advice about counsel

[McLainDow]

Recently, My wife and I have been talking about asking for a release from our calling as temple ordinance workers. We are adopting a child in the near future (sometime between March and June of next year) and felt the best time to ask for a release would be at the end of the year. Two weeks ago the bishop of our ward called us into his office without knowing much about our situation and counsel us to ask for a release from our callings in the temple asap. He was vague about his reasons and only said that he felt God had other plans for us. Since receiving this counsel my wife and I have been praying for confirmation and haven't received any. My question is, should we ask for a release without receiving confirmation? or should I wait? This situation is really throwing me for a loop as when I received counsel from church leaders in the past I have always immediately felt impressed to act upon the counsel given. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[skippy740]

Based on what you've written, it appears that the only difference between your own plans and what your Bishop felt to counsel you... is timing.

In my opinion, I would go ahead and ask for the release since this was already in line with your own plans. Perhaps the reasons will be made clear in the next couple of months?

[Martain]

Did you raise your hand that you would sustain and uphold my bishop in his calling? Is there any pressing reason why you would want to not heed his counsel? If you've taken the matter to the Lord, have you received any counsel one way or another that is counter to the counsel of your bishop?

Even should you be released from your callings as temple ordinance workers, there's nothing preventing you from continuing to serve in the temple as a patron. It simply changes the role you are serving in and means that if something is coming up, you're in a position to accept or move forward free of other commitments.

I agree with Skippy.

[mnn727]

Sounds to me like he has a calling in mind for you.

[Guest Doctrine]

The truth is you should do what ever make you and your wife happy, I would let the temple leadership know my plans so that there would not be a hard transition for them, like not having enough workers to fill your shift, also the bishop thing sounds very weird, I would never follow any council blindly by anyone, reguardless of who they are, but were not here to talk about your bishop.

And congrats on becoming a father you will have many joyfull days ahead of you, My favorites are when I am sitting in my study and my young son comes in and grabs his book and sits in his chair and says iam like daddy, very cute.

[McLainDow]

Thank you for the responses. I think since it is simply a timing issue I will ask for my release this Saturday when we go for our regular shift. It's true being a parent is awseome I have a twenty one year old daughter and I so miss the pitter patter of little feet. Not so much the teenage years though...........:)

[Wingnut]

From a third-party perspective, I'd say that it sounds like you were thinking about asking for the release, but weren't sure about it yet. Then the bishop counseled you to ask for the release...that sounds to me like confirmation of your own thoughts, rather than presenting a need for the opposite.

Incidentally, once you adopted, your wife would be released from that calling anyway.

And, I'd probably be concerned about what kind of calling was coming in the future, that the bishop felt the need to counsel me to request a release...lol. :)

Did you raise your hand that you would sustain and uphold my bishop in his calling? Is there any pressing reason why you would want to not heed his counsel

I don't think that raising one's hand to sustain the bishop in his calling means that one has to agree with every single thing he does/says/counsels.

[applepansy]

It never hurts to be obedient to Priesthood leadership.