WEBVTT 00:00:07.430 --> 00:00:09.650 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.890 --> 00:00:12.070 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:12.070 --> 00:00:13.929 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.929 --> 00:00:16.870 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.870 --> 00:00:26.539 jump into it. Today we're discussing the talk, 00:00:26.679 --> 00:00:29.239 Participate to Prepare for Christ's Return. This 00:00:29.239 --> 00:00:31.600 is by Elder Stephen D. Shumway of the Seventy. 00:00:31.620 --> 00:00:35.299 You did that title good. Thanks, Abby. Welcome 00:00:35.299 --> 00:00:39.140 today. So I'm going to jump in with a story that 00:00:39.140 --> 00:00:40.520 he told at the beginning that's really cute. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:43.920 So Elder Shumway is a newly called 70, and he 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:46.079 shared an encounter with Elder Neil L. Anderson 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.439 soon after his call. So standing in the hallway, 00:00:48.759 --> 00:00:51.460 Elder Anderson walked by, and likely sensing 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:53.700 Elder Shumway's feelings of inadequacy, he smiled 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:56.259 and said, well, there looks like a man who has 00:00:56.259 --> 00:00:58.840 no idea what he's doing, followed by, don't worry, 00:00:58.979 --> 00:01:01.520 Elder Shumway, it gets better in five or six 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:06.599 years. I felt his pain at that moment. This calling 00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:09.159 in that moment was causing Elder Shumway to feel 00:01:09.159 --> 00:01:11.719 stretched beyond his reach. Haven't we each been 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:14.219 asked to serve in some capacity that has tested 00:01:14.219 --> 00:01:16.739 our own limits? Why are we asked to do things 00:01:16.739 --> 00:01:18.680 in God's kingdom that feel beyond our reach? 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:21.879 And then a follow up question would be, with 00:01:21.879 --> 00:01:25.500 life's demands, have you asked why we even need 00:01:25.500 --> 00:01:29.379 callings in the church? Good question. You would 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:31.689 know something about this. Is there a certain 00:01:31.689 --> 00:01:33.450 age when you're done being a 70 and you become 00:01:33.450 --> 00:01:36.989 a 70 emeritus? 70. That's what I thought. I knew 00:01:36.989 --> 00:01:39.170 that. I wanted to be sure because I was like, 00:01:39.230 --> 00:01:41.129 well, is there 70 in the quorum or is it age 00:01:41.129 --> 00:01:43.549 70? And usually these people have like had a 00:01:43.549 --> 00:01:45.849 career and then they like start at like 65, right? 00:01:46.189 --> 00:01:48.790 So the math on that, this guy's probably 65 and 00:01:48.790 --> 00:01:50.430 he's like, it'll be fine in five or six years. 00:01:50.810 --> 00:01:53.849 You'll be released, which is funny. That just 00:01:53.849 --> 00:01:55.989 came to mind when you retold that story. But 00:01:55.989 --> 00:01:59.890 for Elder Shumway. Yeah, he was feeling overwhelmed 00:01:59.890 --> 00:02:02.590 about this. And with life's demands, the question 00:02:02.590 --> 00:02:04.129 you asked, with life's demands, have you asked 00:02:04.129 --> 00:02:06.569 why we even need calling from the church? He 00:02:06.569 --> 00:02:08.569 said that his answer came from a general conference 00:02:08.569 --> 00:02:11.409 as the prophet spoke these words. Now is the 00:02:11.409 --> 00:02:13.810 time for you and for me to prepare for the second 00:02:13.810 --> 00:02:16.449 coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. 00:02:16.830 --> 00:02:19.129 When President Nelson said this, the Spirit taught 00:02:19.129 --> 00:02:22.780 him that As we participate in God's work, like 00:02:22.780 --> 00:02:25.479 ministering, temple worship, following promptings, 00:02:25.539 --> 00:02:28.460 and saying yes to church callings, definitely 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:31.780 that stretch our capacity. We, in that way, prepare 00:02:31.780 --> 00:02:34.379 ourselves and others for Christ's return. And 00:02:34.379 --> 00:02:36.740 it's interesting to note that each person's personal 00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:39.560 journey is so individual and unique that only 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:41.340 a loving father could have orchestrated the way 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:43.800 that things lined up. Yes. What callings we had 00:02:43.800 --> 00:02:45.319 at what time, what people were in the callings 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:47.180 that we were serving in, who served us in their 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:49.400 capacity when we needed it at a certain time. 00:02:49.699 --> 00:02:53.770 All of that. So tell me more about that, Abby. 00:02:53.930 --> 00:02:56.289 Okay. Like reflecting back, like ministering 00:02:56.289 --> 00:02:59.050 assignments that I've had. When I've been new 00:02:59.050 --> 00:03:02.349 to a ward, maybe I've been asked to serve sisters 00:03:02.349 --> 00:03:04.169 who'd been there for a while. And some of them 00:03:04.169 --> 00:03:05.990 have become some of my best friends. For sure. 00:03:06.129 --> 00:03:08.969 And those assignments, they're long past, but 00:03:08.969 --> 00:03:11.409 those friendships still remain. And then, you 00:03:11.409 --> 00:03:14.629 know, I feel like when I look back, I feel like 00:03:14.629 --> 00:03:16.810 they were hand selected for me. They gave me 00:03:16.810 --> 00:03:18.590 an opportunity to become more comfortable in 00:03:18.590 --> 00:03:22.949 my new environment. It wasn't like the hardest 00:03:22.949 --> 00:03:24.610 sisters in the ward to minister, the ones that 00:03:24.610 --> 00:03:25.949 don't want to let you into the door. They were 00:03:25.949 --> 00:03:27.610 very welcoming and inviting to come and sit. 00:03:27.750 --> 00:03:29.650 And then we made deep and lasting friendships 00:03:29.650 --> 00:03:32.409 out of it. I love that. And then in my current 00:03:32.409 --> 00:03:34.569 ward, I've been here long enough that maybe my 00:03:34.569 --> 00:03:38.870 ministering assignments are such that I can be 00:03:38.870 --> 00:03:40.629 that friend to those new faces in the ward. They're 00:03:40.629 --> 00:03:42.069 trying to get their feet wet and get comfortable 00:03:42.069 --> 00:03:46.710 in the ward. So I think all of that timing doesn't 00:03:46.710 --> 00:03:49.250 feel coincidental to me. So the tables have kind 00:03:49.250 --> 00:03:50.889 of turned. I can be that friend to these other 00:03:50.889 --> 00:03:53.009 sisters and make them comfortable. And then I've 00:03:53.009 --> 00:03:54.689 reflected on some previous callings that I've 00:03:54.689 --> 00:03:58.189 had over the years. Some were maybe the hardest 00:03:58.189 --> 00:04:01.250 ones for me are the ones that I appreciate the 00:04:01.250 --> 00:04:04.469 most now. That's good. Yeah. That's really great. 00:04:04.569 --> 00:04:06.330 Probably because I can see the growth that I 00:04:06.330 --> 00:04:08.729 had in my testimony or friendships that were 00:04:08.729 --> 00:04:13.129 made in those particular callings. These callings 00:04:13.129 --> 00:04:16.370 maybe caused me heartburn, indigestion, you know, 00:04:16.370 --> 00:04:20.149 but they definitely stand out as my fondest memories 00:04:20.149 --> 00:04:23.629 because the lessons that they taught me and the 00:04:23.629 --> 00:04:26.230 testimony that they helped me grow and they've 00:04:26.230 --> 00:04:29.430 made me who I am today. Absolutely. I totally 00:04:29.430 --> 00:04:31.209 agree with that, Abby. It's really interesting 00:04:31.209 --> 00:04:34.009 to look back and to be like, oh, see where the 00:04:34.009 --> 00:04:36.699 growth was. My goodness. Never mind our dog. 00:04:38.139 --> 00:04:41.399 So another thing, too, about this, like you were 00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:44.040 saying, you know, thinking back to your hardest 00:04:44.040 --> 00:04:46.379 calling or the one that was such a stretch for 00:04:46.379 --> 00:04:47.779 you at that time because of the other things 00:04:47.779 --> 00:04:50.240 that are happening in your life. Right. When 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:52.439 I look back at one of the callings I had, it 