Never released from a calling

[Bini]

My first marriage was a train wreck. To help salvage things, my then-husband and I, sought out counselling from the bishop per our parents' plea. We had been married about five years and had never gone to church once during that time - we were both inactive - met that way. Prior to that, I had been inactive for a long time, too.

 

In a short period, I think it was about a month or so, the bishop took me aside privately and asked how I felt about taking on a ward calling. I flat out said "No" because I had too much on my plate, specifically, my crappy marriage - struggling with depression - not really having a testimony - among other things. The bishop pushed, and pushed, until during a moment of weakness I reluctantly said "Sure". I just wanted him to stop making me feel guilty for not doing it. Long story short, the Sunday I was supposed to teach my sunbeam class, I was a no-show. I also never returned to church after that Sunday of accepting the calling and being introduced to the ward. For the next eight years I'd remain inactive.

 

So I was never officially released. Was I at some point released? Even though I was never present for it? I'm guessing yes, since someone had to cover it. My last question is, can one progress in the church without accepting a calling? Is it a commandment to accept a ward calling? Does it affect my salvation?

[Backroads]

I think, if you're no longer living in the geographic area of the ward, you at some point do become released, at least by default.

 

I'm interested in replies to your last question.  I know many wards make an effort to give everyone a calling.  Is that simply based on making everyone feeling welcome or giving them the opportunity to serve, or is it greater than that?

 

My personal uneducated opinion is ward callings are not essential to our salvation. 

[The Folk Prophet]

As far as the release goes, one doesn't have to be present to be released. You don't actually HAVE to have the release announced formally in Sac. mtg with the vote of thanks, etc.

 

As far as progressing in the church, it's more about attitude, not specifically about the callings. Attitude determines altitude, as Pres. Uchtdorf taught.

 

On the Wings of Eagles

[The Folk Prophet]

I'm interested in replies to your last question.  I know many wards make an effort to give everyone a calling.  Is that simply based on making everyone feeling welcome or giving them the opportunity to serve...

 

This is the idea. However, as a broader picture, the church runs entirely off of callings. It is the means whereby the kingdom of God runs. Without callings, nothing happens. So, broadly speaking, they're extremely important.

 

If one turns down a calling for a good reason, then it's a good reason. If one simply refuses to serve or fails to serve, there may be some accountability there on judgment day. (Repentance, of course, wiping sins away...so it's not like failure in a calling means auto-hell).

 

Callings are not covenants. But we do make covenants that certainly imply that we should accept and magnify our callings, and if we do not...  Well, you get the point.

[Bini]

That is what I figured.

 

At this point, I will decline a ward calling, and I'm pretty sure that won't change any time soon due to personal reasons.

[Backroads]

We're in the middle of buying a house... just when the ward is going "hey, do you guys want callings?"  (the house we want is not in the ward... because we can't afford to live in this ward unless we move into the starving student apartments that got cut in).

[Palerider]

Were you sustained and set apart in that calling ?

[The Folk Prophet]

Were you sustained and set apart in that calling ?

 

You don't have to be set apart for most callings. A great many people never get around to actually coming in to get set apart. They still serve, it still goes in the system, etc...

[Palerider]

You don't have to be set apart for most callings. A great many people never get around to actually coming in to get set apart. They still serve, it still goes in the system, etc...

Most callings ??

[The Folk Prophet]

Most callings ??

 

Well, I don't think you can serve as a Elder's Quorum president without it. :) Sunbeam teacher...no worries.

[Palerider]

Well, I don't think you can serve as a Elder's Quorum president without it. :) Sunbeam teacher...no worries.

You said most callings.....just trying to figure out which people I set apart for their calling was not correct according to your statement.

[Palerider]

Well, I don't think you can serve as a Elder's Quorum president without it. :) Sunbeam teacher...no worries.

I do not agree with your comment about a Sunbeam Teacher

[pam]

I feel it's important that every person no matter the calling from Sunbeam teachers to Elders Quorum Presidents should have the opportunity to be set apart.

 

No calling is more important than another.  All callings have a purpose and a responsibility attached to them.

[The Folk Prophet]

I do not agree with your comment about a Sunbeam Teacher

 

Well, let's be clear here. I'm not saying they shouldn't. They should. Of course. The handbook says they "should be". I'm saying they don't have to be. And my "no worries" statement was probably inaccurate -- so disagreeing is legit on that. I'm simply saying they do not have to be, though they should be. Once they have been sustained, they are actively called. The setting apart is not an absolute requirement.

 

This is only my understanding though (and the way my ward handles it when people (and there are a lot of them) never show up to be set apart. So if I am mistaken, my ward is mistaken, or other wards and bishops see it differently, well...there it is.

