There is a cultural tradition that one is not to seek for a specific calling in the LDS Church. Did you know, however, that one can ask to become a temple worker? I learned this when I was talking to some temple workers who had requested to be temple workers. Generally, the way it works is that either you and/or the bishop make a recommendation to become a temple worker. It gets approved by the stake president, then the temple president, then the bishop has to approve it a second time. Sometimes it takes a few months for the whole process to be completed. Women with young children are discouraged from serving in the temple, but nearly all others are encouraged. This article from LDS Living talks about Insights from a Temple Worker. Why do you think seeking for callings is discouraged? Were you aware seeking to become a temple worker is encouraged?
Church Policy, Culture, LDS, Mormon, Mormon Culture, Temple
Ok to Seek for Temple
I wish they would discourage fathers with young children as well. Why is it ok for them to leave the kids with their wives while they serve, but not the other way around? I’m sure there are plenty of women with children who would love a break from child duty to serve in the temple.
Why do you think seeking for callings is discouraged?
I don’t know for certain, but I suppose that the principle in John 15:16 has something to do with it.
On the other hand, there’s Joshua 24:15, Job 34:4, Job 34:33.
anon,
Those are good verses for teaching certain principles, but I don’t see how they connect to the question at hand, or how they are an alternative to my comment (I ask because your comment, with it “on the other hand” preface, seems to be an alternative to mine). What am I missing?
@ji
“I don’t know for certain, but I suppose that the principle in John 15:16 has something to do with it.”
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
What exactly does that verse have to do with the topic at hand? You say you are “uncertain”. What are you uncertain about in this case?
I am uncertain because I am unaware of discussions that occur outside my presence. However, I suppose that Latter-day Saints generally do not seek callings because of the principle in John 15:16 — God calls, and for official positions in the official church organization, God’s sustained servants call. I do not volunteer to serve in the Twelve or Seventy, for example, but I do want to magnify the calling to which I have been called. Yet, Latter-day Saints and others are encouraged to do much good work of their own free will and choice.
Did my response get deleted?
anon,
I say I’m uncertain because I’m unaware of what is said in discussions I’m not privy to, and I don’t take it on myself to speak for all Latter-day Saints. However, I suppose that Latter-day Saints generally don’t seek particular callings for reasons in line with the principle in John 15:16. The Savior calls, and for official callings in the official church organization, His called and sustained servants call. For example, I will not seek to fill the next vacancy in the Twelve or Seventy; rather, I will seek to magnify my own calling. Even so, we’re mindful of the encouragement to do good wherever possible.
@ji
The title of this article is “OK to Seek the Temple” and the main point is that members are encouraged to choose callings as temple workers. So, in some cases, members do the choosing (with the LDS church’s blessing). This seems counter to your statement that only “the Savior calls”. For one thing, callings are made by church members, not directly by Jesus, so the verse doesn’t apply.
At a deeper level, the interpretation of this particular verse, John 15:16, is unrelated to the concept of church members “calling” other church members as happens in the LDS church. In fact, the meaning in context is somewhat the opposite. It means that church members were selected to have certain talents, and they ought to choose work that best uses the talents God gave them. It’s not about God choosing them to do particular tasks, regardless of their talents.
In fact, if the LDS church followed the *actual* interpretation, members would likely be happier. A member with a given talent would volunteer to do a task that best utilized that talent. As an aside, that is how most non-Mormon churches work. Members with particular talents pitch in where needed. There’s no such thing as a “calling”. For an explanation of what John 15:16 *actually* means, see this bible commentary: http://biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/john/15.htm
My sense is that church members are discouraged (in some cases) from requesting certain callings simply as an administrative matter. The church members responsible for allocating work projects want to control the process from the top down because it’s easier for them to manage it. If members were to volunteer for tasks, as is done in other churches, it would complicate doing top-down work assignments and perhaps take away some of the power, prestige, and mystique of church leaders.
“Why do you think seeking for callings is discouraged?”
People equate leadership callings with status and level of faithfulness, something that’s often overestimated in oneself.
I can only speak from my own personal experience. I am divorced and am going on my sixth year of serving in a bishopric. Our stake and ward leaders were asked to take the training to be veil workers in the Manhattan Temple because they were typically short workers. We were told that we can be veil workers but nothing else while we are in leadership callings. I was informed that single men cannot be officiators in the Temple. However, single women are allowed to serve as volunteers in certain capacities. In Manhattan, young couples without children are able to take shifts and serve in various capacities. When you are interviewed one of the questions you are asked is along the lines of “How will this calling affect your time with your family?” I accept these guidelines.
Basically they are short on people to do the work, so they encourage people to volunteer. It is similar to there are no complaints about people who volunteer to pick up trash or do other things where there is a shortage.
I live in an elderly Salt Lake ward, and we had an entire 5th Sunday lesson devoted to callings and service missions you can request to be part of. The whole session was recruitment, honestly. They talked about missions filling hosting duties at temple square or conference center, missions at the downtown family history center, humanitarian missions at Welfare Square. Most interesting was the one where you served as leadership in inner city and/or Spanish wards. One of the requirements was to have an “open mind.” Most of these you can do while still filling other ward callings. And, like Stephen said, they are understaffed.
I don’t know where you’re getting your information Jim. I know an 18 year old kid who is a veil worker, awaiting his time to enter the MTC. I know about a half dozen recently returned single male missionaries (as well as a female) who are ordinance workers.
When I was bishop, I always asked people what calling they wanted. And guess what? People do better in a calling they like and want to do than in callings they accept out of duty. Now obviously I couldn’t fill all the positions like this (who in their right might would want to be RS Pres?) , but for the teaching and other callings, it worked great. Also, Nursery leaders were only called for 6 months, then released. Much easer to get people to say yes this way.
A truly inspired bishop! I wish more ddi that. Here in Utah County, bishop’s hope to keep nursery leaders for 6 months-a year, but my wife is on her 4th stint in the nursery because so many keep turning the bishop down.