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:56.389 was. It was stake assistant, camp director, and 00:04:56.389 --> 00:04:58.910 a lot was put on my plate to where I was actually 00:04:58.910 --> 00:05:03.149 doing more like the secretary. And me being a 00:05:03.149 --> 00:05:06.189 secretary for an entire stake thing, that is 00:05:06.189 --> 00:05:08.129 not one of my strong suits. It is absolutely 00:05:08.129 --> 00:05:12.529 not. So for me in that situation, I loved the 00:05:12.529 --> 00:05:16.569 aspects of the spiritual aspects of it. I loved 00:05:16.569 --> 00:05:18.189 all the things. It was those types of details 00:05:18.189 --> 00:05:20.670 that I had a hard time with. And also at the 00:05:20.670 --> 00:05:24.230 time, I didn't know how to say, this is what 00:05:24.230 --> 00:05:27.269 my strength is. And I literally would have asked 00:05:27.269 --> 00:05:29.490 for a secretary for myself. I would say, I will 00:05:29.490 --> 00:05:31.250 absolutely do this calling and I need someone 00:05:31.250 --> 00:05:32.990 else to help me with this part of it. Because 00:05:32.990 --> 00:05:36.269 I was putting in like eight hours a day and I 00:05:36.269 --> 00:05:38.490 had a toddler who was having really hard times 00:05:38.490 --> 00:05:41.470 at the time. And it was just not, it was not 00:05:41.470 --> 00:05:42.949 something that I had, I didn't have that time 00:05:42.949 --> 00:05:44.750 for it. Do you know what I mean? No, that's really, 00:05:44.930 --> 00:05:46.970 it's good to reflect back on that. Did you get 00:05:46.970 --> 00:05:49.069 some extra skills in that secretarial part that 00:05:49.069 --> 00:05:51.439 you didn't? possessed previously literally no 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:53.339 like I don't remember any of it like it's just 00:05:53.339 --> 00:05:55.339 not a strong suit and it just stressed me out 00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:58.339 big time so now I could say I knew exactly at 00:05:58.339 --> 00:06:00.720 the time I was like well I just got to do it 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:02.300 because the Lord asked me to do it so I'm going 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:04.660 to do it right yeah no I love it and now I would 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:06.279 be like you were asked to be was the assistant 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:08.279 camp director you weren't necessarily asked for 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:10.100 that clerical part of things I get what you're 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:12.870 saying yeah because I was in a presidency a primary 00:06:12.870 --> 00:06:15.509 presidency and we needed a little more help on 00:06:15.509 --> 00:06:17.350 the secretary line so i was a counselor and i 00:06:17.350 --> 00:06:19.310 did the assignments that you know michelle had 00:06:19.310 --> 00:06:21.110 assigned to me but i also picked up a lot back 00:06:21.110 --> 00:06:22.709 when we were doing the manuals and things and 00:06:22.709 --> 00:06:24.769 having to get things ready or keeping track of 00:06:24.769 --> 00:06:26.389 attendance yeah there were a lot of pieces of 00:06:26.389 --> 00:06:28.529 that that didn't really stretch me but it's funny 00:06:28.529 --> 00:06:31.329 it's like where you have to kind of pick up the 00:06:31.329 --> 00:06:33.269 pieces if you don't have all of the right um 00:06:33.269 --> 00:06:38.740 right callings in play. Yes. And I've also learned 00:06:38.740 --> 00:06:40.959 as the days have gone by or the years have gone 00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:45.279 by, looking around me and seeing other women, 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:48.699 I can totally see like faces of women that would 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:51.060 literally walk in. It would take them like 40 00:06:51.060 --> 00:06:53.160 minutes a day to do what I was doing. And then 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:54.959 I would still be able to do my thing. So I just 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:56.660 really feel like when we're thinking about our 00:06:56.660 --> 00:07:00.519 spiritual gifts. it really works well and there's 00:07:00.519 --> 00:07:02.540 a beautiful flow. And I believe this is the way 00:07:02.540 --> 00:07:04.600 that Lord intends things to be. When we walk 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:07.939 in and we give our all and we do our genius and 00:07:07.939 --> 00:07:10.699 have someone else do their genius, no one is 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:13.079 tapped out to the point where they're like, I'm 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:14.740 going to scream if someone in my family asks 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:16.939 for one thing tonight. That's not how the Lord 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:19.100 wants us to be. Do you know what I mean? I totally 00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:22.360 know what you mean. Because a lot of times, you 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:24.920 know, if you're the president, this particular 00:07:24.920 --> 00:07:27.879 happens if you're the president of a, organization 00:07:27.879 --> 00:07:30.220 for sure and names come to you for the counselors 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:33.040 that you're supposed to call and you don't necessarily 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.500 know these people you're like you're not just 00:07:34.500 --> 00:07:36.600 calling your besties you're like i don't know 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:38.639 what that's all about and then time evolves and 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.500 things happen you went through a you you were 00:07:41.500 --> 00:07:43.980 thinking uh round two of cancer was coming remember 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:45.899 when you were in that early i think it was the 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:47.779 young women's or was it a primary calling which 00:07:47.779 --> 00:07:51.500 calling was it young women's and i remember we 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:54.300 reflected on the women that had been called to 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:56.420 serve with you who weren't initially friends 00:07:56.420 --> 00:07:58.579 of yours yeah i didn't know them yet and then 00:07:58.579 --> 00:08:00.160 we could sit and be like man they've got this 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:01.579 talent they've got this talent they can run with 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:03.259 this they can fill in these gaps here as you 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:05.920 were like um taking care of that business i love 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:08.480 those women like we still go to lunch i was gonna 00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:10.579 say they're still some of your best friends they 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:13.100 totally are which is amazing abby i'm 100 with 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:14.980 you the lord knows us he knows what's happening 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:17.120 in our lives and he gives us the right people 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:25.259 so let me go jump back into this um God is pleased 00:08:25.259 --> 00:08:27.600 when we engage in his work. In the majesty of 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.459 this moment, as God's kingdom expands and temples 00:08:30.459 --> 00:08:32.840 dot the earth, there is a growing need for willing 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:35.559 souls, there we are, to engage in God's work. 00:08:36.019 --> 00:08:38.820 Selflessly serving is the very essence of Christ 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:41.919 -like discipleship, but serving is rarely convenient. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:44.519 It's not convenient, but you've given me some 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:46.059 good ideas on how we can make it more convenient. 