Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference,
where two friends who love Jesus share our own
approach to studying the most recent General
Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's
jump into it. Today we're discussing the talk,
Participate to Prepare for Christ's Return. This
is by Elder Stephen D. Shumway of the Seventy.
You did that title good. Thanks, Abby. Welcome
today. So I'm going to jump in with a story that
he told at the beginning that's really cute.
So Elder Shumway is a newly called 70, and he
shared an encounter with Elder Neil L. Anderson
soon after his call. So standing in the hallway,
Elder Anderson walked by, and likely sensing
Elder Shumway's feelings of inadequacy, he smiled
and said, well, there looks like a man who has
no idea what he's doing, followed by, don't worry,
Elder Shumway, it gets better in five or six
years. I felt his pain at that moment. This calling
in that moment was causing Elder Shumway to feel
stretched beyond his reach. Haven't we each been
asked to serve in some capacity that has tested
our own limits? Why are we asked to do things
in God's kingdom that feel beyond our reach?
And then a follow up question would be, with
life's demands, have you asked why we even need
callings in the church? Good question. You would
know something about this. Is there a certain
age when you're done being a 70 and you become
a 70 emeritus? 70. That's what I thought. I knew
that. I wanted to be sure because I was like,
well, is there 70 in the quorum or is it age
70? And usually these people have like had a
career and then they like start at like 65, right?
So the math on that, this guy's probably 65 and
he's like, it'll be fine in five or six years.
You'll be released, which is funny. That just
came to mind when you retold that story. But
for Elder Shumway. Yeah, he was feeling overwhelmed
about this. And with life's demands, the question
you asked, with life's demands, have you asked
why we even need calling from the church? He
said that his answer came from a general conference
as the prophet spoke these words. Now is the
time for you and for me to prepare for the second
coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
When President Nelson said this, the Spirit taught
him that As we participate in God's work, like
ministering, temple worship, following promptings,
and saying yes to church callings, definitely
that stretch our capacity. We, in that way, prepare
ourselves and others for Christ's return. And
it's interesting to note that each person's personal
journey is so individual and unique that only
a loving father could have orchestrated the way
that things lined up. Yes. What callings we had
at what time, what people were in the callings
that we were serving in, who served us in their
capacity when we needed it at a certain time.
All of that. So tell me more about that, Abby.
Okay. Like reflecting back, like ministering
assignments that I've had. When I've been new
to a ward, maybe I've been asked to serve sisters
who'd been there for a while. And some of them
have become some of my best friends. For sure.
And those assignments, they're long past, but
those friendships still remain. And then, you
know, I feel like when I look back, I feel like
they were hand selected for me. They gave me
an opportunity to become more comfortable in
my new environment. It wasn't like the hardest
sisters in the ward to minister, the ones that
don't want to let you into the door. They were
very welcoming and inviting to come and sit.
And then we made deep and lasting friendships
out of it. I love that. And then in my current
ward, I've been here long enough that maybe my
ministering assignments are such that I can be
that friend to those new faces in the ward. They're
trying to get their feet wet and get comfortable
in the ward. So I think all of that timing doesn't
feel coincidental to me. So the tables have kind
of turned. I can be that friend to these other
sisters and make them comfortable. And then I've
reflected on some previous callings that I've
had over the years. Some were maybe the hardest
ones for me are the ones that I appreciate the
most now. That's good. Yeah. That's really great.
Probably because I can see the growth that I
had in my testimony or friendships that were
made in those particular callings. These callings
maybe caused me heartburn, indigestion, you know,
but they definitely stand out as my fondest memories
because the lessons that they taught me and the
testimony that they helped me grow and they've
made me who I am today. Absolutely. I totally
agree with that, Abby. It's really interesting
to look back and to be like, oh, see where the
growth was. My goodness. Never mind our dog.
