There are several constants in The Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints: 1) the basic teachings the gospel of Jesus Christ; 2) we are led by “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20); and 3) eventually your present calling will end and a new calling will be issued. Number 3 happened to me on Friday—it was made official today. When I came home from work, Friday, Jennifer mentioned to me that Bishop had called. When I returned the phone call, he asked if I could come over and talk with him for about 20 minutes. After I finished dinner, I drove over to his house and he told me that I was to be released as ward mission leader and extended the new call to me. “What is the new assignment?” you ask? Well, hang on to that thought as I talk about the calling that is ending for a moment. ☺
As I was talking to Bishop, it struck me that I've served in this calling for a little over 2 years. I suppose I could say that I've symbolically served another mission. Thinking back to that day in June of 2013 at the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center, I remember Sister West telling us, “I think; no, I know that there is someone out there for you to share the gospel with.” Turns out there have been several someones my family and I have had the chance to share the gospel with since she made that statement! What a great blessing it has been for me to be involved (even in just a small way) in teaching the gospel to these someones over the course of the past two years. There have been some heartaches along the way, but mostly there has been joy as I've watched investigators grasp hold of the gospel's message and enter the waters of baptism. What a great privilege to continue to serve these brothers and sisters through teaching the Gospel Principles Sunday school class and the Aaronic Priesthood classes to the new convert brethren. All of these opportunities have been such a strength to my testimony as I've learned in a very keen way what it means to be a shepherd. Don't misunderstand, I have no intention of abandoning these people—that would be a tragic mistake and would show that I've learned nothing—but, at the same time, my focus will turn in a different direction as the brother who will be called as ward mission leader assumes the duties I've tried my best to fulfill during my time in this calling.
Along with the change in working with investigators and new converts, my contact with the missionaries will lessen. That is something I will also miss. I've mentioned this before, but one of the great blessings of serving as the ward mission leader has been the caliber of the young men who I have had the chance to work with over these two years. Not only did the Lord bless me with an opportunity to serve the investigators and convert brothers and sisters who have been baptized into the Church, but having the missionaries influence in our home has blessed my whole family. Not only did Ben have opportunities to team up with the Elders, but Jennifer did as well. Now Isaac is very excited to shortly have the chance to go out with them as he will soon be ordained as a priest.
Growing up in Utah and a strong LDS community in Wyoming caused me to not know what it was like to feel the spirit and influence of missionaries as I was growing up—I don't recall ever seeing missionaries in the towns where I grew up. Without that background, I was so clueless when I came into the mission field. I'm sure there were days when my trainer, Elder Sandstrom, wondered what he was going to do with this hick for the sticks he'd been assigned to train. Thankfully, he was patient with me and allowed me to take on each new challenge when I was ready for it (and sometimes when I wasn't ☺). My sons have had an opportunity I didn't. They have had the chance to be around the Elders and to feel of the special spirit carried by these ambassadors of Jesus Christ. This has helped Ben during these last two years of preparation for his mission and has helped Isaac in many different ways. Again, I don't plan to abandon the missionaries, but the relationship will change as I won't be specifically helping them as much as I have. I actually got a bit choked up when I told them Friday night that I was going to be released. I didn't think it was fair for them to get blindsided today, so I wanted to prepare them for what was going to happen.
So, the question, what am I going to be doing now? I've been called as the first counsellor in the Young Men's presidency. I'll be serving with president Jeff Carter (which is interesting since I served as his first counsellor several years ago when he was call as Elder's quorum president) and Steve Short (second counsellor and scout master). That was twist I didn't see coming. I've never served in the Young Men's program—sure, I was the counsellor over the deacons and then the teachers while I was in the bishopric, but that's not the same. Now I'm in the trenches with the young men. As I've thought about this new call over the last 48 hours, I've come to 2 conclusions as to how I can be of service: 1) with the background I've gained as the ward mission leader, I hope that I can help the young men realize that the lessons they teach each Sunday can be a guide to help them teach with the Spirit as they will be asked to do as missionaries; and 2) I think this will give me a chance to help Isaac get more out of the YM program. More realizations may come as I go along, but those are the 2 that stand out as of now. I'm grateful for blessings I've received and for chances to stretch and learn (which will definitely be happening with this calling). I'm thankful for the gospel and hope I can be of service.
Along with the change in working with investigators and new converts, my contact with the missionaries will lessen. That is something I will also miss. I've mentioned this before, but one of the great blessings of serving as the ward mission leader has been the caliber of the young men who I have had the chance to work with over these two years. Not only did the Lord bless me with an opportunity to serve the investigators and convert brothers and sisters who have been baptized into the Church, but having the missionaries influence in our home has blessed my whole family. Not only did Ben have opportunities to team up with the Elders, but Jennifer did as well. Now Isaac is very excited to shortly have the chance to go out with them as he will soon be ordained as a priest.
Growing up in Utah and a strong LDS community in Wyoming caused me to not know what it was like to feel the spirit and influence of missionaries as I was growing up—I don't recall ever seeing missionaries in the towns where I grew up. Without that background, I was so clueless when I came into the mission field. I'm sure there were days when my trainer, Elder Sandstrom, wondered what he was going to do with this hick for the sticks he'd been assigned to train. Thankfully, he was patient with me and allowed me to take on each new challenge when I was ready for it (and sometimes when I wasn't ☺). My sons have had an opportunity I didn't. They have had the chance to be around the Elders and to feel of the special spirit carried by these ambassadors of Jesus Christ. This has helped Ben during these last two years of preparation for his mission and has helped Isaac in many different ways. Again, I don't plan to abandon the missionaries, but the relationship will change as I won't be specifically helping them as much as I have. I actually got a bit choked up when I told them Friday night that I was going to be released. I didn't think it was fair for them to get blindsided today, so I wanted to prepare them for what was going to happen.
So, the question, what am I going to be doing now? I've been called as the first counsellor in the Young Men's presidency. I'll be serving with president Jeff Carter (which is interesting since I served as his first counsellor several years ago when he was call as Elder's quorum president) and Steve Short (second counsellor and scout master). That was twist I didn't see coming. I've never served in the Young Men's program—sure, I was the counsellor over the deacons and then the teachers while I was in the bishopric, but that's not the same. Now I'm in the trenches with the young men. As I've thought about this new call over the last 48 hours, I've come to 2 conclusions as to how I can be of service: 1) with the background I've gained as the ward mission leader, I hope that I can help the young men realize that the lessons they teach each Sunday can be a guide to help them teach with the Spirit as they will be asked to do as missionaries; and 2) I think this will give me a chance to help Isaac get more out of the YM program. More realizations may come as I go along, but those are the 2 that stand out as of now. I'm grateful for blessings I've received and for chances to stretch and learn (which will definitely be happening with this calling). I'm thankful for the gospel and hope I can be of service.
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