00:08:46.649 --> 00:08:49.149 Relying on others, seeing others through the 00:08:49.149 --> 00:08:53.029 lens of what they bring to the table. You don't 00:08:53.029 --> 00:08:54.809 have to be everything for every calling. You 00:08:54.809 --> 00:08:59.289 can utilize other people's talents. And in utilizing 00:08:59.289 --> 00:09:00.950 their talents, you can certainly grow in those 00:09:00.950 --> 00:09:03.990 areas. It's not just saying, well, I'm not going 00:09:03.990 --> 00:09:05.110 to grow that talent. That's not something I'm 00:09:05.110 --> 00:09:06.389 naturally good at. You can kind of see their 00:09:06.389 --> 00:09:08.809 processes and adopt them for yourselves because 00:09:08.809 --> 00:09:10.409 a time may come up where you have to be that 00:09:10.409 --> 00:09:14.440 role. Totally. Later. I totally agree. Anyway, 00:09:14.700 --> 00:09:16.779 it just resonated. It's true what you shared. 00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:21.240 Thanks for sharing that. Because we say yes when 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.519 it would be so much easier to say no or maybe 00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:27.779 later, we receive blessings. From the talk, he 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:30.559 says, God delights to honor you for serving him 00:09:30.559 --> 00:09:32.960 in righteousness. He promises great shall be 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:35.000 your reward and eternal shall be your glory. 00:09:36.090 --> 00:09:38.470 So great. Those are great promises. They totally 00:09:38.470 --> 00:09:41.549 are. Does it change the way we think about serving 00:09:41.549 --> 00:09:43.389 in a calling when we think of it as saying yes 00:09:43.389 --> 00:09:46.259 to Jesus Christ? Absolutely. I totally believe 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:48.340 that's the way that it is. And not in a guilt 00:09:48.340 --> 00:09:51.139 driven way. No way. In that, like, I'm your girl 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:53.340 kind of a thing. That's exactly how we can do 00:09:53.340 --> 00:09:55.860 this together. I think that's the, I think that's 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:58.919 how it was intended to be shared. Yes. And when 00:09:58.919 --> 00:10:01.340 we say yes, we have direct access to his help 00:10:01.340 --> 00:10:03.600 in that calling. Totally agree with that. When 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:05.740 we work with Christ, he promises to yoke himself 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:08.200 with us and make the burden lighter. I have felt 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:10.080 this blessing many times in my own life and can 00:10:10.080 --> 00:10:13.019 testify that it is true. When life feels particularly 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:15.419 challenging and it calling comes that feels like 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:18.840 just one more thing you don't have time for, 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:21.220 please consider that it is a loving Heavenly 00:10:21.220 --> 00:10:24.279 Father who wants you to have more direct access 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:27.100 to the power that you will have with His Son 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:30.059 as together you serve the children of God. I 00:10:30.059 --> 00:10:32.000 think it's universal truth that the easiest way 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:34.200 to forget about your own troubles is in the service 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:36.759 of others and helping them find relief. in their 00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:39.080 problems. Yeah. Thank you for testifying of that. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:41.700 I think that's so true. Have you ever considered 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:43.799 what calling you could be given that would be 00:10:43.799 --> 00:10:45.940 like the absolute worst thing you'd have to say 00:10:45.940 --> 00:10:48.600 yes to? Like it'd be the test of all tests. I 00:10:48.600 --> 00:10:51.179 promise myself that I never say it out loud. 00:10:51.279 --> 00:10:53.740 I know. I'm going to say it for you. No, knock 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:55.600 on wood. Right? Would it be something like that? 00:10:55.820 --> 00:10:58.200 Yeah. And I've also, before it was being a president 00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:59.500 of something, and I just always said, Heavenly 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.480 Father, if you make me a president of something, 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:03.820 then I need my first counselor to be whatever 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:06.000 I lack. I need her to have it. So we can be a 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:08.600 perfect combination. And he absolutely did that. 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:11.779 So I'm not really so much nervous of callings. 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:14.399 I feel like the Lord has me and I'm also like 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.620 more aware of what I have to give to where like 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:19.580 I can totally make anything work and have a good 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:21.480 team do it. I'm not saying I'm a person who does 00:11:21.480 --> 00:11:24.039 it all, but the team makes it happen with the 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:27.399 Lord. I think, I don't want to like call anybody 00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:29.399 out on this, but I think the unhappiest people 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:31.440 in their callings in church are the ones that 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.340 are trying to shoulder the burden. by themselves 00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:36.539 and i'm even saying to the point where like they 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:38.700 think it's on them that they they don't give 00:11:38.700 --> 00:11:41.100 enough to jesus christ and they don't give enough 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:43.000 to the people that are meant as their support 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:45.960 system right for it and i i know that that might 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:47.639 sound terrible like i'm not saying if you're 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:49.519 having a hard time you're calling that i'm i'm 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.360 not calling you out and saying that's you in 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:54.590 particular i am saying Don't feel like you have 00:11:54.590 --> 00:11:57.169 to shoulder that yourself. Like, where is the 00:11:57.169 --> 00:11:58.950 peace lacking and who can you call in help for? 00:11:59.029 --> 00:12:00.830 You brought that up earlier in the podcast. And 00:12:00.830 --> 00:12:04.710 I wonder if I've just been so blessed with the 00:12:04.710 --> 00:12:06.269 right people supporting me in the callings that 00:12:06.269 --> 00:12:08.389 I have, or I've been that supportive counselor 00:12:08.389 --> 00:12:11.190 at whatever capacity I need to be for them, that 00:12:11.190 --> 00:12:15.350 it's worked well. I'm happy to serve. in my primary 00:12:15.350 --> 00:12:17.090 calling right now. I think it's like the sweetest 00:12:17.090 --> 00:12:19.690 little gig. I do too. It's my own personal study. 00:12:19.850 --> 00:12:22.629 And then you just kind of roll in and you're 00:12:22.629 --> 00:12:24.370 just like, what do these kids need for like the 00:12:24.370 --> 00:12:26.149 15 minutes that we'll have their attention? We 00:12:26.149 --> 00:12:28.629 get to participate in singing time. And honestly, 00:12:28.870 --> 00:12:33.970 it doesn't cause so much, like I say, like heartache 00:12:33.970 --> 00:12:35.750 during the week or like a heartburn during the 00:12:35.750 --> 00:12:38.090 week that I don't have time to juggle the podcast. 