(Magnifying Our Calling, Part 1)
General Handbook, Serving in the Church, Section 30.0
Heavenly Father gave Jesus Christ a sacred mission to fulfill (see Luke 4:18–19; John 6:38; 3 Nephi 27:14–16). During His ministry, the Savior trusted His disciples with important responsibilities (see Luke 10:1–9). Likewise, the Lord calls men and women to serve in the Church today through inspired invitations from His servants. These opportunities to serve are known as callings.
I received a new calling lately, one that has required a great deal of learning, growth, and sacrifice. I've been thinking a bit about what it might mean to 'magnify' this particular calling (see D&C 84:33). I was reading the familiar account of Nephi fulfilling his own calling to build a ship and was able, for the first time, to 'liken' this passage of scripture to myself:
1 Nephi 18:1-4
1 And it came to pass that [my brethren] did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.
2 Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.
3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.
4 And it came to pass that after I had finished the ship, according to the word of the Lord, my brethren beheld that it was good, and that the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine; wherefore, they did humble themselves again before the Lord.
Key takeaways, one for each verse:
- Verse 1: Just as the Lord did with Nephi, He can show us 'from time to time' how we should fulfill our assignments.
- Verse 2: The instruction we receive may differ from cultural norms (ie. 'the manner of men') or generally accepted leadership practices.
- Verse 3: If we 'go into the mount[/temple] oft' and 'pray oft unto the Lord', He will show us great things!
- Verse 4: In the end, if we've followed the Lord's guidance, we will one day behold that the results of our labors are 'good', even 'exceedingly fine'.