My New Calling

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we all share in the responsibility of running our ward or local congregation.  These are known as "callings".  Local leaders pray to know who should fulfill certain callings and people are "called" or asked to serve for a period of time.  Some callings last longer than others.  All are on a volunteer basis.  The reward is definitely treasure in Heaven!!

Through the years I have had many different callings.  From teaching toddlers to teenagers to women in Relief Society. I have served at Young Women camp, and in the Family History Center.  I've had leadership callings and learned how to run an auxiliary, making decisions and delegating responsibilities.

My very first calling was teaching a class of 10 year old girls.  This was when Primary was midweek.  I was scared.  Here I was, a convert of a few months to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaching a class of girls who had been members all their lives.  But, I had the manual and we all learned together and it was a great experience.  I have learned that we don't receive callings necessarily for what we already know but how we can grow!!


For two and a half years I served as a Church service missionary helping others via and e-mail with familysearch.org.  My callings have helped me learn and grow.  Some I was excited about, some scared me and make me feel very overwhelmed and inadequate.  My brand new calling makes me feel all of the above. After serving as a ward family history consultant for almost five years I was very surprised to be offered call to teach seminary. 

Seminary is a program for high school students. It is an early morning religion class before regular high school classes begin.  They rotate between four courses of study, Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon and Church History.  This year we will be studying the New Testament.  I will be team teaching with a marvelous lady who is experienced in Seminary.  We have divided the week.  She will teach Monday, Tuesday, I will teach Thursday and Friday and we will alternate Wednesdays.  We will be teaching high school seniors. This will be their fourth and last year of Seminary and my first!  I am sure they know more than more me.  My responsible is to help them feel the Spirit at the beginning of the day.  The purpose of Seminary is to:

"... help youth and young adults understand and rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, qualify for the blessings of the temple, and prepare themselves, their families, and others for eternal life with their Father in Heaven." From http://seminary.lds.org/purpose/

This calling is going to be a great growing experience for me.  I have already learned a lot as I have attended several inservice meetings.  I look forward to learning a lot as I study but also from the youth and their insights into the scriptures and our Savior.