00:12:38.769 --> 00:12:42.299 And, you know. spend more time, you know, ministering 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:44.539 or hit the temple. It's a good balance. He could 00:12:44.539 --> 00:12:46.679 hit me with more, but I mean, I've asked that, 00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:48.679 like, you know, what more can I be doing? And 00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:51.000 I think things are going fine right now. The 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:52.860 primary calling is just like a sweet little spot. 00:12:53.210 --> 00:12:56.529 It totally is. Right, the second. But also what 00:12:56.529 --> 00:12:58.289 I love about the primary calling is it does take 00:12:58.289 --> 00:13:01.029 us away from early society and it does make the 00:13:01.029 --> 00:13:02.830 time that we get to spend on the podcast and 00:13:02.830 --> 00:13:05.370 preparing and being in these conference talks 00:13:05.370 --> 00:13:07.370 more special because we aren't rubbing shoulders 00:13:07.370 --> 00:13:09.710 with our sisters in that way. You're right. I 00:13:09.710 --> 00:13:11.309 do miss that from time to time that I have to 00:13:11.309 --> 00:13:13.210 remember how much I love the primary songs and 00:13:13.210 --> 00:13:15.450 how much I love the primary kids. Exactly. Yes. 00:13:16.409 --> 00:13:18.570 When I think of the calling that is the most 00:13:18.570 --> 00:13:20.889 terrifying to me, it would be adult Sunday school. 00:13:21.090 --> 00:13:26.600 Yeah. Elder Shumway shared, he was invited to 00:13:26.600 --> 00:13:28.200 be the activities planner in a singles ward. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:31.519 He said, I learned this lesson while working 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:34.159 and studying chemical engineering in college. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.940 I was asked to be the activities planner for 00:13:35.940 --> 00:13:38.220 a singles ward. This was my first nightmare calling. 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:40.740 Still, I accepted. And at first, it was a drudgery. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:44.379 And then one activity, a beautiful girl was smitten 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:46.379 by the way I served ice cream. She returned three 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:48.600 times, hoping to catch my attention. We fell 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:51.019 in love. And she promised me just two weeks later, 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:53.860 well, maybe it's not quite that fast. And I was 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:55.840 the one that proposed. But the truth is, I think 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:58.860 I shudder to think of missing out on Heidi had 00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:01.039 I said. note to that calling. That's so fantastic. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:05.179 God could do this work without us. That's absolutely 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:07.440 true. We don't engage in God's work because God 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:10.100 needs us, but because we need God and his mighty 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:13.500 blessings. He promises, for behold, I will bless 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:16.440 all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:18.539 blessing. So let's dive a little deeper into 00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.799 the three principles that teach how our participation 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:25.259 in God's work blesses and helps us prepare to 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:27.519 meet the Savior. Abby, do you want to take the 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:30.279 first one? Yes. The first one says, as we participate, 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:33.509 we progress. towards the measure of our creation. 00:14:34.129 --> 00:14:36.490 100%. Yes, we learn this pattern in the account 00:14:36.490 --> 00:14:38.429 of the creation. After each day of labor, God 00:14:38.429 --> 00:14:40.250 acknowledged the progress made by saying it was 00:14:40.250 --> 00:14:42.870 good. He did not say the work was finished, nor 00:14:42.870 --> 00:14:45.850 that it was perfect. But what he did say was 00:14:45.850 --> 00:14:47.710 that there was progress. And in God's eyes, that 00:14:47.710 --> 00:14:51.309 is good. I love this so much. I'm going to say 00:14:51.309 --> 00:14:54.450 it again. It was good. He did not say the work. 00:14:56.669 --> 00:14:59.029 I'm repeating the quote. He did not say that 00:14:59.029 --> 00:15:01.389 the work was finished or perfect, but that there 00:15:01.389 --> 00:15:03.850 was progress. Callings can feel overwhelming 00:15:03.850 --> 00:15:06.149 and the timing can feel off sometimes, but I 00:15:06.149 --> 00:15:08.730 would submit that a false perception of how a 00:15:08.730 --> 00:15:11.009 calling has to be executed or how a lesson has 00:15:11.009 --> 00:15:13.210 to go in order to feel good about what we've 00:15:13.210 --> 00:15:16.470 done are more of a stumbling block and not the 00:15:16.470 --> 00:15:18.970 expectation that the Father has of us. So if 00:15:18.970 --> 00:15:21.649 it's not from Father, then those false expectations 00:15:21.649 --> 00:15:24.559 are coming from somebody else. Pledge that's 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:26.460 coming, that's like the thought Satan wants us 00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:28.279 to have. We're not good enough in the calling 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:30.980 or we need to do more in the calling than really 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:33.299 physically we're able to, then he's winning. 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.419 We're not really taking the opportunity to grow 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:37.639 in the Lord. Calling should feel overwhelming 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:40.259 because we don't maybe naturally have the capacity 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:42.340 to do it and that we rely on Jesus Christ to 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:45.039 help fill in that difference. Absolutely. What 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.980 a feeling of relief it is when we remember that 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.559 we have the Savior. with us in the calling and 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:51.960 that we can leave it to him to be perfect for, 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.799 you know, for both of us. Yes. That's his job. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:56.919 Well, we're the only one expect to do the best 00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:59.720 we can. That's all that we're asked to do from 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:02.960 the talk. It says this callings do not determine 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:06.399 or validate a person's worth or worthiness. Amen 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:08.679 to that. Rather, as we labor with God and whenever 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:12.580 we. way he asks, we grow into the measure of 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:15.240 our own creation. I will say too, one time I 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:18.200 was prayer journaling with the Lord and just 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:21.120 asking about a certain, maybe a way to view a 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:23.840 calling. And I love the way that I felt like 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:28.259 he explained this to me is that imagine a Pharisee 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:30.870 having a calling. You would do it. Checkbook, 00:16:30.889 --> 00:16:33.750 checkbook. And check the box, right? Oh, sure. 00:16:33.970 --> 00:16:36.169 And I had never thought of it that way. Rather 00:16:36.169 --> 00:16:38.169 than like this says right here, like we do it 00:16:38.169 --> 00:16:40.990 so that we can continue to grow. We continue 00:16:40.990 --> 00:16:43.730 to get to know ourselves, how we work with the 00:16:43.730 --> 00:16:46.169 Lord, how He speaks through us, how we gather 00:16:46.169 --> 00:16:48.509 a team. I mean, there's just so many things we 00:16:48.509 --> 00:16:51.509 can learn. Also, great friendships, right? There 00:16:51.509 --> 00:16:53.490 are so many things we can learn when we put our 00:16:53.490 --> 00:16:55.210 heart into a calling and when we partner with 00:16:55.210 --> 00:16:57.850 