So another thing, too, about this, like you were
saying, you know, thinking back to your hardest
calling or the one that was such a stretch for
you at that time because of the other things
that are happening in your life. Right. When
I look back at one of the callings I had, it
was. It was stake assistant, camp director, and
a lot was put on my plate to where I was actually
doing more like the secretary. And me being a
secretary for an entire stake thing, that is
not one of my strong suits. It is absolutely
not. So for me in that situation, I loved the
aspects of the spiritual aspects of it. I loved
all the things. It was those types of details
that I had a hard time with. And also at the
time, I didn't know how to say, this is what
my strength is. And I literally would have asked
for a secretary for myself. I would say, I will
absolutely do this calling and I need someone
else to help me with this part of it. Because
I was putting in like eight hours a day and I
had a toddler who was having really hard times
at the time. And it was just not, it was not
something that I had, I didn't have that time
for it. Do you know what I mean? No, that's really,
it's good to reflect back on that. Did you get
some extra skills in that secretarial part that
you didn't? possessed previously literally no
like I don't remember any of it like it's just
not a strong suit and it just stressed me out
big time so now I could say I knew exactly at
the time I was like well I just got to do it
because the Lord asked me to do it so I'm going
to do it right yeah no I love it and now I would
be like you were asked to be was the assistant
camp director you weren't necessarily asked for
that clerical part of things I get what you're
saying yeah because I was in a presidency a primary
presidency and we needed a little more help on
the secretary line so i was a counselor and i
did the assignments that you know michelle had
assigned to me but i also picked up a lot back
when we were doing the manuals and things and
having to get things ready or keeping track of
attendance yeah there were a lot of pieces of
that that didn't really stretch me but it's funny
it's like where you have to kind of pick up the
pieces if you don't have all of the right um
right callings in play. Yes. And I've also learned
as the days have gone by or the years have gone
by, looking around me and seeing other women,
I can totally see like faces of women that would
literally walk in. It would take them like 40
minutes a day to do what I was doing. And then
I would still be able to do my thing. So I just
really feel like when we're thinking about our
spiritual gifts. it really works well and there's
a beautiful flow. And I believe this is the way
that Lord intends things to be. When we walk
in and we give our all and we do our genius and
have someone else do their genius, no one is
tapped out to the point where they're like, I'm
going to scream if someone in my family asks
for one thing tonight. That's not how the Lord
wants us to be. Do you know what I mean? I totally
know what you mean. Because a lot of times, you
know, if you're the president, this particular
happens if you're the president of a, organization
for sure and names come to you for the counselors
that you're supposed to call and you don't necessarily
know these people you're like you're not just
calling your besties you're like i don't know
what that's all about and then time evolves and
things happen you went through a you you were
thinking uh round two of cancer was coming remember
when you were in that early i think it was the
young women's or was it a primary calling which
calling was it young women's and i remember we
reflected on the women that had been called to
serve with you who weren't initially friends
of yours yeah i didn't know them yet and then
we could sit and be like man they've got this
talent they've got this talent they can run with
this they can fill in these gaps here as you
were like um taking care of that business i love
those women like we still go to lunch i was gonna
say they're still some of your best friends they
totally are which is amazing abby i'm 100 with
you the lord knows us he knows what's happening
in our lives and he gives us the right people
so let me go jump back into this um God is pleased
when we engage in his work. In the majesty of
this moment, as God's kingdom expands and temples
dot the earth, there is a growing need for willing
souls, there we are, to engage in God's work.
Selflessly serving is the very essence of Christ
-like discipleship, but serving is rarely convenient.
It's not convenient, but you've given me some
good ideas on how we can make it more convenient.
Relying on others, seeing others through the
lens of what they bring to the table. You don't
have to be everything for every calling. You
can utilize other people's talents. And in utilizing
their talents, you can certainly grow in those
areas. It's not just saying, well, I'm not going
to grow that talent. That's not something I'm
naturally good at. You can kind of see their
processes and adopt them for yourselves because
a time may come up where you have to be that
role. Totally. Later. I totally agree. Anyway,
it just resonated. It's true what you shared.
Thanks for sharing that. Because we say yes when
it would be so much easier to say no or maybe
later, we receive blessings. From the talk, he
says, God delights to honor you for serving him
in righteousness. He promises great shall be
your reward and eternal shall be your glory.
