I spoke in church today. Here is the talk I wrote out, though after I practiced at home I realized it was too long so I cut some out for church...and I never just read it word for word so there were definitely some differences in what I exactly said and what I wrote. Nevertheless, these are my thoughts on Keeping our covenant by magnifying callings:
When we are baptized, we make covenants to take upon us the name of Christ, always remember Him and keep His commandments as well as to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort. In other words, we promise that we will love and help those around us...go to their rescue...and that we will try to act as Christ would...to live as disciples of Christ.
When we enter the temple, we make additional covenants with our Father in Heaven. Included in these covenants, we promise to sacrifice and to consecrate our time and talents and all that we have to build up the kingdom of God...to help bring others to Christ, to go to the rescue, to live as disciples of Christ. In the days of Joseph Smith, the Saints were often asked to leave their homes, give up connections with family and friends, even sacrifice their lives. Today our sacrifices and opportunities to consecrate are typically a bit different. We don’t have to walk for hours and cross a river to get to church or save for years to go to the temple once or leave our homes to cross the plains. We still sacrifice our money as we pay tithes and offerings but a lot of our opportunities to consecrate our time and talents comes as we serve in the church. I believe a big part of our living our covenants made at baptism and in the temple is accepting and magnifying our callings.
I’m going to take a quick detour...but I promise I will connect it back. This week I read a wonderful nonfiction book called All Thirteen. Many of you will remember that in June of 2018, 12 young boys and their coach were stranded in a cave in Thailand when the cave flooded. It took a couple of weeks and many, many people to rescue these boys safely. When people realized what had happened, volunteers came from all over the world to help rescue these boys. There were world famous cave divers. There were US Navy Seals and Thai SEALS. There were experts on this particular cave. There were people who came and cooked for the volunteers and set up stations with supplies, medical care, etc. Hundreds of people were involved in the rescue, and as I read about it, I saw that each person played a vital role. Some had medical knowledge that was put to use to help the boys when they were found and to give them anesthesia so they could sleep while divers rescued them so they wouldn’t panic. Oil workers and others used pumps to pump water out of the cave. Multiple people cooked so that workers would have nutrition and energy. The cook couldn’t do the job that the anesthesiologist did; but their job was critical nonetheless. I’m not certain that the rescue could have been successful without “all hands on deck”.
What does this successful cave rescue have to do with our covenants or with serving in callings? I believe it has EVERYTHING to do with it. These men and women volunteered because they were needed, because they wanted to help and because the job couldn’t get done without their expertise. They knew that they were needed for the rescue of these precious children who were in grave danger. All around us, we have precious children of God who are also in grave danger. Listen to the news for even a few minutes and I think you can see that there are many people who are hurting, lost, confused or at risk. And we have made COVENANTS to rescue them. They are our brothers and our sisters, and we’ve promised God that we will do our best to look out for them and to go to the rescue. And I want to add that so much good is done by good people from all walks of life...not just by members of our church. But we have a responsibility to do our part. That is done as we develop friendships, minister to our neighbors, serve in the community, strengthen our families, serve missions, and do countless other acts to bless lives. AND it is done every single day as we serve in callings. We each have specific skills, talents, areas of expertise and gifts and as we work together, we are able to strengthen each member of our ward and stake and also do so much good in our wider communities. Our ward and our stake cannot be successful in doing the Lord’s work without “all hands on deck”. Each person’s gifts and talents and skills are needed! Each person’s expertise and experience contributes to the mission of rescuing or gathering or loving.
Elder Uchtdorf said, ““What is the most important calling in the Church? It is the one you currently have. No matter how humble or prominent it may seem to be, the calling you have right now is the one that will allow you not only to lift others but also to become the man [or woman] of God you were created to be. My dear friends..., lift where you stand!”
There are probably many reasons that may be given for not choosing to serve or for not serving faithfully. We are all busy. We have so many responsibilities. We may be facing doubts or very real and difficult circumstances. Often we feel inadequate. I spoke with several friends about callings this week, and several expressed feelings of inadequacy in past or current callings. We are not alone in those feelings. Moses felt inadequate and in Exodus 4:10 we read:
“And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of aspeech, and of a bslow tongue.”
The Lord then gave him Aaron as a support and to be his spokesman.
This week, in Come Follow Me, we read of Enoch.
The Lord said to Enoch:
“And he heard a avoice from heaven, saying: bEnoch, my son, cprophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am dangry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed ehard, and their fears are dull of hearing, and their eyes gcannot see afar off;” (Moses 6: 27)
In verse 31, we read Enoch’s response to this call: “31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he abowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: bWhy is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people chate me; for I am dslow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?”
Can’t you imagine Enoch’s feelings? Probably you have had some similar feelings yourself! I”m too young or too immature or don’t know enough. I am not a good speaker. I’m too shy. I don’t have the right skills. Someone else could do this so much better than I can. I don’t have good people skills. Surely there’s someone else that could do this better! I know when I was called as RS President, I had many of these feelings! But in Real Talk Come Follow Me this week, Ganel-lyn Condie and John Fossum say “Sometimes God consecrates and sometimes God compensates.” He either sends an Aaron to help you with your call or he grants you the skills to serve in the way He needs you to at that time. And I think that is SUCH a great blessing and promise!