the Lord. God rejoices in our progress and so 00:16:57.850 --> 00:17:00.620 should we. when we still have work to do. It's 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:02.840 a church culture thing to rank our worth by the 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.539 callings we have. That would be another thing, 00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:07.259 right? But it's very freeing when we actually, 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:10.480 for ourselves, see God's hand in selecting specific 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:14.000 callings at specific times or specific ministering 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:16.500 assignments that promoted the growth that we 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:18.420 wanted or needed in that particular time in our 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:20.200 life. We've said this before, and I'll totally 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.319 say it again. When we're praying for specific 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:25.500 things, He answers by giving us something that 00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:27.759 we can do, and that is at least the answer to 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:29.680 our... Or something we don't think we can do, 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:31.339 but it makes it possible that we can do them. 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:33.180 Then we all of a sudden grew in that thing we 00:17:33.180 --> 00:17:36.339 actually wanted. Boom, there was an answer. At 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:38.240 times we may lack the strength or the means to 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:40.099 serve in a calling. Still, we can engage in the 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:42.039 work and protect our testimonies through meaningful 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.599 ways like prayer and scripture study. Our loving 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:46.480 Heavenly Father does not condemn us when we are 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:49.099 willing but unable to serve. I think it's always 00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:51.000 nice to take a moment in prayer when being asked 00:17:51.000 --> 00:17:53.900 to serve and just say, is this calling for me? 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:57.809 Is it... from you. Love it. And especially when 00:17:57.809 --> 00:18:00.009 we can't see the beginning or to the end from 00:18:00.009 --> 00:18:02.049 the beginning, it's much more practical to say 00:18:02.049 --> 00:18:05.710 no. If you receive a witness that you're meant 00:18:05.710 --> 00:18:08.390 for the calling, the load, the load is much easier, 00:18:08.430 --> 00:18:10.269 much lighter to bear. Absolutely. When you want 00:18:10.269 --> 00:18:13.170 to say no, take it to prayer and see if your 00:18:13.170 --> 00:18:16.970 no can become a yes. It's also important to check 00:18:16.970 --> 00:18:19.049 in with God along the way. Don't think just saying 00:18:19.049 --> 00:18:22.730 yes to a calling is the end of the story. You 00:18:22.730 --> 00:18:24.990 can check in with Him and say things like, is 00:18:24.990 --> 00:18:28.849 this how you would have me do this calling? Can 00:18:28.849 --> 00:18:33.809 you help me see your way? I think it's the more 00:18:33.809 --> 00:18:35.710 effort that we put in trying to make our calling 00:18:35.710 --> 00:18:38.109 and assignment perfect, the harder it is to actually 00:18:38.109 --> 00:18:39.970 see the progress. And that was the point of this 00:18:39.970 --> 00:18:42.349 whole section. We leave perfection to Jesus Christ. 00:18:42.470 --> 00:18:45.240 We allow His grace to make. what we're putting 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:47.500 out as a decent offering something spectacular 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:51.019 i love i always love when i know i did my best 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:53.839 and it probably wasn't good enough something 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:56.619 spectacular happens it magnifies it glorifies 00:18:56.619 --> 00:19:00.890 him oh yeah It's the best. I can totally see 00:19:00.890 --> 00:19:04.509 that. Yeah. Okay. So now the second principle 00:19:04.509 --> 00:19:07.309 he teaches on how our participation in God's 00:19:07.309 --> 00:19:08.970 work blesses and helps us prepare to meet the 00:19:08.970 --> 00:19:11.450 Savior. The idea that our service elevates our 00:19:11.450 --> 00:19:14.230 homes and churches into holy places where we 00:19:14.230 --> 00:19:17.109 can practice covenant living. Yes, our covenants 00:19:17.109 --> 00:19:20.250 are individually made, but as we serve others, 00:19:20.390 --> 00:19:23.309 we are living that covenant. And then this is 00:19:23.309 --> 00:19:25.990 a quote. Callings surround us with opportunities 00:19:25.990 --> 00:19:28.650 to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill 00:19:28.650 --> 00:19:31.529 the law of Christ. So when we serve because we 00:19:31.529 --> 00:19:35.470 love God and want to live our covenants, service 00:19:35.470 --> 00:19:37.849 that seems dutiful and draining actually becomes 00:19:37.849 --> 00:19:40.849 joyful and transformative. Here we are with that 00:19:40.849 --> 00:19:44.089 word transformative again. So last week we talked 00:19:44.089 --> 00:19:46.890 about how worship is transformative. Like if 00:19:46.890 --> 00:19:48.490 it's not transformative, then we're not doing 00:19:48.490 --> 00:19:50.920 worship right, right? We can improve our worship. 00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:54.599 Exactly. Yeah. And right now it's saying that... 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:56.799 If you're doing your calling and it's just only 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.299 draining you. Yeah. Ask if there's a better way. 00:20:00.420 --> 00:20:02.140 There could be a better way. Yeah. Is there no 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:04.940 other way, right? Is there no other way? There's 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:07.799 gotta be. So yeah, I love that. If it's draining, 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.319 then it becomes joyful and transformative. It's 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:14.279 beautiful. It's the best. ordinances don't save 00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:15.980 us because they fulfill a heavenly checklist 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:18.660 rather when we live the covenants connected with 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:21.079 these ordinances we become the kind of person 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:25.680 who wants to be in god's presence very good this 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.980 understanding overcomes hesitations to serve 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:31.380 our preferences not to serve our preparation 00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:33.480 to meet jesus christ accelerates when we stop 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:35.680 asking what god will permit and start asking 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:38.309 what would he prefer That's great. That's right 00:20:38.309 --> 00:20:40.230 from the talk. I'm like, that's too good to change 00:20:40.230 --> 00:20:41.650 anything about it. This is such a good, like, 00:20:41.710 --> 00:20:44.650 I'm wishing, Abby, that I was studying this talk 00:20:44.650 --> 00:20:46.509 back when I was having that calling because you 00:20:46.509 --> 00:20:48.170 better believe I would have been asking different 00:20:48.170 --> 00:20:49.869 questions and I would have had a different outcome 00:20:49.869 --> 00:20:52.619 sooner. And it wouldn't drain my family. Like 00:20:52.619 --> 00:20:54.900 my husband was begging me not to do this again. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.579 He's like, our family can't take this. So, I 00:20:57.579 --> 00:20:59.759 mean, and I do feel like the Lord would have 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:02.259 shown me a different way. But in my mind, I was 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:04.660 like, no, I'm doing my duty. I'm answering the 00:21:04.660 --> 00:21:07.259 call to the Lord. And I could have learned a 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:10.539 different lesson. So I just love these words. 