I'm a Mormon of the non-Utah breed. You know what shocked me the most about sacrament meeting in Utah? Plugs for callings. Lobbying.
In their testimonies, people were essentially giving verbal accounts of their resumes. "I have a PHD in theological spaghetti floating, which makes me qualified to make the following statement: I was an amazing Elder's Quorum President, I would love the opportunity to serve as your bishop someday, because I am humble. Also, I have received a personal witness that I'm f***ing amazing. God loves me. In the name of I think I am Jesus Christ, Amen."
I may have misquoted slightly.
I was at a loss for words. They wanted the callings and they were lobbying to get them. I think I know why now, but at the time it was baffling.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2011 10:16PM by The Man in Black.
The Man in Black Wrote: -------------------------------------------------------
> I was at a loss for words. They wanted the > callings and they were lobbying to get them. I > think I know why now, but at the time it was > baffling.
I had a neighbor in SLC who would always ask people what their calling was. It was similar to how other people ask what someones profession is, as a way to gauge where you are in the social strata.
He lobbied hard to be the Young Mens President. And he got it.
His world would have been very dark if he did all the lobbying and it went to someone else. But I doubt that he'd start killing folks.
He asked me what my calling was after knowing that I was being called for something, and I told him it was a Stake calling. You could see the disappointment register all over his face, that I got a "better" calling. Then the relief when I told him it was being an EQ instructor.
Some people just need the social gain of a good calling.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/20/2011 12:54PM by DNA.
DNA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I had a neighbor in SLC who would always ask > people what their calling was. It was similar to > how other people ask what someones profession is, > as a way to gauge where you are in the social > strata. > Reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon I saw recently. A group of upper-crust people are sitting around a dinner table and one says, "money is life's report card."
It took me a long time to realize that callings were tied to social status, i always thought people saw them as a burden, but when an EQ pres wants to be called president even socially and primary presidents make fun of people in lesser callings.... i got it.
churchlady Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It took me a long time to realize that callings > were tied to social status, i always thought > people saw them as a burden, but when an EQ pres > wants to be called president even socially and > primary presidents make fun of people in lesser > callings.... i got it.
I knew how it worked, the trade off (amount of work vs what you get back socially) just wasn't ever worth it to me.
I'd say controversial things in EQ just often enough to never be thought of as a go to guy for labor intensive, but high status, callings.
I could give a good lesson with an hours planning. Any calling that took more than an hour a week wasn't for me.
And as a kid, one of my clearest memories was how excited my mother was to get the big news that one of her brothers made bishop. Mom bought a gift and wrote a card for him because she couldn't attend the big celebration party. The guy also moved on to be Stake President and Stake patriarch. He wrote a journal entry and sent it to everyone years later where he said that being a bank president, though considered very important in society, was not the big honor of his calling as bish and the other two important callings he enjoyed.
I thought the guy was nice when I was a kid, but he turned into quite a pompous peice of work from all of that adoration and public acclaim.
hofmanc Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So, can anyone break down what the status's are > for the different callings in a ward? Such as > bishop #1, 1st counselor #2, and so on. > > Thanks
Bishop
1st counselor
2nd Counselor
And if you are under middle age, EQ Pres, if you are over middle age, HP Group Leader
Counselors for the same
Young Mens Pres or Executive Secretary
Scouting guys for Deacon, Teacher, Priests
Ward Mission Leader
Ward Clerks
GD, or priesthood lesson instructors
And then all the wimmin are after that. They don't have the priesthood, and they don't count untill all the guys are done.
RS President
Primary President
And no guy knows after that. It just doesn't matter after those two