When I was called as RS President, my kids were still pretty young. And I was working full time and felt pretty overwhelmed. In fact, in the 4 months prior to my call, I had been praying and praying to know what I could give up because I felt discouraged and overwhelmed by my responsibilities. When I was extended the call, I not only felt inadequate, I genuinely didn’t know how I could fit it in with my other responsibilities. But I quickly saw God magnify MY time and capabilities. None of my previous responsibilities went away. But suddenly I had time and energy to do what I was being asked to do and the two years I served in that calling blessed my life in ways I can’t even begin to articulate. I'm not the same person I was before I served in that calling.
President Monson said, “It is the Lord’s work and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies." Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability."
I am so grateful for the experiences I have had where I have felt inadequate or unprepared--and I probably was!--but the Lord has strengthened me and enabled me to do more and be more than I was on my own. I have had that experience over and over.
There are countless blessings that come from serving and magnifying our callings. When I asked friends about their callings, a common response was to talk about the love that they developed for those they served with and those they served. It is definitely one of my favorite things about serving in a calling. Some of my dearest friendships have formed or been strengthened exponentially by serving together in callings. One friend talked about what a blessing it was to serve as stake Primary president and how the love she felt for the children of the stake continues to bless her life. Another spoke of how loving those she serves comes so easily to her and is a special part of any calling. I can remember as I served in RS, there were days when I would look around at the women in our ward, and suddenly my eyes would be swimming with tears and my heart would be full...full of love. For just a moment, I felt like I could see you women as God sees you and while I can’t adequately put that feeling into words, I know it is real and didn’t just come from me. I had the same experience as a YW leader. I would sometimes feel frustrated because I knew my words lacked the power to convey what I truly felt for the YW. The depth of love I feel for them or the goodness I see in them. They are incredible! It’s a great blessing to feel a portion of the love that God has for another person and for a moment to have the veil lifted and see them more clearly. To me, that is probably the greatest gift of serving in callings.
Elder Uchtdorf (in a talk entitled The Greatest Among Us) said, ““In God’s kingdom, greatness and leadership means seeing others as they truly are—as God sees them—and then reaching out and ministering to them. It means rejoicing with those who are happy, weeping with those who grieve, lifting up those in distress, and loving our neighbor as Christ loves us.”
*Teaching Sunday School…felt so nervous until a couple of minutes in and then looked around at faces and felt love and relaxed and just enjoyed the conversation.
2. Another great blessing is that serving in callings allows us to develop Christlike attributes. We become more humble, patient, forgiving, less judgmental, kinder, more diligent, and so on. It helps us become a little more like our Savior. Our whole purpose for being here on Earth is to BECOME, and serving in callings is one of the ways the Lord provides us with opportunities to develop these Christlike attributes.
Elder Uchtdorf said, “ If we approach our callings as opportunities to serve God and minister to others with faith and humility, every act of service will be a step on the path of discipleship. In this way, God not only builds up His Church but also builds up His servants. The Church is designed to help us become true and faithful disciples of Christ, good and noble sons and daughters of God. This happens not just when we go to meetings and listen to talks but also when we get outside ourselves and serve. This is how we become “great” in the kingdom of God.”
I’ll share a humorous example of how one calling allowed me to work on being more humble and hopefully a tiny bit more like Christ. It’s also an example of why we need “all hands on deck.” I have a few talents, but singing and dancing aren’t among them. A few months ago, Woodledge Ward hosted a “Masked Singer” event and I was asked to be one of the Masked Singers. Now had it been for almost ANYTHING else, I would have politely declined. No one really wants to hear me sing anyway—I promise! But I love the youth and I would do VIRTUALLY ANYTHING for the youth of our stake. So I said okay even though it filled me with dread. I got a costume—the Grinch—and practiced and showed up, filled with nerves. Now I think Heavenly Father has a sense of humor and maybe He realized that the simple act of standing on the stage was pretty humbling...but the mic/sound really didn’t work for me and so most of my singing couldn’t be heard...though it worked for everyone else. Probably a big blessing in disguise for all of us. All joking aside though, callings have given me opportunities to do things that are WAY outside of my comfort zone and while it’s not always a raging success, that process of doing hard things and feeling the Lord magnify my efforts and continually working to be a little bit better HAS helped me to become a little more like my Savior. Even the Savior learned “grace by grace” and “grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man”. As we serve in callings, we have a multitude of opportunities to follow in His footsteps.
Elder Uchtdorf said, “Each time we give of ourselves to others, we take a step closer to becoming good and true disciples of the One who gave His all for us: our Savior.”
