Changes

Just over a year ago, in late 2011, I was called to meet with the first counselor in our ward bishopric and extended a call to serve as a Primary worker. My assignment was to be one of two instructors for the 10-12–year-old boys, a class with about half a dozen active members. The first counselor, Brother Gardner, informed me that the bishopric tried to call Primary workers for about a year, which I immediately assumed was wishful thinking. My wife, Anna, had previously been called into Nursery “for about a year” and wound up serving from before our son David started Nursery (age 18 months) until well after his fourth birthday. Nevertheless, I accepted the calling and was sustained on 1 January 2012.

Yesterday morning, I arrived at the ward building at 9:30 a.m. for our annual “Meet Your Teacher” breakfast. I dropped my daughter Leah off at her CTR 7 table and was about to drop off David at the CTR 5, when the new first counselor in the bishopric, Brother Asay, told me he needed to speak to me. Before I could even sit down to breakfast with my newly expanded class (with five new members in additional to all previous class members), I was released from Primary and, by extension, my class.

Artist’s rendering, Indianapolis Indiana Temple

This is where things get a bit more interesting. Concurrent with my release from Primary, I was called to be the ward’s new lead family history consultant. In this position, I’ll be supervising a team of five consultants (including myself) in an attempt to reboot our ward’s family history program. I was actually a family history consultant before my call to the Primary, so I have some experience, but I’m feeling pretty nervous about being the one in charge. I know that sounds kind of silly—it’s not like I’m being called as bishop or something—but it’s a level of responsibility I’ve rarely had, and leadership at any level is definitely not one of my strong suits. Still, the bishopric has felt prompted that our ward’s family history and temple attendance need to be greatly increased, in preparation for the Indianapolis Temple (on which construction supposedly starts tomorrow!), and that while we can certainly use other wards’ and stakes’ experience as a springboard, we ultimately have to design the program from the ground up.

The funny thing is that for the past few years—in fact, ever since I majorly screwed up a Priesthood blessing, four years ago this month—I’ve been very lax in my prayers and, for the most part, study. Judging by the past 30 hours, it seems like this new calling is going to be the kick in the pants I so desperately need. While twenty or even ten years ago, I was begging for leadership positions, I think maturity may have brought some temperance to my thoughts and feelings. Since receiving this call, I have thus far amazed myself in my complete lack of unwarranted self-aggrandizement and am frankly terrified that the Lord has seen fit to place me in charge of anything. The fact that it’s something low key and out of the limelight is certainly more appropriate for my skills and abilities, but the fact that it’s something as important as the salvation of billions of people makes me shudder with feelings inadequacy. I’ve spent much of the last two days in prayer and contemplation regarding this new responsibility, and I only hope I can work hard enough for the Lord to be able to make do with whatever contributions I can make.