R.S. Lesson: May 6, 2018

This week in Relief Society, we discussed “Called to Serve,” Boyd K. Packer’s talk from the October 1997 General Conference.

We broke up into seven groups, each taking a part of the talk. After discussing our different sections, we got back together to share our summaries, thoughts, and/or impressions.

Here’s what we covered. I hope I got all of it!

Group 1 felt their section was best summarized by singing hymn #249 (Called to Serve), so we did.

Group 2 began by telling this story from Elder Packer’s talk:

“Over the years I have watched one dear sister give service far beyond any calling to teach or lead in the Church. She sees a need and serves; not ‘Call me if you need help,’ but ‘Here I am; what can I do?’ She does so many small things, like holding someone’s child in a meeting or taking a child to school who has missed the bus. She always looks for new faces at church and steps forward to make them welcome.

Her husband knows that when they attend a ward social, he can generally count on her saying, ‘Why don’t you go along home. I see they are a little short on help to clear up and do the dishes.’

He came home one evening to find her putting the furniture back in place. That morning she had the feeling that she should see how an elderly sister with a heart condition was managing a wedding breakfast for a grandchild who had come from out of state to be married in the temple.

She found the woman sitting alone at the church, in despair, surrounded by the things she had brought in preparation. Somehow there had been a double booking of the hall. In a few hours the guests would arrive. Whatever could she do?

This attentive sister took the older sister home with her and put her down to rest. Then she went to work moving the furniture around. When the guests arrived, a beautiful wedding breakfast was ready to be served.

She learned that spirit of service from her mother. The spirit of service is best taught at home. We must teach our children by example and tell them that an unselfish spirit is essential to happiness.”

The word responsibility breaks down into two important words: Response and Ability. What is your ability to respond in any situation? That’s the way to look at things. If we have the ability, then why not?”

Often when we’re given a calling, we doubt our ability. If we have the faith to take that first step, He will guide us. In general, when we’re asked to do something, we need to exercise our faith.


Group 3’s section had some good quotes.

There’s always something we can do to step up to the next level. We all have the Holy Ghost. We can use that power to know what we should do.

“‘God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power,’ and He ‘went about doing good.’ (Acts 10:38)  Each one confirmed as a member of the Church has the same gift and the same obligation.”

Don’t wait to be asked. Respond when you sense a need.

“The Lord said, ‘Behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.’ (D&C 58:26)”

“Sometimes because of age or health or the needs of a family, we may not be called to serve. John Milton, the blind poet, wrote, ‘They also serve who only stand and wait.’ To attend, to tithe, and to learn is to serve, and we often speak of serving as a worthy example.”

We should realize that we all have things that we’ll jump into – just respond to, and there are things where we need to be asked. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. We need to forgive ourselves for that.

Don’t automatically discount your ability, because God will help you. The Lord will strengthen your ability. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Regarding callings:

It’s good to be in tune with the Spirit so we can get confirmation that we’re being called by the Spirit.

The Lord wants us to learn and add to the gifts we have. A calling is a blessing.

Ether 12:27 – God will “make weak things strong.” 

Group 4 thought their section had four main points:

- The most important service is done in the home.
- We should serve where we’re called.
- Priesthood leaders have the authority to receive direction from the Lord in calling us to serve.
- We have revelation for ourselves and the choice to say no if we’re going to be overburdened or interfere with the service we do in our homes

I know that he carries us. When we are inadequate, he carries us.

In Group 5’s part, Elder Packer says:

“Leaders must learn how to issue calls. When I was a young man, I heard Elder Spencer W. Kimball speak in a stake conference. He said that as a new stake president in Arizona, he left his office in the bank to call a man to be stake leader of the young men.

He said, ‘Jack, how would you like to be leader of the young men in the stake?’

Jack responded, ‘Aw, Spencer, you don’t mean me. I couldn’t do anything like that.’

He tried to persuade him, but Jack refused the call.

Brother Kimball went back to his office to brood over his failure. He knew the stake presidency had been inspired to make the call. Finally it came to him: he had made a terrible mistake! Of course, Jack would not respond.

Perhaps he recalled what the prophet Jacob had said when he ‘taught them in the temple, having first obtained mine errand from the Lord.’

President Kimball now did as Jacob had done in ancient times. He ‘obtained [his] errand from the Lord.’

He returned to ask Jack to forgive him for not doing it right and started over: ‘Last Sunday the stake presidency prayerfully considered who should lead the young men in the stake. There were several names; yours was among them. We all felt that you were the man. We knelt in prayer. The Lord confirmed to the three of us, by revelation, that you were to be called to that position.’

Then he said, ‘As a servant of the Lord, I am here to deliver that call.’

Then Jack said, ‘Well, Spencer, if you are going to put it that way …’

President Kimball replied, ‘I am putting it that way!’

Of course, Jack would not respond to a casual invitation from Spencer, but he could not refuse a call from the Lord through Stake President Kimball. He served faithfully and with inspiration.”

There are things the Lord sees in us that we need to work on for our personal growth. The Lord knows the end from the beginning. Unrelated blessings can come, too.

Remember that it’s eternal, it’s not temporal. What you are doing here is eternal.


In Group 6’s bit, Elder Packard talked about “Belle S. Spafford, general president of the Relief Society, surely one of the greatest women of this dispensation.”

She was called to Relief Society but said that R.S. was not for her, and she wanted to be called as a teacher. She took the calling as a counselor in R.S. anyway, and served for 46 years in the Relief Society.

God had a plan for her, and if she was willing to accept it, He was going to use her to do a great work.

The Lord wants you there.

Group 7 shared a few key quotes from their portion of the talk:

“The spirit of service does not come by assignment.” If we have the right spirit, we’ll want to serve.

“For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.

“Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.”  (D&C 76:5-6)

Sister Farnbach closed the lesson by saying, “Every opportunity to serve has helped me grow. It hasn’t always been a picnic, I’ve wanted to run away. I know it’s the Lord working with us. If we turn to the Lord when have difficulties, He will bless us with inspiration and strength…He’s going to build us and love us along.”

Question for Discussion:
Have you received a calling that stretched you and increased your abilities or blessed you in some other way?