So great. Those are great promises. They totally
are. Does it change the way we think about serving
in a calling when we think of it as saying yes
to Jesus Christ? Absolutely. I totally believe
that's the way that it is. And not in a guilt
driven way. No way. In that, like, I'm your girl
kind of a thing. That's exactly how we can do
this together. I think that's the, I think that's
how it was intended to be shared. Yes. And when
we say yes, we have direct access to his help
in that calling. Totally agree with that. When
we work with Christ, he promises to yoke himself
with us and make the burden lighter. I have felt
this blessing many times in my own life and can
testify that it is true. When life feels particularly
challenging and it calling comes that feels like
just one more thing you don't have time for,
please consider that it is a loving Heavenly
Father who wants you to have more direct access
to the power that you will have with His Son
as together you serve the children of God. I
think it's universal truth that the easiest way
to forget about your own troubles is in the service
of others and helping them find relief. in their
problems. Yeah. Thank you for testifying of that.
I think that's so true. Have you ever considered
what calling you could be given that would be
like the absolute worst thing you'd have to say
yes to? Like it'd be the test of all tests. I
promise myself that I never say it out loud.
I know. I'm going to say it for you. No, knock
on wood. Right? Would it be something like that?
Yeah. And I've also, before it was being a president
of something, and I just always said, Heavenly
Father, if you make me a president of something,
then I need my first counselor to be whatever
I lack. I need her to have it. So we can be a
perfect combination. And he absolutely did that.
So I'm not really so much nervous of callings.
I feel like the Lord has me and I'm also like
more aware of what I have to give to where like
I can totally make anything work and have a good
team do it. I'm not saying I'm a person who does
it all, but the team makes it happen with the
Lord. I think, I don't want to like call anybody
out on this, but I think the unhappiest people
in their callings in church are the ones that
are trying to shoulder the burden. by themselves
and i'm even saying to the point where like they
think it's on them that they they don't give
enough to jesus christ and they don't give enough
to the people that are meant as their support
system right for it and i i know that that might
sound terrible like i'm not saying if you're
having a hard time you're calling that i'm i'm
not calling you out and saying that's you in
particular i am saying Don't feel like you have
to shoulder that yourself. Like, where is the
peace lacking and who can you call in help for?
You brought that up earlier in the podcast. And
I wonder if I've just been so blessed with the
right people supporting me in the callings that
I have, or I've been that supportive counselor
at whatever capacity I need to be for them, that
it's worked well. I'm happy to serve. in my primary
calling right now. I think it's like the sweetest
little gig. I do too. It's my own personal study.
And then you just kind of roll in and you're
just like, what do these kids need for like the
15 minutes that we'll have their attention? We
get to participate in singing time. And honestly,
it doesn't cause so much, like I say, like heartache
during the week or like a heartburn during the
week that I don't have time to juggle the podcast.
And, you know. spend more time, you know, ministering
or hit the temple. It's a good balance. He could
hit me with more, but I mean, I've asked that,
like, you know, what more can I be doing? And
I think things are going fine right now. The
primary calling is just like a sweet little spot.
It totally is. Right, the second. But also what
I love about the primary calling is it does take
us away from early society and it does make the
time that we get to spend on the podcast and
preparing and being in these conference talks
more special because we aren't rubbing shoulders
with our sisters in that way. You're right. I
do miss that from time to time that I have to
remember how much I love the primary songs and
how much I love the primary kids. Exactly. Yes.
When I think of the calling that is the most
terrifying to me, it would be adult Sunday school.
Yeah. Elder Shumway shared, he was invited to
be the activities planner in a singles ward.
He said, I learned this lesson while working
and studying chemical engineering in college.
I was asked to be the activities planner for
a singles ward. This was my first nightmare calling.
Still, I accepted. And at first, it was a drudgery.
And then one activity, a beautiful girl was smitten
by the way I served ice cream. She returned three
times, hoping to catch my attention. We fell
in love. And she promised me just two weeks later,
well, maybe it's not quite that fast. And I was
the one that proposed. But the truth is, I think
I shudder to think of missing out on Heidi had
I said. note to that calling. That's so fantastic.
God could do this work without us. That's absolutely
true. We don't engage in God's work because God
needs us, but because we need God and his mighty
blessings. He promises, for behold, I will bless
all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty
blessing. So let's dive a little deeper into
the three principles that teach how our participation
in God's work blesses and helps us prepare to
meet the Savior. Abby, do you want to take the
first one? Yes. The first one says, as we participate,
we progress. towards the measure of our creation.