And this also brings me back to the rescue of the boys in Thailand. I DON’T sing well. That’s not a gift that I was given, but I am so very grateful for those of you that do and that share that talent with the rest of us. I can’t do everything—none of us can—and your unique talents and gifts bless my life immensely! Your gifts are needed.
3. Greater knowledge…we learn the most when we teach or speak
One friend said that when she received a calling that felt overwhelming, she developed a better pattern of prayer, and scripture study became more of a priority. She said, “I gained more knowledge about the fundamentals of the gospel and came to really realize the beautiful simplicity of the plan of happiness. I gained a more powerful testimony of Jesus Christ, and HIs individual love for each of us.”
I LOVE to teach or speak in church because I always gain even more from that experience than I am able to share. Even just spending this past week reflecting on the blessings of serving in a calling has brought experiences to mind and helped me recognize more fully how grateful I am for opportunities to serve!
4. It has the potential to change lives. Our own and those of the people we serve.
Elder Uchtdorf said, “Our service—whether great or small—refines our spirits, opens the windows of heaven, and releases God’s blessings not only upon those we serve but upon us as well. When we reach out to others, we can know with humble confidence that God acknowledges our service with approval and approbation. He smiles upon us as we offer these heartfelt acts of compassion, especially acts that are unseen and unnoticed by others.”
So much of the service we give really is unseen. While people see the results of an activity that has been well planned or a lesson that is well delivered, they don’t see the time and effort put in in advance. Much of the one on one service given in callings—as RS President or Bishop or as a Primary teacher or as a ministering brother or sister—is seen only by the individual being served. The hours of prayer and fasting and so on are known only to God. But they do refine us. And often the service we render changes the lives of those we serve. Sometimes we know of the impact we have had, but often we don’t know. I have thought a lot in the past year or two about my seminary teacher and my young women leaders that I had as a teen and the impact that they had on my life. I feel certain that without their influence (as well as the influence of my wonderful parents), I would have made very different decisions as a teen, decisions that may have led to a much different life. I don’t know that all of my leaders know what a difference they made, but my gratitude is profound. I can think of others along my journey that have blessed my life as they magnified their callings and reached out in love.
5. Feel JOY. Always hoped if I was going to have a bad day that it would be Tuesday because I knew YW would bring joy. I feel joy as I serve others. I feel joy as I strengthen relationships. I feel joy as I draw closer to Christ. In fact, Christ is the source of our joy.
7. Have experiences…speak. Participate in temple work, camps, and develop new talents. Learn to better receive revelation.
Become closer to Christ!!!!!!!
I began by talking about the covenants we have made with God...to take His name upon us, to bear one another’s burdens, to sacrifice, to consecrate. I want to end by reviewing what God has promised.
President Eyring said, “The promise is that we may have all he has by our giving all we have. The almost unimaginable imbalance of that exchange, all we have for all he has, is a measure of his love for us.”
Yes, it takes time and effort and sacrifice to magnify callings. But in my experience the rewards ALWAYS outweigh the effort and sacrifice. And ultimately, the reward will be SO great that it really will be completely one sided---Christ giving US EVERYTHING after we have given so little, practically nothing. I am SO grateful that callings have allowed me to become a little bit more like Him and have allowed me to receive countless blessings, far beyond what I deserve. I am forever indebted to Him and I’m so grateful.
A couple of additional thoughts that I didn't share but that have been on my mind.
Elder Uchtdorf: The Greatest Among You
“To be effective Church leaders, we must learn this critical lesson: leadership in the Church is not so much about directing others as it is about our willingness to be directed by God.
I thought a lot about how serving in the church gives us opportunities to learn how God speaks to us and to
be directed by God. We need His help.
I have also been thinking a lot about these verses:
D&C 58:26-27.
"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;"
I have had pretty demanding callings for the past 9 consecutive years. Now I am teaching gospel doctrine once
a month which is much less demanding. I've helped in Primary the past two weeks and I've let my Bishop know
that I'm happy with gospel doctrine but that if I'm needed in other ways, I can do more. I'm fine with the calling I have but
I'm willing to help in more ways if needed. I will serve as faithfully as I can in whatever calling I receive. But these verses
have been ringing in my head. Because I don't think the Lord wants me to only do the things I'm "commanded" or
compelled to do via an official calling. I think He wants me to seek for additional ways to serve. So I'm praying to
know how to help others around me. I started my little monthly study group at my home to discuss the gospel and the temple
and to strengthen our spiritual foundation. I continue to run a Facebook group that studies in response to President
Nelson's invitations in conference. For about 8 months, I have been posting a weekly Personal History Question for my
ward on social media, and when I was released, I asked if ward council wanted me to continue to do that and they said yes. But also
I am really trying to pay attention to what I see happening around me and try to find ways to be anxiously engaged in good causes. Writing
uplifting notes to ward members. Dropping off a treat or small gift when it seems like someone might need it. Taking treats to work
tomorrow because after a week of being online, I think all the teachers deserve a little pick-me-up. It's not much, but
I truly believe if we each do our part, we have "all hands on deck" then we have power to change the world with our united efforts.
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