[Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date

[BRIAN LILLIE]

I believe we have always been taught by the our Church Leaders that we do not release ourselves from Church callings.

Elder William R. Walker of the Seventy provided this counsel in a August 2006 Ensign article:

"Just as we are called, we are also released. Just as we don’t campaign for assignments, we don’t resign and we don’t quit. We are released by the same authority by which we were called."

In a talk entitled "Follow The Brethern", President Packer said this:

"Never say “No” to an opportunity to serve in the Church. If you are called to an assignment by one who has authority, there is but one answer. It is, of course, expected that you set forth clearly what your circumstances are, but any assignment that comes under call from your bishop or your stake president is a call that comes from the Lord. An article of our faith defines it so, and I bear witness that it is so.
Once called to such positions, do not presume to set your own date of release. A release is in effect another call. Men do not call themselves to offices in the Church. Why must we presume that we have the authority to release ourselves? A release should come by the same authority from whence came the call."
As well, in another talk by President Packer, "What Every Elder Should Know - and Every Sister as Well", he stated this about callings and releases:
"We do not call ourselves to offices in the Church. Rather we respond to the call of those who preside over us. It is the responsibility of those who preside to prayerfully consult the Lord as to His will concerning a position in the Church. Then the principle of revelation is at work. The call is then delivered by the presiding officer who is acting for the Lord.
We do not, under ordinary circumstances, refuse a call. Neither do we ask for a release beyond calling to the attention of the presiding officer circumstances which may make a release advisable."
I am more than a little taken back in regards to the comment, "the church has no authority to force anyone to do anything...".   The only proper response is to quote again from our Church Leaders.  President Eyring said this in a talk appropriately called, "Rise To Your Call"
And so, to everyone, man or woman, girl or boy, who has been called or who will yet be, I give you my counsel. There are a few things you must come to know are true. I will try to put them in words. Only the Lord through the Holy Ghost can put them deep in your heart. Here they are:
First, you are called of God. The Lord knows you. He knows whom He would have serve in every position in His Church. He chose you. He has prepared a way so that He could issue your call. He restored the keys of the priesthood to Joseph Smith. Those keys have been passed down in an unbroken line to President Hinckley. Through those keys, other priesthood servants were given keys to preside in stakes and wards, in districts and branches. It was through those keys that the Lord called you. Those keys confer a right to revelation. And revelation comes in answer to prayer. The person who was inspired to recommend you for this call didn’t do it because they liked you or because they needed someone to do a particular task. They prayed and felt an answer that you were the one to be called.
The person who called you did not issue the call simply because he learned by interviewing you that you were worthy and willing to serve. He prayed to know the Lord’s will for you. It was prayer and revelation to those authorized of the Lord which brought you here. Your call is an example of a source of power unique to the Lord’s Church. Men and women are called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those God has authorized.

Brian Lillie


----- Original Message -----
From: "E. Keith (JB) Howick, Jr." <howick at windriverpublishing.com>
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 4:26 pm
Subject: Re: [Teachldsseminary] OT: Callings Letter Date
To: Free Email list for LDS Seminary Teachers <teachldsseminary at latter-dayvillage.com>

> Terisa's remark was interesting.  Do many people think this 
> way?  It's 
> true that when a release is extended from leadership it 
> generally 
> happens during an interview, but Terisa's comment seems to imply 
> that 
> the called can't choose to terminate the calling.  This 
> isn't true.
> 
> If anyone out there believes they can only be released from 
> their 
> calling by the grace of their church leaders, please, be at 
> ease.  The 
> Gospel's fundamental premise is freedom of choice.  While 
> formalities 
> dictate the procedure church leaders use to follow-up on and 
> announce a 
> release, the moment you contact a church leader and tell them 
> that the 
> calling is terminated, it is.  The church has no authority 
> to force 
> anyone to do anything --- least of all to force them to keep a 
> calling 
> until someone else decides a release is warranted.  
> Releases have always 
> been at the discretion of *both* church leaders and those who 
> are called.
> 
> JB Howick
> President
> Wallace Branch
> 
> 
> terisa wrote:
> > Releases will be made according to those interviews, and not 
> at the 
> > teacher's discretion anymore.
> >
> >
> 
> 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://latter-dayvillage.com/pipermail/teachldsseminary_latter-dayvillage.com/attachments/20080702/ed5c5679/attachment.html