100%. Yes, we learn this pattern in the account
of the creation. After each day of labor, God
acknowledged the progress made by saying it was
good. He did not say the work was finished, nor
that it was perfect. But what he did say was
that there was progress. And in God's eyes, that
is good. I love this so much. I'm going to say
it again. It was good. He did not say the work.
I'm repeating the quote. He did not say that
the work was finished or perfect, but that there
was progress. Callings can feel overwhelming
and the timing can feel off sometimes, but I
would submit that a false perception of how a
calling has to be executed or how a lesson has
to go in order to feel good about what we've
done are more of a stumbling block and not the
expectation that the Father has of us. So if
it's not from Father, then those false expectations
are coming from somebody else. Pledge that's
coming, that's like the thought Satan wants us
to have. We're not good enough in the calling
or we need to do more in the calling than really
physically we're able to, then he's winning.
We're not really taking the opportunity to grow
in the Lord. Calling should feel overwhelming
because we don't maybe naturally have the capacity
to do it and that we rely on Jesus Christ to
help fill in that difference. Absolutely. What
a feeling of relief it is when we remember that
we have the Savior. with us in the calling and
that we can leave it to him to be perfect for,
you know, for both of us. Yes. That's his job.
Well, we're the only one expect to do the best
we can. That's all that we're asked to do from
the talk. It says this callings do not determine
or validate a person's worth or worthiness. Amen
to that. Rather, as we labor with God and whenever
we. way he asks, we grow into the measure of
our own creation. I will say too, one time I
was prayer journaling with the Lord and just
asking about a certain, maybe a way to view a
calling. And I love the way that I felt like
he explained this to me is that imagine a Pharisee
having a calling. You would do it. Checkbook,
checkbook. And check the box, right? Oh, sure.
And I had never thought of it that way. Rather
than like this says right here, like we do it
so that we can continue to grow. We continue
to get to know ourselves, how we work with the
Lord, how He speaks through us, how we gather
a team. I mean, there's just so many things we
can learn. Also, great friendships, right? There
are so many things we can learn when we put our
heart into a calling and when we partner with
the Lord. God rejoices in our progress and so
should we. when we still have work to do. It's
a church culture thing to rank our worth by the
callings we have. That would be another thing,
right? But it's very freeing when we actually,
for ourselves, see God's hand in selecting specific
callings at specific times or specific ministering
assignments that promoted the growth that we
wanted or needed in that particular time in our
life. We've said this before, and I'll totally
say it again. When we're praying for specific
things, He answers by giving us something that
we can do, and that is at least the answer to
our... Or something we don't think we can do,
but it makes it possible that we can do them.
Then we all of a sudden grew in that thing we
actually wanted. Boom, there was an answer. At
times we may lack the strength or the means to
serve in a calling. Still, we can engage in the
work and protect our testimonies through meaningful
ways like prayer and scripture study. Our loving
Heavenly Father does not condemn us when we are
willing but unable to serve. I think it's always
nice to take a moment in prayer when being asked
to serve and just say, is this calling for me?
Is it... from you. Love it. And especially when
we can't see the beginning or to the end from
the beginning, it's much more practical to say
no. If you receive a witness that you're meant
for the calling, the load, the load is much easier,
much lighter to bear. Absolutely. When you want
to say no, take it to prayer and see if your
no can become a yes. It's also important to check
in with God along the way. Don't think just saying
yes to a calling is the end of the story. You
can check in with Him and say things like, is
this how you would have me do this calling? Can
you help me see your way? I think it's the more
effort that we put in trying to make our calling
and assignment perfect, the harder it is to actually
see the progress. And that was the point of this
whole section. We leave perfection to Jesus Christ.
We allow His grace to make. what we're putting
out as a decent offering something spectacular
i love i always love when i know i did my best
and it probably wasn't good enough something
spectacular happens it magnifies it glorifies
him oh yeah It's the best. I can totally see
that. Yeah. Okay. So now the second principle
he teaches on how our participation in God's
work blesses and helps us prepare to meet the
Savior. The idea that our service elevates our
homes and churches into holy places where we
can practice covenant living. Yes, our covenants
are individually made, but as we serve others,
we are living that covenant. And then this is
a quote. Callings surround us with opportunities
to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill
the law of Christ. So when we serve because we
love God and want to live our covenants, service
that seems dutiful and draining actually becomes
joyful and transformative. Here we are with that
word transformative again. So last week we talked
about how worship is transformative. Like if
it's not transformative, then we're not doing
worship right, right? We can improve our worship.
