Covenants and Callings
Today for our fifth Sunday lesson, the Bishop taught about covenants, and how they blend with callings. In the event that there is a person reading that is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, let me explain the concept of callings.
With the exception of a very small number of leaders who lead and administer the church from Salt Lake City, UT, the ministry of the church is carried out by lay members of the church in various positions. These callings are issued by the appropriate level and authority. They vary from being called to serve as a Nursery leader, to a Bishop of a ward, (local ecclesiastical leader, and unit, comparable to a parish), and all the way to the top of the Church. People don't serve in whatever position because they sought it out, they serve because we believe that they are called of God by authority. That includes the current head of the Church, Thomas S. Monson. People are called in, and given the call, and they can either accept it, or reject it. No one is forced to serve.
God has always made covenants with his people, from Adam to Noah. Abraham to Moses, and Christ and his church in ancient days, as well as today. We believe that when we enter the waters of baptism, that God covenants with us that we will always have His Spirit, and we covenant with Him that we will take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and to keep his commandments. This is the first covenant we make. As we live faithfully in living up to that covenant, more covenants are made. We are promised greater blessings, as we live up to these additional covenants. So what do covenants have to do with callings?
If we accept and sustain our leaders in their positions, part of sustaining them is to support them in their calls. (no one serves in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints without a sustaining vote by the membership) When we are called by proper authority, we are covenant bound to accept the call. We may express our concerns, our feelings of inadequacies, perhaps limitations that prevent service. It is natural to feel some trepidation, and inadequacy. We rely on the fact that the Lord will provide us with whatever is necessary to complete that calling. We are free to choose, however, and no punishment, or banishment is done because one refused to accept.
It is interesting that the lesson today didn't teach anything new. I think that is often the case, that sometimes we just need to hear something again to apply it in our lives. I will be the first to admit that it is hard at times to accept the Lord's will, It requires us to stretch, to feel the pain of growing spiritually, but more than anything else, I think it requires us to humble ourselves, to realize that we can't be whatever it is the Lord wants us to be on our own. It requires us to let the Lord work on us, or rather through us to benefit those we are serving.
With the exception of a very small number of leaders who lead and administer the church from Salt Lake City, UT, the ministry of the church is carried out by lay members of the church in various positions. These callings are issued by the appropriate level and authority. They vary from being called to serve as a Nursery leader, to a Bishop of a ward, (local ecclesiastical leader, and unit, comparable to a parish), and all the way to the top of the Church. People don't serve in whatever position because they sought it out, they serve because we believe that they are called of God by authority. That includes the current head of the Church, Thomas S. Monson. People are called in, and given the call, and they can either accept it, or reject it. No one is forced to serve.
God has always made covenants with his people, from Adam to Noah. Abraham to Moses, and Christ and his church in ancient days, as well as today. We believe that when we enter the waters of baptism, that God covenants with us that we will always have His Spirit, and we covenant with Him that we will take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and to keep his commandments. This is the first covenant we make. As we live faithfully in living up to that covenant, more covenants are made. We are promised greater blessings, as we live up to these additional covenants. So what do covenants have to do with callings?
If we accept and sustain our leaders in their positions, part of sustaining them is to support them in their calls. (no one serves in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints without a sustaining vote by the membership) When we are called by proper authority, we are covenant bound to accept the call. We may express our concerns, our feelings of inadequacies, perhaps limitations that prevent service. It is natural to feel some trepidation, and inadequacy. We rely on the fact that the Lord will provide us with whatever is necessary to complete that calling. We are free to choose, however, and no punishment, or banishment is done because one refused to accept.
It is interesting that the lesson today didn't teach anything new. I think that is often the case, that sometimes we just need to hear something again to apply it in our lives. I will be the first to admit that it is hard at times to accept the Lord's will, It requires us to stretch, to feel the pain of growing spiritually, but more than anything else, I think it requires us to humble ourselves, to realize that we can't be whatever it is the Lord wants us to be on our own. It requires us to let the Lord work on us, or rather through us to benefit those we are serving.
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