 

I feel it's important that every person no matter the calling from Sunbeam teachers to Elders Quorum Presidents should have the opportunity to be set apart.

 

No calling is more important than another.  All callings have a purpose and a responsibility attached to them.

 

I'm also not saying they shouldn't be given the opportunity. They should. Always. I'm saying that many people never bother to get set apart, and they still do their callings.

[The Folk Prophet]

You said most callings.....just trying to figure out which people I set apart for their calling was not correct according to your statement.

 

This is an odd translation of what I said. Where did you get that I said setting some people apart was wrong?

[pam]

I had a calling that I did that I was never set apart on.  It was when my kids were little.  

 

Unfortunately they asked everyone to meet in the Bishop's office right after church.  I was a single parent at the time and my kids had had enough of church and wanted to go home.  So I took them home.

 

Of course it never came up again.

 

You are right.  They SHOULD be.  I know if I were called to be a  Sunbeam teacher I would certainly want to be set apart.  Mainly hoping I would be blessed with more patience.  I would surely need it for a calling like that.

[Palerider]

If you have been sustained in Sacrament meeting...you should be set apart. I am curious if you have called someone to be a Primary Teacher or Sunday School Teacher or Youth Teacher and never felt they needed to be set apart?? They need to be set apart, for guidance and inspiration and perhaps to help them overcome their fears. That Sunbeam teacher and Nursery leader calling is just as important if not more so than the Elders Q Pres.

[The Folk Prophet]

I had a calling that I did that I was never set apart on.  It was when my kids were little.  

 

Unfortunately they asked everyone to meet in the Bishop's office right after church.  I was a single parent at the time and my kids had had enough of church and wanted to go home.  So I took them home.

 

Of course it never came up again.

 

You are right.  They SHOULD be.  I know if I were called to be a  Sunbeam teacher I would certainly want to be set apart.  Mainly hoping I would be blessed with more patience.  I would surely need it for a calling like that.

 

Being set apart is a great blessing. I have never not been set apart for a calling (sorry for the double negative...but....). I don't understand why so many seem to not bother.

[The Folk Prophet]

If you have been sustained in Sacrament meeting...you should be set apart. I am curious if you have called someone to be a Primary Teacher or Sunday School Teacher or Youth Teacher and never felt they needed to be set apart?? They need to be set apart, for guidance and inspiration and perhaps to help them overcome their fears. That Sunbeam teacher and Nursery leader calling is just as important if not more so than the Elders Q Pres.

 

You are reading way to much into what I said.

 

I don't want to fight over it. You're right. I'm wrong. Let's move on.

[Palerider]

You don't have to be set apart for most callings. A great many people never get around to actually coming in to get set apart. They still serve, it still goes in the system, etc...

you stated there most do not need to be set apart....thats why I asked you which ones

[Palerider]

trust me.....Pale is not fighting....Your opinion could also confuse some ....it might or could come across as doctrine. This is one of my fears about adult Sunday school class....opinions could come across as doctrine. I dont believe people mean nay harm in their comments ...but it could be confusing

[pam]

So let's sum it up.  Are we all in agreement that while one COULD do their calling without being set apart they SHOULD be set apart?

 

Also that it is a blessing to be set apart.  We sometimes need that extra spirit provided by being set apart to fulfill our callings?

[The Folk Prophet]

So let's sum it up.  Are we all in agreement that while one COULD do their calling without being set apart they SHOULD be set apart?

 

Also that it is a blessing to be set apart.  We sometimes need that extra spirit provided by being set apart to fulfill our callings?

 

Except those who require keys, who literally cannot do their calling without it, the above agrees with my view.

[Palerider]

I do thinks its important to be set apart. If we did not set someone apart I truly hope it was an oversight. we were encouraged by our Stake President to make sure everyone was set apart. I have witnessed  the success of those who were.

[The Folk Prophet]

I do thinks its important to be set apart. If we did not set someone apart I truly hope it was an oversight. we were encouraged by our Stake President to make sure everyone was set apart. I have witnessed  the success of those who were.

 

Surely you've read enough of my posts to know how conservative I am and understand that I agree with this. I find it perplexing that you've interpreted me as unsupportive of this. Maybe I'm being overly sensitive because I take pride in my support of the church (yeah, I know, pride's a sin) but it feels like I've been purposefully misunderstood after clarifying what I meant.

 

For anyone out there reading this and thinking I meant don't bother getting set apart because it isn't important -- I DIDN'T MEAN THAT. Get set apart. It's extremely important.