Daniel Peterson wrote:I was a district leader, zone leader, and then, although Switzerland in those days had only one AP, effectively the second AP in the mission home -- but I didn't lick any boots. Far from it. My mission president wasn't the type to be susceptible to that, anyway.
Upon entering the mission field I fully expected to make my way right to the top in no time. One of my best friends was AP in France (Switzerland) at the time I served. My patriarchal blessing promised many positions of leadership and gave me talents including gifts of administration, knowledge and healing among others. My father and grandfather both served in prestigious positions on their missions. My grandfather was equivelent to the AP and hosted his prophet and the apostles when they visited. There was no doubt that God would place me in a position to lead my brethren to do great things - things they could not otherwise accomplish without the talents I displayed before God in the counsels of heaven before the foundations of the earth were laid.
Oddly, I never rose above the rank of Senior companion. At first, I felt humiliated and tested. But 3/4 through the mission I changed my mind. I thanked God that I could be uncumbered by the administrative aspects of the mission - most of which had little to do with preaching of Christ or even finding and teaching prospective members. Toward the end, I would have preferred to skip the weekly/monthly meetings, pass on the hype and just find Jesus' sheep for Him. I avoided shmoozing with old companions now ranking in leadership. My time was precious. I just wanted to get to work.
Over the years, some leaders were the real deal, others (including some of my own family members) were pompass asses that wore their positions like medals to envy - as if the positions were a representation of their righteousness and closeness to God, being careful to name each and every position in order to quantify their value (including their CEMS). This particular relative would always ask me what I was doing in the church after reminding me how great his God thought he was. I would tell him I was enjoying being a Home Teacher.
Regardless of my church and even professional positions, I have enjoyed serving as a quiet participant. I'd prefer to never to let you know me by my callings. It's not the calling that makes a person, it's what you do with it.
The last act of service Jesus demonstrated to His disciples before He was taken, was to clean their God awful filthy feet with His own two hands. No delegation there. I don't hear much of leaders doing much of that nowdays - let alone brag about it.
I'll once again refer to Pokatator's sig line.