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:12.140 But you're learning it. You've learned it at 00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:14.980 whatever point. And now I'm good, right? It would 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:16.660 have been great, though, to learn it in the moment. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:19.519 So I'm just saying, like, this can be used right 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:21.319 now for anything. one who's in this you open 00:21:21.319 --> 00:21:23.440 my eyes to it i don't ever feel like i've been 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:29.160 burdened by um you know you're very capable no 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:30.819 it's not it's not that it's not my capability 00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:33.099 thing like i've always been really blessed um 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:36.390 i'm As a counselor, I feel like my job is like, 00:21:36.490 --> 00:21:38.950 what do you need me to do? I love it. Like when 00:21:38.950 --> 00:21:40.450 I'm in the young woman's like, like, let me have 00:21:40.450 --> 00:21:43.190 some stewardship over my like little posse of 00:21:43.190 --> 00:21:45.289 kids. But like as a group, as the whole thing, 00:21:45.369 --> 00:21:47.170 like whatever the president wants, I'm happy 00:21:47.170 --> 00:21:49.589 to to work under her direction because I do think 00:21:49.589 --> 00:21:51.509 she has the ability. She did have the ability 00:21:51.509 --> 00:21:53.670 to receive all of that for all of the girls. 00:21:53.849 --> 00:21:56.450 So on bigger group events, it's super important 00:21:56.450 --> 00:22:00.089 to take. But I'm only 40. Like there's going 00:22:00.089 --> 00:22:02.500 to be a lot more callings. you know, going forward. 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:04.500 And it's not likely that that's always going 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:07.259 to be the case, but rather than being angry and 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:09.980 upset of like a certain person, you know, you 00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:13.900 know, if we're team teaching primary and my partner, 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:18.160 like she flakes out or whatever, that I, that 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:20.700 there are ways and means to like have, have somebody 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.839 step in and not like not fill the burden. It's 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:25.420 Amy. Amy's my team, my team person. So she's 00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:27.319 not that way for me. And, and if, if she has 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.799 to be away or I have to be away, we usually are 00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:31.299 able to loop our husbands into it. My husband, 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:33.200 for sure, he loves primary. So any excuse to 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:36.500 be in there is great. But it can be any calling. 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:38.599 If administering assignment, like if you're feeling 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:42.220 like you're assigned to do something and you 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:44.180 just you can't connect with the person that you're 00:22:44.180 --> 00:22:46.299 supposed to be partnered with. I mean, at a certain 00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:49.480 point, I think a lot of us would be like, well, 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:51.880 it's my fault. And like my big job is to get 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:54.690 the partner there. If you take it to prayer and 00:22:54.690 --> 00:22:56.170 he's like, well, I really didn't mean you're 00:22:56.170 --> 00:22:57.690 going to do this assignment yourself, then you 00:22:57.690 --> 00:22:59.769 go by yourself. And if he's like, your job is 00:22:59.769 --> 00:23:02.250 just to get this partner out in the world, then 00:23:02.250 --> 00:23:06.349 he's going to help you do that. You're going 00:23:06.349 --> 00:23:08.650 to feel it. I just feel like the check -in is 00:23:08.650 --> 00:23:10.690 going to be super important going forward. I 00:23:10.690 --> 00:23:13.990 agree. I think this is going to hit me at some 00:23:13.990 --> 00:23:18.769 point. It hasn't been a problem so far, but I 00:23:18.769 --> 00:23:20.670 can totally appreciate other people are serving 00:23:20.670 --> 00:23:23.250 right now and they're just like, feeling overwhelmed 00:23:23.250 --> 00:23:25.450 by their callings. And it's like, there's more 00:23:25.450 --> 00:23:27.990 help that you can be asking for if that's the 00:23:27.990 --> 00:23:30.990 case. There are some words or branches that are 00:23:30.990 --> 00:23:34.230 so tiny that like one person is doing like seven 00:23:34.230 --> 00:23:36.349 things to keep things floating. But again, I 00:23:36.349 --> 00:23:40.630 would say, what... If you're limited in that 00:23:40.630 --> 00:23:43.269 numbers, what really needs to happen? Probably 00:23:43.269 --> 00:23:45.150 like if there's a handful of kids in that ward, 00:23:45.269 --> 00:23:47.769 we just scratch the Relief Society program. We'll 00:23:47.769 --> 00:23:49.710 do like a Relief Society activity in the midweek 00:23:49.710 --> 00:23:52.029 or whatever, you know, church wants. But like, 00:23:52.049 --> 00:23:54.269 we'll use your talents to teach these little 00:23:54.269 --> 00:23:56.349 children and we'll fill our cups in a different 00:23:56.349 --> 00:23:58.549 way. Yes. Rather than... On my mission, that 00:23:58.549 --> 00:24:00.529 was definitely happening in some branches. That's 00:24:00.529 --> 00:24:02.450 what I'm thinking. And it's like they had like 00:24:02.450 --> 00:24:04.430 a couple of primary kids and a couple of young 00:24:04.430 --> 00:24:06.069 women. And guess what? It was like all combined. 00:24:06.309 --> 00:24:08.309 Well, the young women could almost teach, you 00:24:08.309 --> 00:24:10.009 know. they would learn these things about teaching 00:24:10.009 --> 00:24:12.490 others. I don't know if that's totally appropriate, 00:24:12.670 --> 00:24:15.809 but I'll leave that to the priesthood and the 00:24:15.809 --> 00:24:18.930 people in charge of these things. But I do think 00:24:18.930 --> 00:24:20.789 that there's ways to, I don't think he ever means 00:24:20.789 --> 00:24:22.529 for us to tax ourselves and be like, okay, well, 00:24:22.609 --> 00:24:24.369 now all of you need to come and run the primary. 00:24:24.490 --> 00:24:25.930 And then now we all need to be the young women's 00:24:25.930 --> 00:24:27.569 presidency. And now we are going to run a relief 00:24:27.569 --> 00:24:30.089 society. I think he means for it as we're growing 00:24:30.089 --> 00:24:33.869 in numbers until we gather and we strengthen 00:24:33.869 --> 00:24:36.630 our numbers that we aren't expected to have 17 00:24:36.630 --> 00:24:40.569 hats on. I agree. I haven't experienced the church 00:24:40.569 --> 00:24:43.190 really in that way. Third, participating in God's 00:24:43.190 --> 00:24:46.170 work helps us receive God's gifts of grace and 00:24:46.170 --> 00:24:49.349 feel his greater love. We do not receive financial 00:24:49.349 --> 00:24:52.210 compensation for serving. That is absolutely 00:24:52.210 --> 00:24:56.869 true. Instead, scripture teaches that for our 00:24:56.869 --> 00:25:00.640 labor. We are to receive the grace of God that 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:03.339 we might wax strong in the spirit, have the knowledge 00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:06.440 of God, and teach with power and authority from 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:10.380 God. That is a very good trade. Not monetary, 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:12.299 but all of those things that build character, 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:14.440 right? Because of God's grace, our abilities 00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:17.400 or inabilities are not the principal basis for 00:25:17.400 --> 00:25:20.420 