Magnifying Our Callings Unto Salvation

First a few thoughts from me then a myriad of quotes from the prophets on the subject.

-the person who benefits from doing a church calling the most is the person doing the calling, not the people receiving his service. This is because we are agents to act not to be acted upon and thus will only advance fully as we give, not receive.
-is there any way to be saved other than doing your home teaching, or other callings, however great or small? No. Why? Isn’t it living the gospel that saves us, not those little callings? Answer: Part of the gospel is “repentance”, which means stop breaking Christ’s commandments, and start keeping them. Have we been commanded to home teach? Yes. So if we aren’t doing it and have no intentions to start doing it in the immediate future, we are not repenting, and are thus not repenting.
-When Christ said, “I am the way” and “none cometh unto the Father but by me” it meant that if you don’t follow his instructions, you’re never going to find the promised land, meaning exaltation. No other map can show you the way. We look at the gospel map with its commandments and we think that some are not important, so we neglect them, but such actions lead to our slow destruction. All the Devil needs to lead us away to hell, according to the Book of Mormon, is a little flaxen cord. A very slight almost unnoticeable alteration of the plotted course.
-Does this mean its hopeless? No, it means we must try, and want to succeed. We cannot live in the rebellious state of complacency.
-So we conclude that callings aren’t just helpful in the path to salvation, they are the only path to salvation. Callings are the appointed mechanisms for the growth of his children. Do you expect to obtain his status if you aren’t doing the things he has appointed for obtaining that thing? Like a student who does no homework and expects to pass the class, so is the Elder who does no home teaching and expects to be exalted.
-I remind you that home teaching/ministering is the alternate form of government boots on the ground level. There is hierarchical leadership in the church thankfully, but the bottom and most essential level is home teaching. Though it seems a small thing, neglect it, and all is lost. Souls sink softly into hell as their hunger for gospel truth is not quenched by the simple teachings of the Priesthood of God

-“ if it (your Priesthood) is magnified, your priesthood service will bless Heavenly Father’s children more than you can now imagine is possible.” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“ I found three wonderful things in place to speed my growth in the priesthood. The first was a president who knew how to sit in council with the members of his quorum. The second was great faith in Jesus Christ that led to the great love we have heard of—love for each other. And the third was a shared conviction that our overarching priesthood purpose was to labor for the salvation of men.” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“we prayed together, the priests quorum and I, and I then asked each to speak. I listened intently, and it seemed to me that they did too, to each other. After a while, a feeling of peace settled on us…It became clear to me what the quorum was to do and not to do…miracle for me was to see a united priesthood council’s faith in Jesus Christ bringing revelation to the man with the priesthood keys.“ (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“key to increased learning is to have love foreach other that comes from great faith. I am not sure which comes first, but both always seem to be there whenever there is great and rapid learning in the priesthood.” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“Love invites the Holy Ghost to be present to confirm truth. And the joy of learning divine truths creates love in the hearts of people who shared the experience of learning…Discord or jealousy inhibits the ability of the Holy Ghost to teach us and inhibits our ability to receive light and truth. And the feelings of disappointment that invariably follow are the seeds of greater discord and faultfinding among those who expected a learning experience that did not come.” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“The priesthood holders who learn well together always seem to me to have great peacemakers among them. You see peacemaking in priesthood classes and in councils. It is the gift to help people find common ground when others are seeing differences. It is the peacemaker’s gift to help people see that what someone else said was a contribution rather than a correction.

With enough of the pure love of Christ and a desire to be peacemakers, unity is possible in priesthood councils and in classes. It takes patience and humility, but I have seen it happen even when issues are difficult and the people in councils or classes come from vastly different backgrounds. It is possible to rise to the lofty standard set by the Lord for priesthood holders in making decisions in quorums. It is possible when there is great faith and love and the absence of contention.

” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“Speaking of those given great priesthood trust in this life, the Lord said, “Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men. In the priesthood we share the sacred duty to labor for the souls of men. We must do more than learn that this is our duty. It must go down into our hearts so deeply that neither the many demands on our efforts in the bloom of life nor the trials that come with age can turn us from that purpose.”5” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“with great intensity he said to me, “Why am I still living? Why am I still here? I can’t do anything.”

I told him that he was doing something for me. He was lifting me with his faith and his love. Even in our short visit, he made me want to be better. His example of determination to do something that mattered had inspired me to try harder to serve others and the Lord.

-“ time in the school of the priesthood in this life will be relatively brief compared to eternity. But even in that short span, he has mastered the eternal curriculum. He will carry with him, wherever the Lord will call, priesthood lessons of eternal worth.” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65 https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng

Speaking of a man eager to serve in the Priesthood by trying to convert others even in his old age etc. )

-“Not only should you be eager to learn your priesthood lessons in this life, but you should be optimistic about what is possible. A few of us may limit in our minds our possibilities to learn what the Lord sets before us in His service.” (President Eyring April 2011 Conf. Report “Learning in the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 62–65https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/learning-in-the-priesthood?lang=eng)

-“You may have thought at one time how much better your life would have been if only you had been admitted to study in some fine school. I pray that you will see the greatness of God’s love for you and of the opportunity He has given you to enter His priesthood school.

If you will be diligent and obedient in the priesthood, treasures of spiritual knowledge will be poured out upon you. You will grow in your power to resist evil and to proclaim the truth that leads to salvation. You will find joy in the happiness of those you lead toward exaltation. Your family will become a place of learning.

