LDS folks--did you ever have a church calling that you had a hard time with?

Question

What did you do to make it better for yourself? Did you realize at some point why you were chosen for it? Did it make you a better person in some way? Did you ever ask to be released, or decline a calling?

NO!!!! "I" am the world's worst Visiting Teacher!! I'll fight you on that one! (Granted, I am ALWAYS assigned to sisters who have a husband that won't let me go beyond the front porch.)

Oh, ps--anyone who is assigned to Boy Scouts--they need to erect a statue engraved with your name on it. You have my un-ending respect.

Gumby--that is exactly why I learned and practice piano on my own, so that I could help out when there is a desperate need (Simplified Hymns only, of course.) I was in a ward or two that had NO pianists. That reeked.

CATTIE-BRIE!!

Go to your bishop and ask for a calling!! (I did that once--and got put in as nursery worker; but no worries, it was one of the funnest callings I ever had!)

Answer 1

i have two callings at the mo: district exec. secretary, and district family history consultant. and i only have been a member for eight months. and so i initially found being given such huge callings a bit overwhelming, being a 'newbie' saint.

i have discussed my concerns with a missionary that i really trust, and he told me not to worry, and pointed out to me a scripture in 2 timothy 1:7-9, which basically talks about how the Lord calls us not because of our works, but because of His purpose. and so i now know that God wanted me to fulfill those callings regardless of how 'incapable' i think i am. also, a talk given by president eyring when he got called as a 2nd councellor to president hinckley inspired me a lot. my PB also says that i will receive a lot of callings, and i have to accept them, and God will help me in fulfiling my responsibilities. and so that's what i am doing.

now i see my callings as an opportunity to learn more about the church, and also as a way to train myself when i go on a full-time mission, which would be very very soon. i particlarly love being a secretary to the district pres since i get to travel with him visiting the branches and meeting saints from all over our area. as for the family history area, im working on it at the mo, as it doesnt really tickle my fancy. but it will grow on me, i am pretty sure.

Answer 2

Yes, I have had a hard time with several callings. I also have refused callings, one I can recall is they wanted me to accept a calling in name only, to say they filled the calling but let the other person with the same calling do everything. I really don't recall what it was after all these years.
A calling that turned impossible after about 18 months was ward mission leader, the ward split and one of the new bishop councilors thought I should visit every nonmember and new family in the the ward. I accepted the calling understanding it required about 10 hours a week, now they wanted about 30 hours a week. I was released from that calling honorably (a bit spiritually battered as well) but short of the 2 or 3 years it normally lasts. The last one I did not do well in was being a vail worker in the temple, on a very part time basis. I received the calling and no training, Also my memory is not very good at exact memorization, so I did not volunteer to participate at the vail more then about 20 times, I was released after conferring with the Temple President over my concerns, and not being comfortable with continuing in that calling right then.

The ward mission leader calling was really enjoyable for the first year or so, up to the ward split.
I have had many other callings, Some I did well, because I enjoyed them other I just did until I was released, because I was asked to. Right now I have a Primary teaching job, as I requested a non demanding job due to to much emotional stress recently. The 11 year old boys are wonderful!

Answer 3

I've had several callings I felt completely out of my depth for, and there were some that I did ask to be released from, not because I wasn't willing to keep serving in them, but my plate got loaded down with 3 jobs, full-time schooling, and general life things that needed the most attention at the moment.

Before the new bishopric went in the other one asked if I would be willing to become a nursery worker - or stay in Family History. I said I'd stay in family history, because I'm 31 (I was just 29 when they extended the nursery calling), single, and it would have been really, really hard to take care of someone else's child of up to 2 years when I should have one for myself, I felt it would be a disservice to me and the children if I could only be envious of those that had when I didn't.

I now teach the 7 year olds, (these precious angels were born as I was getting settled after my mission, so I figure I wouldn't have been married when they came around) and I enjoy teaching them. I'm also a Visiting Teacher, and two of the sisters I visit teach are older than me, the other is about my age, and I enjoy the opportunity.

Answer 4

I am the world's crappiest visiting teacher. ;)

I personally have never declined or asked to be released from a calling. My mom did once though. She was called to be the nursery leader. She had just been diagnosed with cancer for the third time but hadn't told anyone yet. She asked to Bishop that if he would pray about it and still feel that she should serve as that, then she would accept. He came back a week later and said he hadn't even really thought it through in the first place.
Bishops are fallible, just as the rest of us are. We should always accept and magnify our callings within our ability. But sometimes leadership needs us to tell them when something is beyond our ability.

I've been pretty lucky that most of my callings have been ones I've loved. I've spent most of my adult life in the Young Women's program. I did have a short stint in Sunbeams that was fairly miserable. All I really managed to do was truck through that one. That was the best I could do at that point and I think Heavenly Father understands our struggles with our callings and accepts our sacrifices for them no matter how small or big.


EDIT: nope, I'm still the worst ;)
Drizzt reminded me of something. There are only 3 or 4 people who are confirmed pianists in our ward. I'm sure there are more but that is all that have admitted it. Somehow, I have ended up being the go-to pianist despite the fact that I am busy during all three hours of church. I finally said that they need to either call me as supreme pianist of the ward or I would no longer play. They are working on finding someone else. I hate playing the piano.

Answer 5

First, I just want to say that I really appreciate your question, and all of the answers.

I don't think I've ever received a calling that I was comfortable with, at the beginning, anyway. In my university ward, I was the FHE coordinator, and had to plan it every week. After I got married, my wife and I were called to be Wolf leaders. Then I was called to be a teacher in EQ. And just last week I was called to be the Ward Mission Leader. All of them were (are) intimidating to start out. I am really concerned about the Ward Mission Leader calling. Being on the PEC just frightens me. I haven't really done much missionary work since I've gotten off the mission. I know it will be great in the end, but getting there, it's kinda like getting in a really cold lake. I want to put it off as long as possible.