Exactly. Yeah. And right now it's saying that...
If you're doing your calling and it's just only
draining you. Yeah. Ask if there's a better way.
There could be a better way. Yeah. Is there no
other way, right? Is there no other way? There's
gotta be. So yeah, I love that. If it's draining,
then it becomes joyful and transformative. It's
beautiful. It's the best. ordinances don't save
us because they fulfill a heavenly checklist
rather when we live the covenants connected with
these ordinances we become the kind of person
who wants to be in god's presence very good this
understanding overcomes hesitations to serve
our preferences not to serve our preparation
to meet jesus christ accelerates when we stop
asking what god will permit and start asking
what would he prefer That's great. That's right
from the talk. I'm like, that's too good to change
anything about it. This is such a good, like,
I'm wishing, Abby, that I was studying this talk
back when I was having that calling because you
better believe I would have been asking different
questions and I would have had a different outcome
sooner. And it wouldn't drain my family. Like
my husband was begging me not to do this again.
He's like, our family can't take this. So, I
mean, and I do feel like the Lord would have
shown me a different way. But in my mind, I was
like, no, I'm doing my duty. I'm answering the
call to the Lord. And I could have learned a
different lesson. So I just love these words.
But you're learning it. You've learned it at
whatever point. And now I'm good, right? It would
have been great, though, to learn it in the moment.
So I'm just saying, like, this can be used right
now for anything. one who's in this you open
my eyes to it i don't ever feel like i've been
burdened by um you know you're very capable no
it's not it's not that it's not my capability
thing like i've always been really blessed um
i'm As a counselor, I feel like my job is like,
what do you need me to do? I love it. Like when
I'm in the young woman's like, like, let me have
some stewardship over my like little posse of
kids. But like as a group, as the whole thing,
like whatever the president wants, I'm happy
to to work under her direction because I do think
she has the ability. She did have the ability
to receive all of that for all of the girls.
So on bigger group events, it's super important
to take. But I'm only 40. Like there's going
to be a lot more callings. you know, going forward.
And it's not likely that that's always going
to be the case, but rather than being angry and
upset of like a certain person, you know, you
know, if we're team teaching primary and my partner,
like she flakes out or whatever, that I, that
there are ways and means to like have, have somebody
step in and not like not fill the burden. It's
Amy. Amy's my team, my team person. So she's
not that way for me. And, and if, if she has
to be away or I have to be away, we usually are
able to loop our husbands into it. My husband,
for sure, he loves primary. So any excuse to
be in there is great. But it can be any calling.
If administering assignment, like if you're feeling
like you're assigned to do something and you
just you can't connect with the person that you're
supposed to be partnered with. I mean, at a certain
point, I think a lot of us would be like, well,
it's my fault. And like my big job is to get
the partner there. If you take it to prayer and
he's like, well, I really didn't mean you're
going to do this assignment yourself, then you
go by yourself. And if he's like, your job is
just to get this partner out in the world, then
he's going to help you do that. You're going
to feel it. I just feel like the check -in is
going to be super important going forward. I
agree. I think this is going to hit me at some
point. It hasn't been a problem so far, but I
can totally appreciate other people are serving
right now and they're just like, feeling overwhelmed
by their callings. And it's like, there's more
help that you can be asking for if that's the
case. There are some words or branches that are
so tiny that like one person is doing like seven
things to keep things floating. But again, I
would say, what... If you're limited in that
numbers, what really needs to happen? Probably
like if there's a handful of kids in that ward,
we just scratch the Relief Society program. We'll
do like a Relief Society activity in the midweek
or whatever, you know, church wants. But like,
we'll use your talents to teach these little
children and we'll fill our cups in a different
way. Yes. Rather than... On my mission, that
was definitely happening in some branches. That's
what I'm thinking. And it's like they had like
a couple of primary kids and a couple of young
women. And guess what? It was like all combined.
