I remember talking to my Grandpa, who has since passed away, a few years ago.
For some reason, we started talking about different callings in the church.
I felt like I should ask him what his favorite calling had ever been.
This is a man who had been a mission president in Romania, a branch president at the MTC, a bishop, and pretty much every other “prestigious” calling in the book.
He thought about my question for a while.
And then he said his favorite calling was being a ward Sunday School teacher.
He said that he loved just discussing the gospel with other people.
That always impressed me because to me, he had served in so many “important callings”, and yet the one that he picked seemed so mundane.
But my grandpa also really loved the gospel.
I think he understood that the “prestige” of his callings didn’t really matter. They didn’t make him any better than anyone else.
At the end of the day, he loved teaching the gospel and listening to the gospel being taught.
I love the beautiful, cyclical nature of callings in the church.
We get taught lessons by new converts, by young moms, by former stake presidents… and there’s always something to learn!
People go from a calling of great “importance” and visibility to a calling where they only interact with a few people.
It’s a beautiful reminder that in this church, none of us is greater than the other.
Unlike other establishments where people seek power or high ranks, we get the cool opportunity to serve other people in different ways at different times.
And when pride or jealousy start to creep in, those are great reminders to keep in perspective.
Every “calling” in this church is temporary. None of them dictate how much value we hold. All of them give us opportunities to serve and become a little better.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
