The Fifth Article of Faith

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

One of the expressions that confuses people who aren't members the most is probably when we talk about our callings.

When people talk about callings outside of the church, they usually mean something that they feel called to do as a life's work. That can happen to church members as well, but it is pretty normal to have callings that are temporary and that don't have to start out with soul searching and that is really good.

Let me back up.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has no professional clergy. There are paid professions in the church educational system with the schools; those are not volunteer positions. Some of the professional buildings have paid custodial staff (though we also take turns cleaning the regular meeting houses)... for most things that happen, it is someone volunteering their time where the only compensation is spiritual.

You don't decide what you are going to do. When you get asked you can say "no", but generally you are saying "yes".

I have written many posts about speaking in church, and also about giving lessons. Those are things that people do without pay, taking turns, but getting asked. 

It can work out differently, depending on the thing. For example, you may be called to be a Sunday school teacher. Probably you will not be the only one, and you will rotate giving lessons, working out a schedule with the other teachers. For speaking on Sunday, members are asked to give talks. Maybe they ask you for a time when you will be out of town, and you say that... they may ask you to speak the following week then contact someone else for that day.

People are supposed to pray and carefully consider the needs before extending a calling. Then, obviously prayer and pondering would be a part of doing your calling. 

That being said, I remember more than once hearing jokes from people about it being desperation rather than inspiration.

I think some of that comes from not wanting to brag, maybe, and often people have doubts about how good of a job they can do.

It generally works out. I was just talking to one teacher who is very insecure about teaching, but I know she does a good job. If she was more confident, maybe she would not do as well.

I know I have at times thought there were callings that I would never be able to do; later on I ended up doing them and it worked out. 

I have loved teaching Sunday school, but I have also been very happy as a ward librarian (helping people with copies and lesson supplies), in the nursery (children 18 months to three years old), working with youth, organizing activities, and being in charge of emergency preparedness.

I get different things from different callings, which I think makes it good that we change things up periodically. 

Currently, as a counselor in the Relief Society presidency, I find myself having more love and appreciation for the women in the ward. I am grateful for that. 

Even with the calling where I did my worst job ever, Relief Society accompanist, well, I learned things from doing it, if mostly humility. I don't regret doing it, but I am also glad it didn't last for that long.

The Fourth Article of Faith

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

There is a level at which all of the articles build upon each other, but I think that is especially striking with the first four; first there is that God exists, then that sin does, but also that there is atonement.

This article then puts them together. 

Faith has to come first because without it there is no motivation for anything else.

There are two scriptures I want to reference for that...

Hebrews 11:1 -- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

It is not just belief, because it is in something true and there are signs and things that come and make it grow. 

Alma 32:28 --  Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

It takes some openness, but it is not happening without input and thought.

It does change you, and part of that is caring about things and people more, and wanting to be good, which is why it must lead to repentance.

Repentance is a whole topic on its own, but there is commitment that is signaled by baptism and that baptism cleanses and then the Holy Ghost sanctifies.

Again, there could easily be multiple subtopics here. I am not going to get into all of that now, but there is information out there.

None of the articles mention baptism for the dead, but that is something we do, and is something I have written about before:

https://preparedspork.blogspot.com/2024/03/ordinances-for-everyone.html 

I will reaffirm here what I wrote about there; one of the keys to my faith is that I find mercy and justice through the entire system.

If there were people who did not have access to salvation because of the time and place where they were born, or how short their life was, or anything else that they could not control, how could we trust God?

Of course, many people don't. 

What I understand is that God is better than fair, and better than people. 

I am not saying you have to believe that. 

My beliefs bring me hope and joy, and I do want to share that.

I also want to suggest leaving some room for belief. 

If you were to learn that healing and reparation would come for everything, would that be enough, or would you still be angry? If there were meaning in the prior suffering that you could understand, would that help?

Leave room for a seed.  

The Third Article of Faith

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

The balance of justice and mercy may be the most important part of my faith, and here is where we get to it.

I know people who have had trouble forgiving someone who wronged them because they felt like that would make it right.

It doesn't; the wrong is still wrong.

(Forgiveness can be a part of healing, but don't try and abridge the healing because someone else is demanding forgiveness; that's a different problem.)

The wrongs that are done and the pain that is caused must be paid for and they have, by Jesus Christ, if you repent.

(This will take us a little into the Fourth Article as well.)

People get hung up on not having the same chances, so life isn't fair, or that none of it really matters or that there is no choice. 

I love L.M. Montgomery but she has Presbyterians saying, at least semi-seriously, that there's no point worrying over things because they're all foreordained.

That is how some people justified that other people would not have the chance to be baptized or that the righteous should be blessed... foreordination and so every thing is the way it should be, even if it seems horrible to look at.

No. We have choices, as do the people around us, and some of those choices are bad.

The wicked may prosper and the righteous may suffer. 

(It is more flagrant for some; I've noticed.)

However, Christ has conquered both death and sin, so all of that can be healed. Even though it takes time and even though everyone will not repent, they will get the chance.

I have not been a huge sinner. Sometimes in the scriptures there are people who feel great suffering for sins that probably aren't that bad. (For the Book of Mormon, 2nd Nephi 4 and Enos come to mind.)

I am not good enough to be like that. Maybe someday I will. 

I have at times had suffering spiritually healed. It feels like a miracle.

Someone has already felt your pain and paid the price for it. 

I also sometimes live with pain. I have become a more compassionate, tender person because of that.

I'm not saying any of that is easy, or even easy comprehend, but I have complete faith that the plan works and that there is room in it for everyone, with everyone still having choice.

That faith gives me joy.