Church callings that control our lives

[_zeezrom]

My sis had to drop out of school in order to spend more time with her family. She was heading toward a nursing degree. I highly respect her for her decision. I'm a little sad, however, to learn that she was recently called to be Relief Society President and her husband was called to be the Stake Exec. Sec. Apparently, this Stake ES job is fairly demanding and might be most of the reason to let the education slide.

I wish her schooling might have taken priority over the busy church callings.

Church callings come and go. An opportunity to obtain a degree does not necessarily come and go as readily. While I look at this as a missed opportunity, believers might look at this as an opportunity to serve and come closer to Christ, etc. To me, this is short-sighted and narrow minded because of doors that might have opened given more education.

[_Hades]

The church should push her toward the nursing degree. It would equal more tithing dollars in the end.

[_LDSToronto]

Zee, do you have the full story on your sister? I've known a few women who have dropped out of school, but never because of a calling that either she or her husband have held. Personally, I can name three women who dropped out of school because their husbands didn't want to shoulder more responsibility.

School is tough. My wife has been in grad school for almost 3 years, and I can tell you that as much as it's tough on the student, it's also tough on the family. There are financial and time sacrifices, and everyone else has to step up to take over tasks that the student once did. There have been times, I freely admit, where I wish that my wife had not pursued grad school because life could have been easier. But, overall, allowing her to pursue a dream outweighed any temporary stress.

Maybe your sister's family wasn't able to deal with the stress of having her in school and are using the culturally acceptable excuse of service in the LDS church when asked why she quit.

H.

[_Runtu]

Probably the busiest time of my life was when I was Young Men's president, I was commuting from Orem to Salt Lake every day, and I was trying to get my thesis done. My bishop asked me how things were going, and I told him that something had to give, and thus far it was the thesis. He released me, and I finished the thesis in about a month. The week after I defended my thesis, I was called to be the elders quorum president.

[_stemelbow]

Does your sister feel like her life is controlled by her calling? I agree, callings often become too taxing for most of us.

[_lostindc]

Probably the busiest time of my life was when I was Young Men's president, I was commuting from Orem to Salt Lake every day, and I was trying to get my thesis done. My bishop asked me how things were going, and I told him that something had to give, and thus far it was the thesis. He released me, and I finished the thesis in about a month. The week after I defended my thesis, I was called to be the elders quorum president.

See, everything turned out great!!!

I am still stuck as a den leader. It makes me extremely miserable. I cannot fathom a parent of any of the many kids in the den could not take the job/calling. This takes away an evening from my family. F$#ken pisses me off.

by the way, yes I am quitting the calling. Two weeks to go, they will get my notice today or tomorrow.

[_bcspace]

The OP is a Red Herring. We always counsel to put family and employment first no matter what the calling. If the work or decision doesn't get done til latter, so be it. So I highly doubt any calling interferes with work or family or school unless the person is not following the counsel. If said person truly can't get the calling done, the Bishop will make the change no problem.

[_Rambo]

I know I am thinking about getting an MBA. I would have never even thought of this as a Mormon because I woudn't have had the time.

With your sisters experience it is a bit different. She was already in school trying to complete it. A calling does not take up as much time as a nursing degree would. Do you think she spends as much time on her calling as she would've with the nursing school?

So glad I don't have callings anymore :) Damn I hated those damned things.

[_harmony]

The OP is a Red Herring. We always counsel to put family and employment first no matter what the calling. If the work or decision doesn't get done til latter, so be it. So I highly doubt any calling interferes with work or family or school unless the person is not following the counsel. If said person truly can't get the calling done, the Bishop will make the change no problem.

And that counsel is constantly ignored (like just about everything else coming out of SLC).

Church first, family second, job last.

[_bcspace]

And that counsel is constantly ignored (like just about everything else coming out of SLC).

It is true that some jump into a calling thinking they can handle it or believing they must run faster or labor more than they have strength and means rather than simply being diligent.