I got my first calling in the Church when I was 13 years old. I was Junior Sunday School chorister. At 15 I became Senior Sunday School chorister, and at 16 the Ward chorister. At 17 I was the Ward Dance Director. At 19 I directed a roadshow.
By this age none of my friends had callings yet.
Why me? I'm not sure.
I have held a calling almost continuously since high school. Some have been interesting:
Someone created a calling for me as Junior Assistant to the Stake Camp Director, where I got to plan, lead, travel and bunk with the stake adult camp leaders my last year of camp.
At BYU I was a visiting teacher to Alice Wilkinson, wife of Ernest L. Wilkinson, president of BYU, and she a member of the Relief Society General Board.
The next year I was Sunday School chorister under Stan Miller. He went on to compile the Especially for Mormons books. Stuff from my file is in his first book from when we worked on a program together.
I worked in Primary for many years, but the one calling I've never had is that of a Primary teacher. Go figure.
Some callings have been a leap of faith for me.
Many have changed my life.
One even changed my personality. (For the better, I hope.)
Many callings were hard, inconvenient, and soul-stretching, but every calling was a blessing.
One might say I just stayed home all my life and didn't really make anything of myself. They might be right.
But I believe that my varied church responsibilities have given me more opportunities to grow in different ways than a career would have done. The Lord has made more of me than I ever would have made of myself.
I have had more than my share of opportunites to speak and teach and serve; I have had more than my fair share of chances to be guided by the Spirit, to rub shoulders with giants, and to come to know the Lord.
It isn't fair, I know.
I too ask, Why me?
I don't know.
But I'm glad I answered the calls.
He who does God's work will get God's pay.
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4 comments:
You have had some amazing callings. I never understand the people who say "I don't do that" when given a calling. Don't they understand they are limiting themselves? Again, thank you for the wonderful example you have been.
I seriously was just thinking about this! Not that I had callings as young, or as varied, or with as amazing people. But what a blessing callings are when we give them our best effort because we learn so much about ourselves and we develop a better relationship with our Father in Heaven! I LOVE serving in the church!
I can't believe you've never been a primary teacher?! That seem impossible, but interesting. I love my callings and am happiest when I'm serving in them. I do little things for them here and there and love it that I'm always thinking of the people I work with or the kids I teach. It's wonderful.
You are amazing. You've done it all, and you've done it all well. I want to be like you!
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