Well, the young women could almost teach, you
know. they would learn these things about teaching
others. I don't know if that's totally appropriate,
but I'll leave that to the priesthood and the
people in charge of these things. But I do think
that there's ways to, I don't think he ever means
for us to tax ourselves and be like, okay, well,
now all of you need to come and run the primary.
And then now we all need to be the young women's
presidency. And now we are going to run a relief
society. I think he means for it as we're growing
in numbers until we gather and we strengthen
our numbers that we aren't expected to have 17
hats on. I agree. I haven't experienced the church
really in that way. Third, participating in God's
work helps us receive God's gifts of grace and
feel his greater love. We do not receive financial
compensation for serving. That is absolutely
true. Instead, scripture teaches that for our
labor. We are to receive the grace of God that
we might wax strong in the spirit, have the knowledge
of God, and teach with power and authority from
God. That is a very good trade. Not monetary,
but all of those things that build character,
right? Because of God's grace, our abilities
or inabilities are not the principal basis for
extending. or accepting a calling. God does not
expect perfect performance or exceptional talent
to participate in his work. Amen to that. I'm
sure glad my resume would not probably scratch
for what's needed. It's funny because I remember
this been years ago. Someone said, a sister once
said to me, I am so grateful that the Lord finally
sees that what I have to give, that He needs
that, you know? And in my mind, because I've
never been equal to a task I've been asked to
do, I thought in my mind, well, I know it doesn't
work that way because it never works for me.
Yeah, He didn't bench me and then pull me in
when it's a calling I'm prepared for. He like
throws the equipment on and is like, get out
in the field, girl. Right? That's how it's always
worked for me, you know? I've always been, yeah,
exactly. Throw the equipment on, good luck. Just
push me in the deep end kind of a thing. And
I figured it out, right? I'm swimming pretty
soon. And so I just said, you know, overall,
I feel like a willing heart is what the Lord
wants. Very true. We should all be praying for
the calling that we want the very least. It takes
faith to do something beyond our abilities. Our
weaknesses are exposed. Callings that make us
uncomfortable are necessary for our growth. Individual
talents and our relationship with the Savior
are those two areas that I can see right up front.
about our own abilities and we accomplish those
impossible oh that's what i'm trying to say when
we take a calling that we know is outside of
our normal talents and abilities we know that
it has to be the savior that helped us to accomplish
those things that we were able to get done the
impossible task that got done was by the grace
of god and yes and that's um we we have the power
to do those things with him You can't help but
see his hand in your life when you reflect back
on the things that you once thought were impossible
that you actually didn't end up doing. Yes, I
totally agree with that. I have to read this
paragraph, Abby. So we will fall many times as
we engage in God's work. But in our effort, Jesus
Christ catches us. He gradually lifts us to experience
salvation from failure. I love that. And fear
and... Sorry, salvation from failure and fear
and from feeling like we will never be enough.
When we consecrate our meager but best effort,
God magnifies it. When we sacrifice for Jesus
Christ, he sanctifies us. This is the, here it
is again, the transformative power of God's grace.
As we serve, we grow in grace until we are prepared
to be lifted up by the Father to stand before
Jesus Christ. Man, this is a really great way
to frame having callings. Right. It sounds a
lot more like a gift and an opportunity for growth
than maybe just the word calling does. Yep. And
time and time again, it just keeps coming back
to me. Check in with the Lord. uh you know you
can you can even have a prayer that's saying
hey help me be prepared to accept a calling as
i come i said stop if you get asked to do a calling
stop and pray and say is this from you is this
for you and you know when you receive that confirmation
that you know he's going to help you every step
of the way even if it seems like you don't have
the time to do what you need to do you don't
have the ability to capacity or whatever but
um i i love just kind of reminding myself check
you know check in and do the tweaks and then
you know at the end of that period of service
I know it will be such a beautiful, it's a beautiful,
beautiful moment when you look back and you said,
I did everything that I could have done in that
calling. I have no regrets. I left it on the
table. And that wasn't to the point of exhaustion.
It was like that I worked together with the Lord
in that calling. That's great. Okay. Last section
of this talk was one of my favorites, and it
caused me to consider my own efforts as I help
others as they try to grow in their callings.