Answer 6

In the past 5 years or so I've never had a calling that I had a hard time with. Yes some seemed overwhelming at first, but once I got into it I was fine.

One calling that I kind of dread is being called as a teacher. Being up front is not something that is easy for me to do.
But I would do my best if ever called.

gw

Answer 7

I do the best I can in the callings I have taken. I have also turned down a calling. It was in the Nursery. I look at the little kids and start crying. I can't even sit through the Primary Presentation. Hug for Catti! It will come soon. It took my Bishopric about two years from asking to setting apart for Assistant Ward Librarian.

Answer 8

Yeah. I'm single and was going through a time where I felt that because I was single and over 30, with no prospects of even dating let alone marrying, that I was less than those who managed to find a husband right out of college. I had recently moved 6 hours away from a GREAT small Branch where I and one other girl were the only singles, to a very large Ward where I and three other girls were the only other active or semi-active members over 30 and below retirement age. The only active single men I knew of were either older than my own Dad, or old enough to be my Grandfather. I was called to be in Jr. Primary - which in my experience has been the place they put people when they don't know where else to put them. I had a great class the first year. But about half way through the second year I just began feeling that every time I saw these kids I just wanted to smack 'em. I hated feeling like that, and they were good kids, well behaved given their age. I began to resent that I wasn't married, didn't have kids of my own, and that I had this calling that shoved it all in my face every week. I also began to resent that my own spirituality had declined noticeably (to me) since "taking on" this calling. I've always enjoyed Sunday School and RS and drew great strength from the lessons, and here I was teaching instead of being taught. Needless to say I had a lot of issues that needed dealt with, chief among them humbling myself and repenting. Instead, I went to the Bishop and told him that I didn't think the calling was a right fit anymore. He didn't ask why (as I recall), he just said "Ok, what do you want to happen?" I told him I didn't know, the only thing I could think of was to be released. He said ok, and in two Sunday's I was released and a couple was called to take the class. It was several months before I got another calling, but by that time I had calmed down significantly and bad that I had asking to be released from the calling. I still think it was the right thing for me at the time, but the fact that I didn't make it a point of prayer, and didn't talk to the Bishop about why I felt the way I felt (even though he didn't ask, I could have brought it up) made me feel like it could have been handled in God's way instead of my own. It did make me a better person because during the time between callings I realized that I didn't need to feel like less of a person or less of a member of the church just because I was (by then) one of two single members in a family ward in a church where the family is SO important. I got over feeling sorry for myself, and began to develop this sense of "I don't think I'll get married in this life, but that doesn't mean that I won't EVER get married. If it happens on this side of the veil then, it happens, if it doesn't I can't live my life thinking that I'm less just because of it. Marital status doesn't define who I am, I define who I am."

I heard once about this Sister who when asked to accept a calling, ALWAYS said, "Bishop, let me pray about it and I'll get back to you in a day or two." She then would pray about it and sometimes she reported back that she didn't feel like she was the right person for the calling, and asked the Bishop to pray about it again. He would, and sometimes he would come back and say that he still felt she was the right person. So she would pray about it again, and sure enough she felt she was. Other times he would pray about it again and she was right there was someone else better for the calling. I've always thought that was a unique way of handling it, as I've always just accepted it without much thought.

EDIT: Sorry, that was much longer than I expect. :)and here I am adding to it :)
((((((Cattie)))))) You need to go to your Bishop and ask him for one.
Awe, ((((((((Gumby)))))))

Answer 9

I was once called as the Young Men's President in Salinas, CA. We had three wards meeting in one building and in order to have a YM/YW program, the three wards had a combined meeting for the youth. Each ward had its own presidency yet we had to work together to run the program. The youth were confused who they were to listen to. We were confused about who was doing what. I was going through a trying time of my own making and I basically failed miserably in my calling. My lack of preparation for the calling made the difficult situation harder than it had to be. What I learned was that the Lord wanted me for leadership training and that my own failings caused me to lose my position. That is what I believe happened.
As for cub scouts, I was a cubmaster for a decade. It was hard but I enjoyed it. I was also committee chairman and camp director.
My favorite calling is gospel doctrine instructor. I love to teach. I have also been Sunday School President, EQ Secretary, Ward Clerk, Executive Secretary, Financial Clerk, Chorister, Choir Director, Music Chairman and Family History Representative. A little bit of everything. Financial Clerk was a good calling.

Answer 10

I think the calling I had the hardest time with was Ward Librarian. It was frustrating to me that the ward members came right before sacrament started to get their stuff copied - I was often late to sacrament because of needing to copy lots of stuff for people. I also had assistant librarians who would come to church but wouldn't show up to help in the library, so it was mostly me. Also, we had a coded lock for the library that several people knew, so I would often find people in there at all times who weren't supposed to be there. One time, I found kids in there goofing off.

But I did learn something about respect. I now know to go to the library well in advance when I need something copied or need something for a lesson. When I teach I try to organize myself so that I'm not one of the ones who keep the librarians past the start of sacrament meeting.

I also had a hard time as Sunbeam teacher - I had 3 little boys fresh out of nursery - they literally ran circles around me. But I did have fun with them.

Mostly, as a music person, I have music callings. I try to fulfill all my callings to the best of my abilities. In the difficult ones, I try to find something to learn from it and something to take from it.

Right now I'm the Ward Chorister and the unofficial Choir Directer. I was the Primary CHorister. Love all of them.