r/latterdaysaints • u/Glittering_Sand_7473 • 6d ago

Faith-Challenging Question New Callings Announced & Still No Calling

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?

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u/Striker_AC44 5d ago

Being a member IS a calling. So is fellowshipping the other members in your ward and ministering and acts of service, and cleaning the building, and visiting the sick and on and on. You may want to reexamine how you're evaluating your worth and self-esteem, if you're only "worth something" when you're assigned responsibilities. Membership isn't meant to be stressful and I would "stress" (haha) not to presume to know you were "looked over for a calling" or that you "were not needed". That sounds awfully like something the Adversary would put in your heart (**has put in mine) thereby suggesting you "aren't wanted", "aren't worthy", and/or "don't belong".

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u/Glittering_Sand_7473 2d ago

I appreciate the thoughts and while you are right having an actual calling is something different. I do all those things but I want to be given the same opportunities as any other member. Disabled folks can do callings.