Starfish
Please no sarcasm
Well, I'm sure you've heard all the excuses about harried and over-busy bishops, so I won't go there. It's just sad.
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Should An LDS Member Turn Down A Calling?
- Thread starter zippythepinhead
- Start date
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
I can accept an excuse. I can't ever imagine how hectic the life of a bishop must be. What I can't accept is the fact that he never tried to make it right. He couldn't have possibly have spaced their initial conversation the first time he saw her afterwards. He knew he'd missed an appointment. It was his responsibility to apologize and set up a new appointment. He was a good bishop, but he messed up big time that time.
zippythepinhead
Your Tax Dollars At Work
Revised. For turning down Gospel Doctrine you will have to cook food for the ex tax collecters in the Telestial Kingdom
SoyLeche
meh...
You don't even want to think about what the punishment would be if you turn down the calling to be "Assistent Relief Society Greeter". :cover:Revised. For turning down Gospel Doctrine you will have to cook food for the ex tax collecters in the Telestial Kingdom
madhatter85
Transhumanist
lol, they come up with some funky ones for new members to have callings.
i was recently called as a Ward Missionary.... it's pretty cool but i don't realyl know what to do.
i was recently called as a Ward Missionary.... it's pretty cool but i don't realyl know what to do.
Starfish
Please no sarcasm
I was one once. So I prayed for missionary opportunities. Would you believe it--THEY HAPPENED! Who would have thought? It was almost spooky.
Then again, we all should be doing this.
zippythepinhead
Your Tax Dollars At Work
I am currently the Facilitier Coordinator aka Building Cleaning Nazi.:knight:
ladybug83
Member
I don't exactly understand calling by inspiration, either, because I've also known women who've been called to work with children when they knew they wouldn't be able to handle a room full of them. To appreciate children is one thing but to teach a number of them takes a certain individual. However, I don't doubt calling by inspiration and believe that people are called for a reason, whatever it may be. Like someone had mentioned before, perhaps the only way a ward could learn something about one of its members is for its leaders to first feel inspired enough to call that person to serve. Just an example.
It's a blessing to be called and a privilege to fulfill it, but each member has his/her life outside of the church and the challenges that accompany it. I don't think the choice to accept or decline a calling can ever be considered wrong or right in the general terms--only wrong or right for that individual at that time of his/her life. Each of us is on our own path, which I believe God understands and is tracking as we go.
It's a blessing to be called and a privilege to fulfill it, but each member has his/her life outside of the church and the challenges that accompany it. I don't think the choice to accept or decline a calling can ever be considered wrong or right in the general terms--only wrong or right for that individual at that time of his/her life. Each of us is on our own path, which I believe God understands and is tracking as we go.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Excellent answer! I agree 100%.
zippythepinhead
Your Tax Dollars At Work
I agree with Katzpur.:yes:
Comprehend
Res Ipsa Loquitur
I am interested in your thoughts on this. Is there ever justification for turning down or refusing a calling from your bishop or stake president?
The transcripts are not ready yet from the latest GC but I believe I heard Pres. Uchtdorf (sp?) say something to the effect of "callings are never to be sought and always accepted."
I had never considered the former but the latter is pretty much how I see it. I have never turned down a calling and do not think it appropriate to do so.
If one believes the calling comes from God, what exactly would one be saying by turning it down?
SoyLeche
meh...
Starfish
Please no sarcasm
That's my policy. I make sure my circumstances are known, and if the calling still stands, I accept. I think this has been said here.
Some callings absolutely mess up my world. When I was YW pres., I spent a year in tears. Being Primary president nearly gave me ulsers. I was a lousy Compassionate Service leader because I refused to coddle people. When I was Activities Chairman, I would cancel activities when the bishop left town.
However, when I love my calling as I do now--life is wonderful. I've never been RS pres. and I dread the thought. But if I'm called to do it, I will
eek. And I'll do a good job, as I always try to do, knowing I'll learn something from it . . . hopefully.
Sanctuary-Seeker
Professional Cinderella
I have never been offered a calling. However I would never accept anything that took me away from my first ministry, my family.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Well, well, well! Look who's back! How's it going, Comprehend?
If I believed that each and every calling a bishop makes is personally approved by God, I would probably accept each and every calling. Since I don't believe that's the case, I simply follow my conscience and my own best judgment. But you know me... I'm kind of atypical of most Latter-day Saints in a lot of ways.
Comprehend
Res Ipsa Loquitur
Hey Katz, Just shirking my studies for a bit. Last semester and I have a little spring fever.
All you need is a desire to believe, like a tiny mustard seed.
(I admit, I have to agree, sometimes I wonder what they were smoking when I hear about a calling but I have not ever turned one down personally).
SoyLeche
meh...
I haven't turned a calling down either.
I was hometeaching a couple months ago and the Sister that I was visiting had been in a Stake calling for a while (Stake Primary secretary). Stake callings are especially tough here, since the stake is HUGE (geographically), and the stake center is a very annoying hour drive away. She had been very busy with work, family (her mom has some issues that take up a lot of time), etc, and if I recall correctly she had a couple of issues with the Primary president (not anything major, but the president would forget to include her in emails and such, making it hard to do her job).
Anyway, I suggested that she talk with one of the Councilors in the Stake Presidency about it (he lives in the area and is a very easy guy to talk to). Apparently she took my suggestion, because she was released a couple of weeks later. I don't feel bad about making that suggestion in the slightest.
(I don't know if her calling was inspired or not, but she did tell me: "If the reason I have this calling is because I'm black, I don't want it
)
madhatter85
Transhumanist
All callings are inspried of God, and people are put in positions to help those they serve because of thier callings.
in no way do i believe that callings would ever Not be inspired.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Fine. You're entitled to your opinion.
SoyLeche
meh...
IMO, that is an extremely naive view. Sure, leaders are supposed to seek inspiration, and I would be willing to accept that the majority of them do. I think it's pretty safe to say that there are some who don't though.
There is some hierarchy here. I would be willing to accept that 99.9999% of Stake President's were called by inspiration, 99.99% of Bishops, but things start dropping from there. I probably wouldn't accept much more than 90% - and that's pushing it - of Nursury teachers callings are inspired.
Then you get into Branches, and availability can make it even tougher.