad and feel guilty or they are being abused by their spouse or are fighting with their spouse.

Assuming this actually happened (and I hope it didn't, but I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if it did), this is clearly an incident of gross oversimplification. When I was a teenager I remember thinking a bit along these lines of "if I always do what's right, I'll avoid sorrow, disappointment, hardship, etc..." Of course I quickly saw the un-reality of that! At times the lack of practical sense that people display in religious contexts is quite amazing.

Such an idea, that religion/righteousness can protect us from things such as depression, anxiety, etc, are based in the (often subconscious) childish desire to avoid hardship and pain. As one noted, Jesus himself suffered a great deal, being called "Man of Sorrows"!

I think ideas of being able to entirely avoid pain and hardship through righteous living are really the infantile desires to have security, avoid pain, etc - in this case, assigning religion to prevent all this. If the Relief Society President did actually say this, clearly she is afraid (perhaps subconsciously) of admitting to/accepting the inevitable hardships of life, and thus religion becomes more of a security blanket then a quest for truth.

Edited April 16, 2012 by jb789

[Monkeyzenz]

Well one thing i could say is that God qualifies those whom he called!