Church Callings - What I'm meant to do

When you receive a church calling that is some what out of the blue, sometimes you question.. "Really?..... Me?..... Are you sure?"

Think of church callings as the way the WORLD thinks of life callings! 

When you speak to someone not of our faith, and they say, "It's my calling." 

What do they mean?

They mean, it is something they were MEANT TO DO! A divine assurance is deeply settled into their hearts and mind that this is truly where they belong RIGHT NOW, and their life has a new sense of great meaning.

Church callings are inspired. They fill the need in whatever capacity to which you are called, and you gain understanding that you are meant to have that calling in this particular time in your life.

It is where your Heavenly Father will guide and direct you. He will teach you through your calling as you seek His help and guidance. He will also bless others THROUGH you. You may be in that calling to specifically help those around you more than help yourself. Look at your calling through the eyes of the Lord. Who needs your spirit? Who needs your help? Who needs YOU?

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The Nursery Leader who is acting guardian over those children who are so fresh from Heavenly Father Himself. True joy and perfect innocence resides in that sacred room.

 The Primary Teacher who is instilling the beautiful simple sacred truths that plant the first seeds of a testimony that will last their students' entire lives.

The Youth Leader who is guiding the future generation of the church. Helping, planning, worrying, loving and teaching those who are soon to be left to rely on their own personal testimonies.

The Relief Society who blesses and uplifts those of ages 18-118 on their long, exhausting journey in life. Reminding them they are not alone, and that together we serve, we encourage, we laugh, we cry and we LOVE.

Every Priesthood holder who lifts, moves, runs, pushes, pulls, works, and plays with their personal families, the families who they are steward over, and neighbors. They build, teach, and bless, along with holding the sacred responsibility that has been trusted upon them.

The Family History Specialists who are searching day and night for those who have gone before us. The deceased who are begging to learn, to be released, and to continue on their spiritual journeys.

The Music Leaders and Pianists who understand that music is a sacred and mesmerizing way to bring the spirit into any meeting. With the inspired lyrics, the scriptures associated with the hymns, and the peaceful notes that resinate in any soul. 

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Whatever your calling, because yes I know there are TONS MORE; seek to find what the Lord wants you to learn. Find the CALLING in your heart to fill that position with the desire to do what you are MEANT to do. 

Embrace it, enjoy it and love it!

Where are we? ..... Home.

About 15 minutes until church was to begin. Connor was squirming in the pew, past my reach, and being irreverent. He knows better. Connor is 5.5 years old and has attended church every week of those 5.5 years. 

 I took a deep breath bracing myself for a silent war with a five year old. Initiating silent reprimands...now. He was about four feet down the pew from me, and I gave him two good "mom glares" and I stiffly pointed to the empty space next to me. 

He gave me a mischievous side smile, and shook his head no. 

(I apologize for anyone spectating this scene, for they now hold obvious fear of ever crossing me, because my eyes could pierce any bystander's soul)  

I raised one eyebrow.....an honest/silent look of... "Excuse me????....No?" 

I resulted to my last silent, but most effective maneuver. 

I gave him a look out of the corner of my eye and brought by gaze to the front of the room, knowing I still held his attention. I gently placed my hand on my lap, and counted down using my fingers.... 3 fingers.... 2 fingers... 1 finger ...and he rushed next to me. 

I knew EXACTLY what he would do next. 

(He has used this tactic before. I have a great "mom war" memory)

He would sit down for 0.50 of a millisecond to appease my command, then go back down the pew to keep being disruptive where we would go through this whole scene again. 

(Only this time the glares I would give the next go round would have definitely have melted his insides.)

Knowing his sinister 5 year old plan which he has done before, I grabbed his small body the 0.25 of a millisecond onto the pew and hugged his body against mine. There was no escaping mom's death grip.

He squirmed and tugged against my arms for one second until he knew there was no escape. He calmed down and I fiercely whispered in his ear.

"Connor! You are not being reverent! Where are we?!"

"home."

Wait? What? My mind started swirling? He was supposed to say, "church" then I would go on with the conversation I had planned out in my mind..."yes... and how do we act in church?......"

But he didn't say that, he said, "home."

As my mind was in its stunned daze for three seconds, Connor said, "Mom, we are HOME, this is Jesus' house. We are His family. We. are. home."

There is no other word for the fact that I was beautifully shocked. 

Bless this sweet boy for listening to simple truths that you try to teach your children but you never think they soak in.

"Yes." I said, "We are home." 

He settled down, sat on my lap and wrapped his arms around my neck. I got instantly teary eyed before the meeting even started as I held one of God's children that has been entrusted to me while on earth.

Our church houses are one of the few places on earth we can feel a true sense of being HOME.

We need to constantly be seeking and striving to go "home" to our Heavenly Father.

We then sang for our opening hymn, one of my ALL TIME favorite hymns, "More Holiness Give Me." A line in that song says, "More longing for home." We need to be continually seeking HOME, and what we NEED TO DO to get back there.

No matter where we live, we can always find a sense of "home" in our church houses.  Our true divine heritage of belonging to our Savior should make us feel at "home." Our ward families, should give us a small sense of being "home." The scriptures, conference talks and prayers make us feel, at "home."

As you go through life, you might move many houses, or just a few, but those are merely houses, your true home is in Heaven. It's where we came from and it's where we will go when this time of testing and trial is finished.

I am so thankful my sweet boy taught me a beautiful principle that I was able to share during our testimony meeting today. 

We need to be longing for home and what we need to do to get back there. One thing we can do is go to church. Feel that peace and sense of belonging. This life is hard, but with the Savior at our side we can do it!

Some say, "I don't need to go to church, I never get anything out of it." or "I can study and learn more at my house than at church."

Wrong.

1. It's a COMMANDMENT

2. You learn what you seek. If you go with the attitude of "I won't get anything out of today", you won't learn a thing.

3. YOU BELONG THERE. Heavenly Father wants you there. It's His house. He wants you to feel welcome and wants you to make promises with Him there. 

4. It's a place where we can serve Him.

 When we go to church, we are home. We are with family and we are loved. It's a place of learning, praying, serving, understanding, and faith. We learn more together than we would ever learn by ourselves. When we go to church, we truly are going "home."