An Unexpected Calling

After priesthood meeting today, I found Ben in need of some assistance.  I’ve been teaching classes about the Aaronic Priesthood to recent convert brethren at the bishop’s request.  I’ve very much enjoyed these classes because of the questions I’ve been asked and the fact that I have to keep on my toes with the Spirit to guide me.  Because of these questions (and because I’m me), I’m notorious for ending class close to the beginning of Sunday school.  It was Jen’s turn to teach today, so when I found Ben needing help with his situation, I figured Jennifer could get started on her own while I helped him.  Imagine my surprise when I finally walked into Gospel Principles class about 5 or so minutes late and watched Jen immediately hand her notes and lesson manual to one of the Elders.  She said, “Chris, Brother Carr is here from the Stake and he wants to talk to us.”  An older brother waved his hand at me.  As we found an empty classroom (not an easy thing to do with four wards sharing the same building), Bishop Allen came down the hallway and followed us into the room.

Brother Carr turned to Jen and told her he had come on assignment from our stake president to extend to her the calling of early morning seminary teacher!  Jen’s eyes got wide, “Oh, my,” she said.  I could tell she was shocked by the call and had some immediate trepidation, but she accepted the call.  She then turned to bishop and asked, “What about my ward callings?  Will I have to give them up?”  Presently she is a ward missionary with me and is also called as ward family history consultant.  Bishop and Brother Carr told her that she would need to let go of at least one of them, but if she felt she could continue with the other, that would be fine.  She replied, “Then I’d like to keep my ward missionary calling.”  They told her if she began to feel overwhelmed at any point during the school year, it would then be best to be released from her other ward calling, but she feels certain she’ll be okay.

She is excited and I’m excited for her.  I loved the four years I spent as an early morning seminary teacher and I know she will have great experiences as she studies and plans her lessons.  She will be teaching Isaac’s class of freshmen and sophomores.  The Doctrine and Covenants and Church history is the topic for this year.  This should be fun because of our vacation last year with our visits to Church history sites.  Those experiences may help bring these lessons more to life for her and her students.  I know this is a great calling for her to have and it will bring the scriptures even more to life for her—the calling definitely did for me. J