Just wondering what was the "highest calling" you obtained in the Church? Seems to me, as you get in higher callings, you see how no one really has the power of revelation, in fact you always think one of two things. Either you tell yourself you are the problem becuase of some percieved unworthiness or you feel its always the "next level" of church leadership who gets that elusive relevation.....

Me? I was High Priest group leader when I went inactive.

Dry Counselor.

Ron

I wanna change my answer to "Father".

Just sayin'...

Ron

I was Assistant Ward Clerk for about 6 months in 2001.

It was the *ONLY* calling I have ever had outside of the Aaronic Priesthood quorums.

Executive Secretary. Boring with sprinkles of gossip.

I've been a nursery leader (twice), a ward missionary, family history consultant, YW sexretary, VT coordinator, and recently was "called" to be a nursery teacher (after not going to church for 6 months. Inspired, indeed!).

Mission DL. After my mission, I travelled too much to be saddled with anything beyond home teacher. I got out before getting married, and before getting harnessed.

HP group leader

I was 'called' at 18 1/2, & served 2 years. It was horrible, & feels like it happened to someone else. At the time, I just wanted to stop going to church, but I couldn't.

Counselor in the Bishopric. - Ward
Stake Mission President- Stake

Elders Quorum President.

Not sure if its a calling or not, but I made it to Deacon.

YWs President Husband 1st counselor in Bishopric

Relief Society President - Primary President, I'm not sure which one outranks which.

Executive Secretary. Lots of clerk jobs. Elder's Quorum presidency. Attended a lot of bishopric meetings. Others (I am not sure how "high" they were). All boring and empty. Never did find the spirit.

Does Elder's quorum president outrank Stake Mission President councelor?

At the time a resigned I was in my third EQ presidency and an institute instructor.

EQP

Vt coordinator. Lowest asst choral director. I was but a lowly convert sister with a jackmo hubby

"Home creature"

Not sure how to rank them, but here they are (as best I can remember, from the 35+ years I was a member):

As missionary - District Leader, Zone Leader, Mission Executive Secretary

As returned missionary - MTC Teacher (I know it's not really a calling, but still), Elder's Quorum Counsellor (a few times), Stake Executive Secretary, Stake Employment Specialist, Primary teacher (several times), Assistant Scout Master and Young Mens President (at the same time), Choir leader, music conductor, Gospel Doctrine teacher, Gospel Essentials teacher, Youth Sunday School Teacher

I have probably forgotten a few

I forgot Seminary Teacher. I guess I was blocking that on out. :)

Executive secretary or nursery leader. They're all equally important.

YW pres.
Husband was EQP

Relief society president

HPGL - boring, boring, boring.

Asked to be Stake RS President and actually declined twice. Was in Stake Primary presidency. First to be designated as "traveling sisters" with MTC comp in the mission field (AP for women).

Would you say a Primary 2nd Counselor or YW 1st counselor was the more "glorious" calling?

I liked being in the primary with the kids. They don't filter. If something doesn't make sense, they point it out. They say what's on their mind for the whole room to hear. Made the adults squirm. Of course, by that time, my mind was out. I thought it was hilarious. Best part of my Sunday.

Not sure what out ranks what but in my 8 years in the church my "higher" callings were: ward mission leader, stake YMs presidency, EQP, and exec secretary.

1st Counselor in RS Presidency

Priests' Quorum 1st assistant to the Bish. District leader on the mish. Elders Quorum secretary later. Proud underachiever in the Mo-world! Whoo hoo!

RG

Probably HPGL, but was also EQ Prez, Finance Clerk, and AP to Mission Prez, among lots of teaching positions in HP, EQ, and SS.

1st counselor in Stake primary.

Wow.

What seductive traps are "higher" callings, powers, knowledge, keys, and kingdoms. Even now the question itself has power to draw me in.

Should I feign humility? brag a little? Should I let you see that this son fell from only part way up the tree? (My ex wanted a much higher place than ever I got to. Ah well, it was the wrong tree anyway.)

Many eqp's, ym pres, hp group leader, stake mission president, high councilor, bishopric, veil worker, yadadadada....

Highest callings: crying with parents who had lost a child, befriending a teenager in trouble, looking after a family with two HIV+ boys, playing Bach preludes and postludes on the organ.

I held them all & burnout was one of the reasons I really started questioning the church.

After being in the bishopric, stake mission pres, elders quorum pres, early morning seminary teacher...etc...etc, I came to the conclusion one fall day that I'd had a belly full!

I walked away in October of 1991 & have never looked back on the decision. I wish I had left prior to serving a mission!

I felt like the only person who had ever just quit until I found this board. For the record, my little fit of rebellion got me ex-ed!

I know, I know...I'm going to burn in Hell!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2012 10:29PM by travis.

Well the deacon got me. I made it to teacher.

I was president of the seminary class my senior year in high school. After that I got a whole lot better at saying no.

I guess I'm still a priest too.

A "friend" from high school was bragging to me the other day about being in the high council. I looked at him and told him he should have learned to say no 30 years ago.

I was YM President when the house of cards came crashing down.

father
dl
branch president
branch mission leader
apostate

less than 1 year, then we moved out of the ward.
A new bishop was soon called, who told me if I stayed it would have been me. It's plausible because I was older, had more kids, and had been in the ward longer.
However, it was interesting to participate in the recommendation of a new bishop just before I left. We considered factors like did they own their home vs rent (which means they're likely to stay longer). We strongly considered the strength of the wife in the church. The bishop selected was a barely-30 yuppie...who had just purchased a home, and had a local church pedigree (as did the SP who is the one who makes the final recommendation to SLC, in other words the SP knew his parents). I actually think he would have been selected anyway because I rented, was still in school, and had no local church pedigree.