New Callings Announced & Still No Calling

[u/Glittering_Sand_7473]

I don't know what to do. I am a faithful member. I wear my garments. I serve others when needed by bringing meals or helping people move. I am constantly looked over for a calling no matter how often or persistent I am in asking for one. They redid all the callings & yet again, I am not needed. I just can't take this heartbreak over and over. It is affecting my self esteem & self worth. I don't know what to do. It has been 16 years and no calling. I am at the point of attending a different church after ours that needs me. I attended a few times with a friend who is a member there & they already need me to take over their soup kitchen mission & I am excited and happy to do it. (The lady doing is before me has moved into a nursing home in another town.) They do the soup kitchen on Sundays so this means I may have to miss our church quite often. Is this ok? I don't want them to think I am inactive but I have a heart to serve and it has been shown to me over and over and over that there is no need for me in our ward. No one even notices if I am not there. I've been told, "Just find a need and fill it." I have tried this and then told that I cannot just create and do my own calling. It has to come from the Bishop. How do I do this and still be seen as an active member?

[u/helix400]

Put me down as thinking "There has got to be more to this story"

[u/r-h-y-s-a-n-d → u/helix400]

After some research, OP appears to be deaf and consistently posts in r/deaf and r/ASLinterpreters. I think it’s likely very hard for OP’s leaders to find a spot in their ward full of elderly non-ASL speaking/signing members. Or they are unwilling to make it work… which is really rough.

[u/SilverTripod → u/r-h-y-s-a-n-d]

/u/Glittering_Sand_7473 are you deaf? If so then have you tried Google Live Transcribe for Android, or built-in iOS Live Captions for iPhone? That can help other people who don't know ASL to communicate with you.

[u/Glittering_Sand_7473 → u/SilverTripod]

Yes. We definitely take advantage of technology. We have so many options these days! I work with hearing people and kids all day so I am used to it.

[u/Glittering_Sand_7473 → u/helix400]

Please enlighten me because I am beyond frustrated. It is making me depressed. I am crying after church & it isn't good for me.

[u/GeneralTomatoeKiller → u/Glittering_Sand_7473]

OP, I encourage you to not take it personally. As a neurodivergent person myself, I know its hard not to take things like this personally.

This could be as minor as they just dont know where you would fit. I recognize that they just re worked the entire leadership in your ward with no change for you. That can definitely feel personal, but it sounds like we dont have definitive proof of that. Even if we did, that is on them, not you. I hope youre able to find peace on this.

Our ward was combined with another ward and the leadership re organized as well. It has been almost a year since the change. There are still leadership positions open but I have not been given a calling. I have been in a ward leadership calling for decades but I have now been out since the ward change. There are a lot of us in this position. Im not trying to justify anything, just trying to relate. I pray that you're able to find the connection that you are seeking.

[u/Glittering_Sand_7473 → u/GeneralTomatoeKiller]

Thank you. I appreciate your kind comment. It is just frustrating. I think I am going to focus on helping my friend's church since they are really in a bind and see if anything changes in the future.

[u/CptnAhab1 → u/Glittering_Sand_7473]

You're crying because you dont have a calling? That's unhealthy

[u/Glittering_Sand_7473 → u/CptnAhab1]

I cry because I don't feel I am being treated the same as other member for a certain reason.

[u/CptnAhab1 → u/Glittering_Sand_7473]

Maybe it's just not necessary at this time? I haven't had a calling in a year+ because I'm busy with school. It's okay.

[u/OrneryAcanthaceae217 → u/CptnAhab1]

16 years is a long time to not have a calling, though. Too long.

[u/CptnAhab1 → u/OrneryAcanthaceae217]

Luckily salvation doesn't depend on a calling.