Mormon Mentality - Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People

By ESO

Jan. 28th, 2010 at 8:58 am

Conversation in the Church hallway after picking my son up from nursery:

Me: How was nursery?
He: (enthusiastically) Great! One more meeting?
Me: (also enthusiastically) No.
He: Oh man!
Me: But now we can go home for lunch.
He: I want one more meeting!

Scene

I think there are some traits, skills, and tolerances that lend themselves particularly well to specific Church callings. I, for example, can make a kick-ass flier and am thus particularly well-suited for the position of secretary of any organization that throws a lot of events. Someone able to approach old topics from a new perspective may thrive as a teacher. Steady attenders who are not particularly outgoing often seem to spend years as clerks. And my son, for whom 3 hours of Church is not enough, clearly needs a high-meeting kind of calling like Bishop.

What makes you perfect for your favorite calling? Do you have any particular traits that make specific callings especially challenging?

1. Clean Cut

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 10:07am

lol.

2. BTD Greg

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 10:38am

I like to eat snacks and draw with crayons and don’t mind a lot of noise. I’m well-suited to work in the nursery.

3. KLC

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 1:18pm

Gospel Doctrine teacher. No agendas, no presidency meetings, no forms, no statistical reports, no one to visit during the week, no leadership meetings, no high councillor charged with thinking up things for me to do, no presence at PEC or ward council…

4. annegb

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 2:26pm

I think this is a more important topic than we realize. Because we harp on inspiration and debate desperation vs inspiration. But I believe in putting people where they’re suited and I believe inspiration influences maybe 10% of the time. All fervent testimony to the contrary.

Myself, uh, I’m pretty good with little kids. I LOVED leading the music in Relief Society. What I think made me perfect for those callings is A. I love and enjoy small children B. I love music, and my iconic nature made the music time in Relief Society really fun and uplifting.

Anything in leadership is challenging to me. Because I’m always making waves. Not on purpose. I hate all teenagers, in principle, although not always in practice on a particular teenager, but I would leave the church if they called me to be in YW. I think teenagers should be put in a deep sleep until they turn 25.

5. Lon

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 2:29pm

Cubmaster

I am – in my heart – a 10 year old boy. Just ask my wife.

6. Clean Cut

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 2:59pm

Ditto to #3

7. Dawn

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 3:44pm

I play the piano….so music callings have been forefront in my calling life

I was recently called as the PP…which was cause for concern because I don’t really like other people’s children, generally speaking. I think a miracle has happened though. I really like these kids! …even the really irritating ones. It must be a gift from God.

So, my point is, while there are callings we might be good at because of natural talent, I believe that if we’ll TRY God WILL give us the talent we need to serve well.

8. CS Eric

Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 4:43pm

I play the piano, and am willing to play at the organ, so I have a pretty good idea what kind of callings I’m going to get when I move into a new ward. On the one hand,all my church service is done sitting behind a big wood box. On the other hand, there are plenty of meetings where the words of the hymns are the only time Christ and/or the Atonement are mentioned.

9. djinn

Fri, Jan 29, 2010 @ 12:04am

Your boy will be bishop! So charming.

10. ESO

Fri, Jan 29, 2010 @ 9:57am

BTD Greg–Nursery was seriously my hardest calling…I think I should have partaken of the snack–that would have made everything better.

KLC–My current calling is meeting heavy so yeah, SS teacher sounds great.

annegb–I guess I am for a balance between callings that play up our strengths and callings that force us to work on our weaknesses. I have been the Enrichment Counselor in RS 4 times in the last 15 years, which certainly includes some huge weaknesses, although does allow ample flier-making. I have been grateful for the divine push to make me mix and mingle and actually care and think about ward members I otherwise wouldn’t even know. LOL on teenagers–my sister was telling me about a YA book wherein parents can choose to have their teenagers killed if they just didn’t turn out right–dangerous idea.

Lon–I am so glad that is perfect for someone, because heaven knows it is not me.

Dawn–I sometimes feel sorry for music people, because they can never escape. I am with you on other people’s children.

CS Eric–you are making me jealous.

djinn–so far, yes. He’s only three, though.

11. Rebecca J

Fri, Jan 29, 2010 @ 2:10pm

I’m anti-social and I hate Sunday School. That’s why I’m in the library.

12. ESO

Fri, Jan 29, 2010 @ 3:40pm

Rebecca J–perfect; I recently lobbied for a library calling but I am currently in the vortex of stake callings and no one from my ward knows how to get me back.

13. ned

Thu, Feb 4, 2010 @ 11:47am

how lovely :)

14. ridwanq85

Sat, Jul 23, 2011 @ 6:11am

I guess sometimes people grow into their callings, but more often the people around them either grow in patience or they grow in frustration and anger. It’s good to put people in the callings where they can use the gifts God gave them.
So, my point is, while there are callings we might be good at because of natural talent, I believe that if we’ll TRY God WILL give us the talent we need to serve well.