I testify that the keys of the priesthood have been restored. President Thomas S. Monson holds and exercises those keys. God lives and knows you perfectly. Jesus Christ lives. You were chosen for the honor of holding the sacred priesthood. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

-“ sometimes, in spite of our good intentions, we delay doing what we should do or we misunderstand what we were taught. As a result, inspired words of counsel might not have the promised effect.” (President Uchdorf: Acting of the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 2012: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng)

-“We human beings have a strange tendency to complicate simple things. We set up rules, laws, by laws, processes, and subprocesses. Eventually, we pile upload after load until we end up under a huge weight of expectations that are so complicated it is difficult to keep track of them, let alone meet them. This is one of the reasons Paul said, “The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Too often, we complicate the beauty and simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ with endless lists of meticulous expectations. However, when we focus on the “why” of the gospel, much of the confusion fades away. Why are we here? Why are we asked to obey the commandments? Why is the Atonement of Jesus Christof such value to us?

The proper “why” questions will lead us to the proper “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” and “how” decisions.

” (President Uchdorf: Acting of the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 2012: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng)

-“There are many ways to enhance our precious council time, like always coming well prepared. We could handle scheduling or other organizational matters by memo, phone, e-mail, or text. When we allow organizational matters to dominate our efforts and time in our councils, we run the risk of missing the mark of why the Lord has called us to minister in His Church. We meet in councils to seek the inspiration of the Spirit in building the kingdom of God. We meet to seek the answers to two basic questions:

1. How can we help our members better love the Lord our God with all their heart, soul, and mind?
2. How can we help our members better love their neighbors as themselves?
” (President Uchdorf: Acting of the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 2012: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng)

-“By simplifying and strengthening the council process and by inviting the Spirit, we will find the life and fire of the Holy Spirit, who provides guidance and heavenly support for our efforts.

Some may be tempted to say, “Just tell us what to do, and we’ll do it.” While we commend a righteous desire to be obedient, there is more to leadership in the Church (and more to life) than simply checking items off an assigned to-do list.

As you have noticed, the new handbooks do not specify in great detail every action you are to take in your calling. These handbooks were provided for the right amount of structure without regimenting every detail. It might be wise to look at the handbooks and even the scriptures not as checklists or detailed scripts but rather as opportunities to prepare our minds and hearts to receive divine inspiration for our responsibilities.

Unfortunately, we sometimes don’t seek revelation or answers from the scriptures or the handbooks because we think we know the answers already.

Brothers and sisters, as good as our previous experience may be, if we stop asking questions, stop thinking, stop pondering, we can thwart the revelations of the Spirit…We can block the growth and knowledge our Heavenly Father intends for us. How often has the Holy Spirit tried to tell us something we needed to know but couldn’t get past the massive iron gate of what we thought we already knew?

-“Real growth, however, is defined as growth in the number of active members…Perhaps the more accurate indicators of real growth in the gospel of Jesus Christ are those that we can’t measure as easily, such as daily prayer, scripture study, family home evening, love at home and for our neighbor, and personal experiences with Christ’s Atonement. These are recorded not by a clerk in Church records but in our hearts and in heaven.” (President Uchdorf: Acting of the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 2012: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng)

-“ missionary efforts are compromised if we baptize God’s children but do not maintain love and friendship with these precious new members who are excited to find fellowship with the Saints and a place of belonging in the household of God…our councils can deliberate on the spiritual and temporal welfare of every member—taking special care to consider each new convert. Our work as a council is to help our members grow in their love for Heavenly Father and their fellowman. If we focus our efforts here, one-on-one, many more members will feel that they have found a home in the Church—that they have found the “why” of the gospel.” (President Uchdorf: Acting of the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 2012: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng)

-“ if you are focused on the “why” of the gospel, the Spirit will direct your humble efforts.

-“If your circumstances are less than ideal, please take comfort in knowing that the Lord will support and enhance your efforts, sanctify your decisions and actions, perfect them through the tender mercies of Christ, and “consecrate [your] performance … , that [it]may be for the welfare of [your] soul” (2 Nephi 32:9) and the souls of those you serve.” (President Uchdorf: Acting of the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 2012: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng)

-“there is little good in hearing the word of God if we do not translate what we hear into our lives. Consequently, we ask that you take the following steps without hesitation and continue to do so throughout your service in your callings. First, individually and as councils, prayerfully consider the instruction you have received. Think of priesthood power in the home, honoring divine covenants, rescuing others, focusing on the one, strengthening our youth, and building eternal marriages and families by applying gospel principles in our daily lives. As you consider these topics, ask yourself about the “why” of your service and ministry and the resulting “therefore what” in your responsibilities as individuals and as councils. In this process, please open your hearts and minds to the will of heaven, and I promise that the Spirit will reveal the things that matter most—for you, your family, and your responsibilities in the Church. Second, as a result of pondering and discussion, determine a few specific actions you will commit to implement. Please keep in mind that the actions of each organization, ward, stake, family, and individual may be different. They should fit your circumstances and needs. The unity we seek is not necessarily that we all do exactly the same things at the same time but that we each listen to and always follow the direction of the same Holy Spirit. Third, once you have made these commitments, follow up on them within the scope of your responsibilities and callings at each of your council meetings. Please do this. We ask you also to bring your decisions and efforts before the Lord in your daily prayers and ask for further light and direction. Trust Him. He knows you, and He loves you.” (President Uchdorf: Acting of the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: worldwide leadership training meeting, Feb. 2012: https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng)

–President Harold B. Lee has said to the teachers of the Church that it is not only important to be understood but also not to be misunderstood. (Harold B. Lee, in Teaching, No Greater Call(1999), 52.)

– “We are here to assist our[Heavenly] Father in His work and His glory, ‘to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man’ (Moses1:39). Your obligation is as serious in your sphere of responsibility as is my obligation in my sphere.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “This Is the Work of the Master,” Ensign, May 1995, 71.)

Richardson Studies

Faith-Based Research and Philosophy

Magnifying Our Callings Unto Salvation

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