President Dieter F. Uchtdorf - LDS 178th General Conference

[Tough Grits]

Originally Posted by Traveler

...To teach the gospel of Christ is the greatest calling...The Traveler

Indeed it is, and thus the Church has a manual dedicated entirely to this solemn call and duty: Teaching, No Greater Call.

I'm going to stop here...because I could totally hijack this thread just on how I feel about our charge to teach diligently, teach correct doctrine, and teach with the spirit. Great manual. If those reading don't have it, get it. It will be worth it! LDS Distribution has it for a very low price, considering the worth of the principles and doctrines contained therein!!

~TG

[diddly55]

Yes I think that it is the magnitude of their callings as General Authorities that is so humbling and I'm sure very scary in the beginning. It is true that we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord.

[kasuao]

Thank you for your response. In many ways I agree with what you are trying to say. However, as much as I love and respect the brethren and sisters that serve in what are known as the high profile callings, the reality is that one calling is ether greater or it is not. In truth we are told that there are callings greater than other callings – you almost touched on it.

To teach the gospel of Christ is the greatest calling. Often the brethren utilize their “high” office to teach the gospel of Christ but even the calling of home teacher has that same responsibility to teach of Christ – as do heads of families.

Just as the widow’s mite is greater than the offering of the wealthy – I do believe the response of a young man or young woman to quorum or class secretary is worthy of the L-rd’s concern and attention. The plan of G-d has never been about serving in high profile callings as it has been about serving G-d and man with love, compassion and sacrifice from what-ever one’s station.

Here is my take on this. Every calling is equal in its importance to the building of the kingdom. Every one has to do his part for this system/organization to work properly and effectively. No one calling is more important than the other. However, each individual called is different. Everyone has their own weaknesses and strengths, and therefore some of us may feel very comfortable to be called to one calling while others may not. I think when someone says they are "humbled" in a calling that means that they felt very inadequate for it and it brought them to their knees more than any other calling they've had before. For me I was "most humbled" in my calling as a primary teacher because teaching kids scared me. While my friends called to the primary with me seemed to have the easiest time I struggled. So of course that was humbling for me as it would be for anyone in my circumstances.

Saying that a calling humbles someone, or makes them feel the need to be more humble isn't saying that it is more important than another calling. It simply means that the responsibilities of that calling required one to develop attributes that they were weak in and their for rely on the Lord more.