extending. or accepting a calling. God does not 00:25:20.420 --> 00:25:23.880 expect perfect performance or exceptional talent 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:27.440 to participate in his work. Amen to that. I'm 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:29.640 sure glad my resume would not probably scratch 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:32.599 for what's needed. It's funny because I remember 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:35.079 this been years ago. Someone said, a sister once 00:25:35.079 --> 00:25:38.349 said to me, I am so grateful that the Lord finally 00:25:38.349 --> 00:25:40.549 sees that what I have to give, that He needs 00:25:40.549 --> 00:25:43.130 that, you know? And in my mind, because I've 00:25:43.130 --> 00:25:45.750 never been equal to a task I've been asked to 00:25:45.750 --> 00:25:48.490 do, I thought in my mind, well, I know it doesn't 00:25:48.490 --> 00:25:49.589 work that way because it never works for me. 00:25:49.589 --> 00:25:50.569 Yeah, He didn't bench me and then pull me in 00:25:50.569 --> 00:25:53.329 when it's a calling I'm prepared for. He like 00:25:53.329 --> 00:25:55.329 throws the equipment on and is like, get out 00:25:55.329 --> 00:25:57.430 in the field, girl. Right? That's how it's always 00:25:57.430 --> 00:25:59.750 worked for me, you know? I've always been, yeah, 00:25:59.750 --> 00:26:01.910 exactly. Throw the equipment on, good luck. Just 00:26:01.910 --> 00:26:03.390 push me in the deep end kind of a thing. And 00:26:03.390 --> 00:26:04.710 I figured it out, right? I'm swimming pretty 00:26:04.710 --> 00:26:08.220 soon. And so I just said, you know, overall, 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:10.519 I feel like a willing heart is what the Lord 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:14.000 wants. Very true. We should all be praying for 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:18.279 the calling that we want the very least. It takes 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:20.619 faith to do something beyond our abilities. Our 00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:22.779 weaknesses are exposed. Callings that make us 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:25.380 uncomfortable are necessary for our growth. Individual 00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:28.539 talents and our relationship with the Savior 00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:31.400 are those two areas that I can see right up front. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:38.160 about our own abilities and we accomplish those 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:41.319 impossible oh that's what i'm trying to say when 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:43.700 we take a calling that we know is outside of 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:46.079 our normal talents and abilities we know that 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:48.519 it has to be the savior that helped us to accomplish 00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:50.339 those things that we were able to get done the 00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:53.819 impossible task that got done was by the grace 00:26:53.819 --> 00:26:58.180 of god and yes and that's um we we have the power 00:26:58.180 --> 00:27:00.950 to do those things with him You can't help but 00:27:00.950 --> 00:27:03.089 see his hand in your life when you reflect back 00:27:03.089 --> 00:27:04.809 on the things that you once thought were impossible 00:27:04.809 --> 00:27:07.509 that you actually didn't end up doing. Yes, I 00:27:07.509 --> 00:27:09.869 totally agree with that. I have to read this 00:27:09.869 --> 00:27:12.869 paragraph, Abby. So we will fall many times as 00:27:12.869 --> 00:27:15.230 we engage in God's work. But in our effort, Jesus 00:27:15.230 --> 00:27:18.329 Christ catches us. He gradually lifts us to experience 00:27:18.329 --> 00:27:21.710 salvation from failure. I love that. And fear 00:27:21.710 --> 00:27:25.190 and... Sorry, salvation from failure and fear 00:27:25.190 --> 00:27:27.829 and from feeling like we will never be enough. 00:27:28.049 --> 00:27:31.049 When we consecrate our meager but best effort, 00:27:31.250 --> 00:27:33.930 God magnifies it. When we sacrifice for Jesus 00:27:33.930 --> 00:27:37.089 Christ, he sanctifies us. This is the, here it 00:27:37.089 --> 00:27:39.650 is again, the transformative power of God's grace. 00:27:39.970 --> 00:27:42.890 As we serve, we grow in grace until we are prepared 00:27:42.890 --> 00:27:45.990 to be lifted up by the Father to stand before 00:27:45.990 --> 00:27:49.869 Jesus Christ. Man, this is a really great way 00:27:49.869 --> 00:27:54.069 to frame having callings. Right. It sounds a 00:27:54.069 --> 00:27:57.089 lot more like a gift and an opportunity for growth 00:27:57.089 --> 00:28:00.809 than maybe just the word calling does. Yep. And 00:28:00.809 --> 00:28:04.150 time and time again, it just keeps coming back 00:28:04.150 --> 00:28:07.509 to me. Check in with the Lord. uh you know you 00:28:07.509 --> 00:28:09.349 can you can even have a prayer that's saying 00:28:09.349 --> 00:28:11.470 hey help me be prepared to accept a calling as 00:28:11.470 --> 00:28:13.650 i come i said stop if you get asked to do a calling 00:28:13.650 --> 00:28:15.470 stop and pray and say is this from you is this 00:28:15.470 --> 00:28:18.089 for you and you know when you receive that confirmation 00:28:18.089 --> 00:28:19.490 that you know he's going to help you every step 00:28:19.490 --> 00:28:21.569 of the way even if it seems like you don't have 00:28:21.569 --> 00:28:23.009 the time to do what you need to do you don't 00:28:23.009 --> 00:28:25.170 have the ability to capacity or whatever but 00:28:25.170 --> 00:28:30.069 um i i love just kind of reminding myself check 00:28:30.069 --> 00:28:33.609 you know check in and do the tweaks and then 00:28:33.609 --> 00:28:35.710 you know at the end of that period of service 00:28:36.160 --> 00:28:38.940 I know it will be such a beautiful, it's a beautiful, 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:40.559 beautiful moment when you look back and you said, 00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:42.740 I did everything that I could have done in that 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:44.480 calling. I have no regrets. I left it on the 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:46.279 table. And that wasn't to the point of exhaustion. 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:49.259 It was like that I worked together with the Lord 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:53.240 in that calling. That's great. Okay. Last section 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:55.559 of this talk was one of my favorites, and it 00:28:55.559 --> 00:28:58.039 caused me to consider my own efforts as I help 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.940 others as they try to grow in their callings. 00:28:59.940 --> 00:29:02.180 Okay. Meaning, I know it's hard to be a Relay 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:05.400 Society president. ministering, learning the 00:29:05.400 --> 00:29:10.160 needs of the sisters. If I accept those, if I 00:29:10.160 --> 00:29:12.460 accept an assignment to, you know, do a Relief 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:14.579 Society lesson, if I fulfill my ministering assignments 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:17.960 in that way, I am helping my Relief Society president 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:21.559 not fill the 100 % burden of the calling that 00:29:21.559 --> 00:29:22.839 she's being asked to do. Because she's going 00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:24.619 to feel like, well, I didn't reach all the sisters. 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.299 I didn't do all of these things. And it's like, 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:29.319 you were never meant to. You were meant to oversee 00:29:29.319 --> 00:29:33.680 the delegation of things and manage. the things 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:35.559 are being done and doing some shifting, you know, 00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:37.819 as the Spirit impresses you, who do you reach 00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:42.019 out to talk, you know, do this enrichment activity, 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:44.880 minister to these sisters, but not to do it all. 