Which Callings Do You Fear?

[pushka]

no, not to you...a previous poster mentioned was getting baptized, but also mentioned having a nursery calling...?

I attended my local LDS chapel for 5 years, from age 14 to nearly 19 and never got baptised, yet I was called as a secretary during MIA meetings, and was set apart and all..:)

[Elphaba]

I attended my local LDS chapel for 5 years, from age 14 to nearly 19 and never got baptised, yet I was called as a secretary during MIA meetings, and was set apart and all..:)

Hey Pushka! Who'd a thunk it?

Thanks for setting me straight. I did not know this was possible.

I have the smartest friends!

Elphie

[Mahonri]

I imagine with the Lord's help, I could do almost anything. I'm really looking forward to serving a mission with my sweetheart in about 15 years.

Fear? Scoutmaster. I could do it, but I don't think it would be pretty.

[pushka]

Hey Pushka! Who'd a thunk it?

Thanks for setting me straight. I did not know this was possible.

I have the smartest friends!

Elphie

I don't suppose I thought so either, at the time, however if memory serves me well, the Bishop who was a friend of the family, allowed me to take part in everything, including receiving the Sacrament, because I'd been attending regularly for so long, and was so involved with everything..he was a nice dude! :)

[Iggy]

I don't suppose I thought so either, at the time, however if memory serves me well, the Bishop who was a friend of the family, allowed me to take part in everything, including receiving the Sacrament, because I'd been attending regularly for so long, and was so involved with everything..he was a nice dude! :)

I started going to church when I was 8, and when I was 14 I asked to be baptized. The Bishop told me that I couldn't be baptized again. I told him I had never been baptized. He shushed me out of his office.

He really thought that I was already baptized. The Missionaries talked with me, my folks and then the Bishop. I got baptized in Nov of my 14th year.

Back then Pushka, they were not strict about the Young Men and Young Women being baptised members to hold the offices of MIA. In my ward now, they still aren't! Which in a way is good. When I was 17 I was called to teach the 5 year olds. I was never set apart for that. Taught them for a year. WOW, did those little ones teach me alot about the Gospel:lol:

[pushka]

Aww, Iggy, you've just burst my bubble

There I was, full of pride, thinking I was something special...LOL! :)

[Iggy]

Aww, Iggy, you've just burst my bubble

There I was, full of pride, thinking I was something special...LOL! :)

Oh no-it is something special. Think about it a minute. For the Bishop and the Young Women leadership being impressed to call a non-member Young Woman to a YW office, Heavenly Father really has plans for you. For the Bishop to heed the Holy Ghost and set apart that non-member, that is awesome!

Pushka, you were and still are someone very special.

[cydlawenhau]

jumping back a bit I know but...

Yeah, I was briefly a home teacher till my companion left town.

Maybe it's just the area I'm in but within 2 weeks of baptism I had 5 home teaching families.

Ive been a member 5 years and have been a Primary Teacher and EQ teacher (at the same time for a little while); Nursery Assistant each for a year and am currently a Fam Hist Consultant. Mine is not a small ward - avg 250 people a Sunday (more on the books though) and although there is a LOT of v young kids there are plenty of adults too.

The calling I fear most is something like Patriarch. From the outside it looks easy but I know its got to be a lot harder than it seems.

[kona0197]

I dread any calling that involves getting up on that pulpit and addressing the congregation. I don't like talking in public - it's scary. I don't even want to other a opening or closing prayer or pass the sacrament.

[Palerider]

I dread any calling that involves getting up on that pulpit and addressing the congregation. I don't like talking in public - it's scary. I don't even want to other a opening or closing prayer or pass the sacrament.

same here for me too.....

[NateHowe]

I can't say there's a calling I actually dread. Perhaps Tabernacle Organist. That would be intimidating. However, if there was a calling that I thought was completely terrifying, I probably wouldn't tell anybody. That would be a sure way to get called.

[USNationalist]

I do not believe in callings. I believe each individual is called to do as much as they will in what ever fashion they choose. And it is up to each of us to take that as far as we desire.

[NateHowe]

I do not believe in callings. I believe each individual is called to do as much as they will in what ever fashion they choose. And it is up to each of us to take that as far as we desire.

There are two distinct types of callings:

1. The calling to come unto Christ, live His gospel, and be saved.

2. Specific callings, or assignments, given by those with authority from God.

It seems you think of callings in the first sense only. Yes, part of answering the call of the Lord is doing our best in whatever way we can to build up the kingdom of God. However, Christ also organized and called many to specific positions within His Church. He gave some prophets, some apostles, some pastors and teachers, etc.

Those who were called by Christ in ancient times did not seek the calling, nor refuse it when it came. They obeyed and were magnified and blessed to fill the callings they received. We should do the same.

[kona0197]

2. Specific callings, or assignments, given by those with authority from God.

What happens if you say no? I do not want to speak in front of people ever...

[Elgama]

Magazine Rep is the only calling I have had and hated - the orders got lost somewhere between our branch and Sollihull

Apart from that I love being set apart - something about the spirit gives you an idea of what itis like to reach your potential when dealing with just that calling I feel super human and closer to the Lord.

-Charley

[USNationalist]

I do not recall Christ ever calling anyone into a specific position. Being chosen by God to be the key Cog in some great change God is going to bring about (like Jonah, Moses, Abraham, David, etc) is one thing when it comes to calling. But for the rest of us, I do not believe that God has any desire to take an active interest in the ordering of our lives (I have strong Deist tendencies). To believe and fulfill our own share of the great commission is the extent of anyones calling.

