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A member from the Stake High Council called this morning and asked if I could meet with him today. I was not expecting this but our Elders Quorum president just moved so when I thought about it I figured that might be what it was in relation to. Sure enough I was asked to be the 1st councilor in the EQ. I didn’t think they would ask me to be the president but I was prepared to say no to that. Right now I just could not in good conscience be Elders Quorum president. I have been the 1st councilor in the YM presidency and teaching the Teachers. I was struggling with teaching some of the lessons that I had some disagreement with and also felt an obligation to be at church every Sunday when I did not always want to go. I felt like I was possibly contributing to some young mans crisis of faith in the future by teaching the same party line that I had been taught growing up. I am still in such a state of confusion with what I believe right now that teaching young impressionable minds was a struggle. I think EQ might be a better place for me right now because at least I will not be the one to shape or influence a young mind with doctrine or ideas that I do not necessarily believe in. It will still be difficult to teach some of the lessons that I have issue with or don’t know where I stand. I do feel weird having a calling where expectations of what I believe are more along the lines of a more traditional believing member. I guess that would be the case for any type of presidency position. I am in such a state of confusion as far as what I believe that I think most any calling except magazine subscription specialist would cause some sort of discomfort. Any thoughts on how you deal or have dealt with your callings?
I CERTAINLY understand the concern. I go to church every week with the “stress” that I might damage or even destroy someones faith and testimony. However, there is a posibility that I may help someone as well, who is having doubts and faith crisis like mine. I guess all I can say is there are many, MANY of us (unorthodox, cafeteria, NOM types) in leadership positions in the church, more than I think most folks realize or want to admit .
I won’t resign from my calling. Yes, I suppose I will get fired eventually – but I’m not resigning. No way.
I’m the one who would have been asking you if you would accept the calling, and I deal with it by being myself and teaching the Gospel the best I know how. In your situation, that might mean having open discussions in the place of traditional lessons – and the manuals ALL encourage the teachers to seek input from the students, so you’d be “doing it the right way” without feeling like you needed to “teach” things.
Also, as I’ve said elsewhere, if they call you, they get YOU. A counselor is supposed to counsel – so counsel. The worst that can happen is that the President doesn’t appreciate your counsel and asks that you be released – in which case, he’s not following the Church’s guidelines, ironically.
There is A LOT you can do as a counselor that won’t put you in a position to confront doctrinal or other issues you have problems with: 1. Organize service projects and social events.
2. Help organize home teaching
3. Collect monthly reports
4. Do mailings to less active members; handle posters and paperwork
5. Teach lessons on topics you feel passionate about (volunteer for them, or influence the lesson-giving schedule so you can teach those areas you feel good about).
6. In PPI’s, focus on the individuals you PPI, and try to serve them out of a sense of charity. Steer clear of topics you feel less committed about.
7. Welcome non-members and less active people….
8. Volunteer to be on an emergency preparedness committee.
The list goes on and on……I would also consider culling the CHI for EQ responsibilities you can do with conscience and volunteer for them.
By the way, I had two really good counselors for the last 6 months of my HPGL calling, and they are worth their weight in gold. So much got done through their hands. You can be like that, in your own unique way as Ray intimated.
Quote:“trudge52” wrote…
I felt like I was possibly contributing to some young mans crisis of faith in the future by teaching the same party line that I had been taught growing up. I am still in such a state of confusion with what I believe right now that teaching young impressionable minds was a struggle.This may be my biggest struggle as my boys prepare to go on missions. I too believe that there are many more of “us” out there and I like the Idea of more open discussion in classes. I have herd it suggested that the internet and forums such as this will help get the truth out. Will the church ever come to grips with its past so we can move on? Trudge52 you obviously care and want to do the right thing, and because you care, I think you’ll do great!
f4h1
Thank you for the input. Being able to vent and express my struggles with like minded people right now is really a great help with trying to navigate these unknown waters I’m on right now. I am going to try and stay positive with this new calling. The EQ president is someone I like and he is an easy going guy so I think that will be a good thing. I want to be true to myself right now and in the future and this forum certainly helps with being able to do that. I’m a big fan of pushing myself to try new things. That is part of my new view of life as an adventure and an experience, instead of the ultimate high-stakes test. If you try it and it isn’t working out, it just is what it is. No problem with that, but you will have the self satisfaction of knowing you gave it a shot. Lots to learn from those kind of “Buddhas” in our path. Well I got set apart this morning. The 2nd counselor is also a guy I like and is a more laid back type personality so that will be good. The EQ president bore his testimony and instead of giving the “one and only true church” type of testimony he said he was a big proponent of service. Right now for me that is probably the best focus I can have. The history and doctrine stuff just makes my head spin right now so if I can just focus on trying to make the world a little bit better by helping people I think things will be ok.
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