church organization

This will be a long post. I'll be impressed if you hang in there... I think it will be worth it though.

I am very grateful for the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This morning I had a meeting at church, specifically to help and instruct me in my calling at church. I serve with the primary children (3-11) and it is such a blessing. I love to be able to receive training for our teaching and responsibilities in the church.

Let me try to explain about the organization in our church, for those of you not familiar, because the organization is one of the things that is really amazing. Depending on where you live, you are assigned to a congregation, called a ward. The more church members in your area, the more wards you may have. If the church membership of the area is small, it may be what's called a branch. We have 2 family wards and 1 student (singles) ward here in our town. Each of the wards has a bishop that presides over the ward and members hold positions, which they are called to through the bishop. Within the ward, there is the Relief Society (women's organization), the Primary (children's org., includes nursery, ages 18 months-3 years), the Elders Quorum and High Priest (men's org.), and the Young Women and Young Men ( ages 12-18), and adult Sunday School. There are some other special classes or programs, but those are the main ones. Everyone has the opportunity to serve in some capacity within the church (and that is really a blessing). Within those organizations, there are presidencies (a president, 2 counselors, and a secretary to help with record keeping). The bishop also has counselors (Alex is a counselor in the bishopric). I currently serve as the 1st counselor in the primary, but I've also had the opportunity to be a pianist, a counselor in the Relief Society and Young Women's, girls camp leader, visiting teaching supervisor, ward music chairperson, ward missionary, etc. Your calling changes from time to time, depending on inspiration from the bishop. There are no paid positions, including the bishop. His position, serving in the nursery, the organist, cleaning the building - whatever it might be - is all volunteer. And I love that, because you know that no one is motivated by money.

All of the wards in a particular geographical area are part of what is called a stake. I think there are 9 wards and 3 branches in our stake. And a stake is led by a president and his counselors. The stake presidency presides over all of the wards and organizations within that stake (thus a much greater responsibility). Just as there are presidencies at the ward level, there are presidencies at the stake level. They oversee all of the ward presidencies. (I had the chance to serve as stake primary 1st counselor for a little while, traveling to some of the different towns here in this area.)

Today was a "stake primary meeting" which means that the primary presidencies from the wards (congregations) in our stake met and received instruction from the stake primary presidency and the stake presidency. (Alex also had bishopric training meeting today). Our stake president and one of his counselors spoke to us, as well as the stake primary president. I'll tell some more about that instruction in a minute - let me finish with the organizational part. The stake presidency is guided and called by the quorum of the 70 and the First Presidency of the church, which is led by the prophet. Currently our prophet is Thomas S. Monson, and he has a presidency and 12 apostles that serve with him. They serve as prophets, seers, and revelators, and acting with Jesus Christ at the head of the church. Everything they do comes as inspiration from God. Our church website explains it much better, if you want to look at it here . We meet twice a year for general conference, which is a broadcast to the entire church membership throughout the world.

One of the great blessings of the organization of the church is that the organization and curriculum are the same no matter where you go. Whether you go to Australia, New Zealand, California, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Chile, Bulgaria, Belgium, Finland, Brazil, South Africa, etc. etc. - wherever the church is organized, it will be the same. While the teaching methods may be a little different or the lesson schedule may be off by a week or so, it is the same doctrine and the same curriculum. This month in primary, the theme is "My family and I can serve others" and we have weekly gospel principles. Primaries throughout the world will probably be learning tomorrow in sharing time about "I can be a good example for my family". We don't have to worry about whether we agree with the doctrine taught or if we agree with the bishop - the doctrine and organization are the same no matter where you go.

Another blessing is that most anywhere you go, you can find a ward or branch and have an "instant family". When we went to Australia, we were able to easily look up on-line or in the phone book the wards in the area and find the nearest one. When my brother went to Capetown, South Africa, they had a ward family and served in the ward. When we move to CA, we'll be able to jump right in and have a ward family there for us. If we want, we could probably have people there waiting on our doorstep to help us move in, with meals lined up, and ready to help out with the kids and new baby. And we'll be able to receive a calling in that ward soon after we get there. Serving is a wonderful way to meet people and make friends quickly. When we moved back to OK, we had several people show up, many of whom we had never met, to help us move in. What a blessing! I know many of you have experienced the same thing.

Now... just a tidbit from the instruction this morning...
We serve under the direction of the priesthood (this great organization with bishops, leaders, stake presidents, apostles, and prophets). Under the direction of the priesthood, we receive rights, privileges, and power for our callings and we have a responsibility to use those. We can change our characters and very natures to be able to minister to those we have stewardship over. "Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies." One example was shared in which we become the Lord's instrument: Just as you can focus the power of the sun through a magnifying glass and produce intense heat (even a fire), so can we become the lens through which we may teach with the power of the SON. We can magnify our callings by focusing on the Spirit and the teachings of Jesus Christ and spark that fire in others. What a blessing and responsibility we have to teach and serve! I know that the Lord will help us magnify our callings if we study and pray with diligence and purpose. I'm thankful to all those who have taught and served me. I've received wonderful instruction throughout my life from church teachers and leaders. And I'm grateful to have received some today.