There are two distinct types of callings:

1. The calling to come unto Christ, live His gospel, and be saved.

2. Specific callings, or assignments, given by those with authority from God.

It seems you think of callings in the first sense only. Yes, part of answering the call of the Lord is doing our best in whatever way we can to build up the kingdom of God. However, Christ also organized and called many to specific positions within His Church. He gave some prophets, some apostles, some pastors and teachers, etc.

Those who were called by Christ in ancient times did not seek the calling, nor refuse it when it came. They obeyed and were magnified and blessed to fill the callings they received. We should do the same.

[USNationalist]

What happens if you say no? I do not want to speak in front of people ever...

My guess is God would give you some time to think about it inside the belly of a whale...

[NateHowe]

What happens if you say no? I do not want to speak in front of people ever...

Usually, speaking in Church is an assignment rather than a calling. A calling (in this sense) is a position within the Church which you fulfill for a period of time.

When you are called OR assigned, it gives you an opportunity to exercise your agency. By accepting, you demonstrate faith. God does not give assignments without providing a way to fulfill them, but he cannot force any of us to accept them. So by refusing a calling, or an assignment, you are exercising your agency.

As far as specific fear of public speaking, we can discuss that in more depth if you like, perhaps on another thread.

[NateHowe]

I do not recall Christ ever calling anyone into a specific position.

This is the real crux of the issue. If you rely on the Bible and other past texts as the basis for your faith, your views are logical. Unfortunately, there is a larger difference here than a simple discussion about the meaning of callings.

I am going to say something that could be taken the wrong way, so read carefully: The Church is not based on the Bible. It is not based on the Book of Mormon. It is not based on the Doctrine and Covenants. It is based on the power and principle by which those documents came into being: Revelation from God. If we actually believe in revelation, it is not strange to think that God could tell a Bishop, through the Holy Ghost, who should teach the Gospel Doctrine class.

Now, we have the utmost respect for the Bible and all scripture. We use them in our preaching. We use them in our homes. But without revelation from God, those documents are dead and so is the Church.

[MorningStar]

I have 5 callings now. Our choir director is nervous because he's afraid they will release me as pianist. For right now I am:

Ward Music Chairman

Choir President

Choir Pianist

Relief Society Pianist

Enrichment Committee member

The last two are my newest ones. :) It's not so bad. All the music ones are kind of related and I just have to show up to play in RS. I know all the hymns. Enrichment Committee will be fun and new!

[USNationalist]

This is the real crux of the issue. If you rely on the Bible and other past texts as the basis for your faith, your views are logical. Unfortunately, there is a larger difference here than a simple discussion about the meaning of callings.

I am going to say something that could be taken the wrong way, so read carefully: The Church is not based on the Bible. It is not based on the Book of Mormon. It is not based on the Doctrine and Covenants. It is based on the power and principle by which those documents came into being: Revelation from God. If we actually believe in revelation, it is not strange to think that God could tell a Bishop, through the Holy Ghost, who should teach the Gospel Doctrine class.

Now, we have the utmost respect for the Bible and all scripture. We use them in our preaching. We use them in our homes. But without revelation from God, those documents are dead and so is the Church.

Is there a way to quote portions of a text, and not the whole post? heh.

While I do not believe the bible to be the word of God (merely the recordings of events that transpired during the most important time in mans history), and that Christs message of salvation itself is the word, it is the only tool at the disposal of the world for learning and growing in our faith. I do not believe in revelation at all. Largely due to the fact that there is no accountability for the musings of the spirit. Too often our own spirit is confused as the holy spirit, and things are accredited to God when he had nothing to do with them. Not to mention the possibility of lying spirits.

To me, saying that God has told you something is the least reliable statement that can be made. Also the most dangerous, because you either end up ignoring Gods desire, or doing something wrong in his name. Due to the fact that there is no accountability for "divine inspiration"- I refuse to play in that hornets nest of a game at all.

[NateHowe]

To me, saying that God has told you something is the least reliable statement that can be made.

And that's just about all the prophets in the scriptures have said - God told me something, and he wants you to listen.

If you deny that God reveals His will to man, you have conveniently omitted the basis of Christian religion (and most other religion, too), so we have little common ground upon which to hold a reasonable discussion on this or any religious issue.

[USNationalist]

And that's just about all the prophets in the scriptures have said - God told me something, and he wants you to listen.

If you deny that God reveals His will to man, you have conveniently omitted the basis of Christian religion (and most other religion, too), so we have little common ground upon which to hold a reasonable discussion on this or any religious issue.

Gods will has already been revealed. There is nothing left to reveal. God speaks no one anymore. The one and only link to God is the holy spirit, who Christ said would be our comforter while he was away. The spirit speaks with no words, has no texture, smell, or anything resembling a physical property.

So anyone who says that they have been spoken to by God is suspect.

What means do you have for verifying the validity of someones claims of divine instruction? Scripture wont do, because new scriptures can be written and used to support any claim. Look at your faith. New "divine instruction" and new scripture to go with and support it. Should we trust in the burning sensation? How many do you know who can tell the difference between the movement of their own spirit, and that of the Holy spirit? Or who can Identify a lying spirit?

[kona0197]

USNationalist - God still speaks to people. We have had and do presently have modern day prophets.

[USNationalist]

That statement is debatable. The Catholics would deny the claims of your prophets, and I am sure you would doubt the validity of the Popes claims- both of you claim to dabble with the same holy spirit- and thus the problem i presented is proven.