Okay. Meaning, I know it's hard to be a Relay
Society president. ministering, learning the
needs of the sisters. If I accept those, if I
accept an assignment to, you know, do a Relief
Society lesson, if I fulfill my ministering assignments
in that way, I am helping my Relief Society president
not fill the 100 % burden of the calling that
she's being asked to do. Because she's going
to feel like, well, I didn't reach all the sisters.
I didn't do all of these things. And it's like,
you were never meant to. You were meant to oversee
the delegation of things and manage. the things
are being done and doing some shifting, you know,
as the Spirit impresses you, who do you reach
out to talk, you know, do this enrichment activity,
minister to these sisters, but not to do it all.
I think that's where the calling can feel definitely
overwhelming. Or, you know, sitting in a Sunday
school class, somebody's teaching that lesson,
you know, they've put different levels of preparation
into it. Am I sitting there being impressed to
open my mouth and speak up? Do I keep quiet?
Do I share? Do I participate? When I speak up
as I'm impressed to speak up, then I'm supporting
them in the calling that they're trying to do.
I agree with that. There's a million little ways
that we can contribute. make our worship time
together more powerful. Another thing that I
reflected on was a rebuke to myself. Like if
I recognize somebody's doing a job and I don't
particularly like the way that they're doing
it, I'm trying to stop myself and correct them,
correct my own thoughts and think they're also
learning in their calling and they're getting
what they need to out of this calling. It's not
the way I would do it, but it doesn't mean it's
the wrong way to do it. I can learn something
from the way that they're serving. They are certainly
learning a lesson. Maybe I'm learning a little
bit about, you know, extending grace to others
and that hopefully that same grace is extended
to me when I'm certain that they've been like,
that's not how I would do that call, you know,
on the back end. From the talk, callings are
sacred gifts from loving Heavenly Father to help
bring others with us to Jesus Christ. All right,
story time, Abby. John was not an active member
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day
Saints when the bishop came and told him the
Lord had a work for him to do. John smoked for
years and tried to quit before without success,
but was invited to try again by the bishop, which
he did and recalls that he received heavenly
help to do so. That's so amazing. Then the state
president called him to serve in the bishopric.
Initially, John hesitated because it would mean
giving up his tradition of attending Sunday football
games. But when the state president said the
calling came from the Lord. John agreed to serve.
John later recognized that these sacrifices became
spiritual turning points for him and his family
because he said yes when it could have been so
much easier to say no if the members in the ward
judged John and didn't allow him to change. How
different things would look. Yeah, right. What
if the bishop had looked past his impression
to call John because he's like, no, that's not
for him. Yeah, John's not even attending. Right.
John's got some mortal wisdom issues. Yeah. Maybe
you've experienced wards where the same few faithful
members have a first and second calling because
there is a fear of inviting the unlikely to serve
and learn and grow in a calling. This reminds
me of something that Elder Bednar has taught.
Abby, you want to share that? Yes. Elder Bednar
said there's a scriptural mandate to let every
woman and man learn their duty and to act like
Christ could do the work on his own without us.
But he lives the principle of letting us act
and learn for ourselves. So he sends us in his
place. It allows us to learn and grow to be like
Jesus Christ when we engage in his work. Totally.
I agree. We talked about this a week back during
the talk on worship. When we serve to magnify
Christ and not ourselves, our service becomes
joyful. When others leave our class, meeting,
ministering, visit, or activity, remembering
Christ more than they remember us, then the work
is energizing. Yeah, I love that. When we think
we have to be up there for like a... not comedy
hour, but like, we put undue pressure on ourselves
when we think that the lesson or whatever capacity
we're being asked to serve is on us. Right. Or
has to be new material. There's no new material
in the church. Repetition is how we learn. Gospel
principles are what they are. Coming out of somebody
else's mouth as we worship together can change
things in a second. So really the best thing,
you know, as a teacher, asking the right question.
And then as our children, we teach young children,
if they get off kilter, that we can just loop
them back in. Over and over. Any final thoughts?
I've shared everything I wanted to. I think I
have too. We'll wrap it up here. He shares, in
earnestly seeking to represent the Savior, we
become more like Him. That is the best preparation
for the sacred moment when each of us will kneel
and confess that Jesus is the Christ, which I
witnessed that He... is and that President Russell
M. Nelson is his voice unto the ends of the earth
to help us prepare for that which is to come
in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.
Thanks for joining us. See you next time.