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:47.700 I think that's where the calling can feel definitely 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:51.559 overwhelming. Or, you know, sitting in a Sunday 00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:54.200 school class, somebody's teaching that lesson, 00:29:54.380 --> 00:29:56.680 you know, they've put different levels of preparation 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:59.400 into it. Am I sitting there being impressed to 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:01.930 open my mouth and speak up? Do I keep quiet? 00:30:02.089 --> 00:30:04.750 Do I share? Do I participate? When I speak up 00:30:04.750 --> 00:30:06.690 as I'm impressed to speak up, then I'm supporting 00:30:06.690 --> 00:30:08.250 them in the calling that they're trying to do. 00:30:08.349 --> 00:30:11.450 I agree with that. There's a million little ways 00:30:11.450 --> 00:30:16.849 that we can contribute. make our worship time 00:30:16.849 --> 00:30:19.029 together more powerful. Another thing that I 00:30:19.029 --> 00:30:21.970 reflected on was a rebuke to myself. Like if 00:30:21.970 --> 00:30:25.109 I recognize somebody's doing a job and I don't 00:30:25.109 --> 00:30:26.630 particularly like the way that they're doing 00:30:26.630 --> 00:30:28.930 it, I'm trying to stop myself and correct them, 00:30:29.009 --> 00:30:31.930 correct my own thoughts and think they're also 00:30:31.930 --> 00:30:34.730 learning in their calling and they're getting 00:30:34.730 --> 00:30:37.369 what they need to out of this calling. It's not 00:30:37.369 --> 00:30:39.589 the way I would do it, but it doesn't mean it's 00:30:39.589 --> 00:30:41.589 the wrong way to do it. I can learn something 00:30:41.589 --> 00:30:44.700 from the way that they're serving. They are certainly 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:48.460 learning a lesson. Maybe I'm learning a little 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:50.720 bit about, you know, extending grace to others 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:53.119 and that hopefully that same grace is extended 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:55.500 to me when I'm certain that they've been like, 00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:57.220 that's not how I would do that call, you know, 00:30:57.220 --> 00:31:00.200 on the back end. From the talk, callings are 00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:02.400 sacred gifts from loving Heavenly Father to help 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:07.380 bring others with us to Jesus Christ. All right, 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:10.059 story time, Abby. John was not an active member 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:11.859 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day 00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:14.380 Saints when the bishop came and told him the 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:17.220 Lord had a work for him to do. John smoked for 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:19.799 years and tried to quit before without success, 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:22.500 but was invited to try again by the bishop, which 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:25.160 he did and recalls that he received heavenly 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:27.759 help to do so. That's so amazing. Then the state 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:29.359 president called him to serve in the bishopric. 00:31:29.460 --> 00:31:31.440 Initially, John hesitated because it would mean 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:33.960 giving up his tradition of attending Sunday football 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:36.759 games. But when the state president said the 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:39.250 calling came from the Lord. John agreed to serve. 00:31:39.549 --> 00:31:42.410 John later recognized that these sacrifices became 00:31:42.410 --> 00:31:44.890 spiritual turning points for him and his family 00:31:44.890 --> 00:31:47.230 because he said yes when it could have been so 00:31:47.230 --> 00:31:50.809 much easier to say no if the members in the ward 00:31:50.809 --> 00:31:53.410 judged John and didn't allow him to change. How 00:31:53.410 --> 00:31:55.829 different things would look. Yeah, right. What 00:31:55.829 --> 00:31:57.490 if the bishop had looked past his impression 00:31:57.490 --> 00:31:59.410 to call John because he's like, no, that's not 00:31:59.410 --> 00:32:01.190 for him. Yeah, John's not even attending. Right. 00:32:01.349 --> 00:32:03.910 John's got some mortal wisdom issues. Yeah. Maybe 00:32:03.910 --> 00:32:06.430 you've experienced wards where the same few faithful 00:32:06.430 --> 00:32:08.690 members have a first and second calling because 00:32:08.690 --> 00:32:11.069 there is a fear of inviting the unlikely to serve 00:32:11.069 --> 00:32:13.390 and learn and grow in a calling. This reminds 00:32:13.390 --> 00:32:15.589 me of something that Elder Bednar has taught. 00:32:16.349 --> 00:32:18.930 Abby, you want to share that? Yes. Elder Bednar 00:32:18.930 --> 00:32:21.930 said there's a scriptural mandate to let every 00:32:21.930 --> 00:32:24.730 woman and man learn their duty and to act like 00:32:24.730 --> 00:32:27.569 Christ could do the work on his own without us. 00:32:27.670 --> 00:32:29.630 But he lives the principle of letting us act 00:32:29.630 --> 00:32:31.869 and learn for ourselves. So he sends us in his 00:32:31.869 --> 00:32:36.079 place. It allows us to learn and grow to be like 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:38.819 Jesus Christ when we engage in his work. Totally. 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:41.559 I agree. We talked about this a week back during 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:45.779 the talk on worship. When we serve to magnify 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:48.680 Christ and not ourselves, our service becomes 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:51.680 joyful. When others leave our class, meeting, 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:54.220 ministering, visit, or activity, remembering 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:56.759 Christ more than they remember us, then the work 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:59.599 is energizing. Yeah, I love that. When we think 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:03.789 we have to be up there for like a... not comedy 00:33:03.789 --> 00:33:08.210 hour, but like, we put undue pressure on ourselves 00:33:08.210 --> 00:33:11.410 when we think that the lesson or whatever capacity 00:33:11.410 --> 00:33:14.190 we're being asked to serve is on us. Right. Or 00:33:14.190 --> 00:33:16.670 has to be new material. There's no new material 00:33:16.670 --> 00:33:20.430 in the church. Repetition is how we learn. Gospel 00:33:20.430 --> 00:33:22.990 principles are what they are. Coming out of somebody 00:33:22.990 --> 00:33:25.309 else's mouth as we worship together can change 00:33:25.309 --> 00:33:28.150 things in a second. So really the best thing, 00:33:28.170 --> 00:33:30.369 you know, as a teacher, asking the right question. 00:33:31.150 --> 00:33:33.529 And then as our children, we teach young children, 00:33:33.549 --> 00:33:35.349 if they get off kilter, that we can just loop 00:33:35.349 --> 00:33:41.430 them back in. Over and over. Any final thoughts? 00:33:41.769 --> 00:33:43.950 I've shared everything I wanted to. I think I 00:33:43.950 --> 00:33:47.089 have too. We'll wrap it up here. He shares, in 00:33:47.089 --> 00:33:49.230 earnestly seeking to represent the Savior, we 00:33:49.230 --> 00:33:51.630 become more like Him. That is the best preparation 00:33:51.630 --> 00:33:54.130 for the sacred moment when each of us will kneel 00:33:54.130 --> 00:33:56.670 and confess that Jesus is the Christ, which I 00:33:56.670 --> 00:33:59.539 witnessed that He... is and that President Russell 00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:02.259 M. Nelson is his voice unto the ends of the earth 00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:04.240 to help us prepare for that which is to come 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:07.140 in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:09.119 Thanks for joining us. See you next time.