Recycling & Scriptures

When you reach a certain age, you notice that you are being "recycled" in church service opportunities. AKA You have served in every organization so now you are getting a second chance to learn new lessons. Two weeks ago I was given another recycling opportunity.

I wasn't surprised by the call to visit with the bishop. I had several impressions during the previous week that I would receive a new call and was pretty certain what it would be. Problem was, I was just getting to really know the Beehives. I loved working in the Young Women program again (another recycling after 7 years in Primary), and I did not want a new calling. When the Bishop extended the call to serve as the Relief Society president, I accepted it, but told him I didn't want it. I have already "been there and done that" and thought I was exempt. I went home with Marshall still trying to get over the feeling that I did not want this new calling and I was not excited about it.

A few hours later I was laying in bed reading from the Book of Mormon. I found myself reviewing chapters from that day's Sunday School lesson instead of picking up where I had been reading on my personal study. This is not something I usually do. The lesson that day had been on I Nephi chapters 1-7. (This is where we discuss how Laman and Lemuel could be such unbelieving, disobedient murmurers when Nephi was faithful and obedient. There was a typical discussion and it was generally agreed that we should all strive to be like Nephi.) I found myself reading a familiar scripture - one that I memorized more than 30 year ago - but on this night I gained a new understanding from the young man Nephi. I realized Laman and Lemuel were obedient. They left their home and traveled into the wilderness with their father. They returned to get the plates. They returned again to get Ishmael and his family. They grumbled and complained about every commandment, they wanted to quit when it got difficult, and they made life more difficult for those around them, but they were obedient to their Father's commands. It was there attitude that was all wrong. They did the tasks, but they did not want to be obedient.

As I read 1 Nephi 3:7, I realized that Nephi did not want to do these hard things either, but he wanted to be obedient. I was overcome with a desire to repent from my murmuring. I was behaving like Laman and Lemuel and this is not who I want to be. I had been obedient and accepted the calling; but I did not have the right attitude. "I will go and do the thing which the Lord hath commanded, for I know the Lord giveth no commandment to the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which he hath commanded them."

Yesterday I was sustained and set apart as the Relief Society president of the Highland Hills Ward. I have no idea what the next few years hold, but I am pretty sure it won't be anything like eight years in the Arabian wilderness. I am looking forward to relearning what Relief Society is all about. Thanks Nephi!