Sitting through meeting for stake conference has left me reflective. Our stake was split today and I realized that Laura and I have moved into this stake twice and had temple recommends twice from the same counselor in the stake presidency, who is now the president of the new stake which does not include our current residence, but it does cover where we lived the first time we moved into the stake.
None of that is of any great importance.
I have also been reflecting on some other insights into myself which have left me questioning. As I sat through the priesthood leadership meeting I found it amazing at the questions that some people have about proper church operations. Upon reflection I have realized that I have spent a lifetime observing and taking mental notes as to the proper organization and management of the church. I have been blessed to serve as a secretary in two bishoprics and serve as an ordinance worker in the Provo Temple. These callings have given me opportunities to observe the management of the Lord’s kingdom on earth in such a way as to afford observation of some details which would never be visible to someone who had not been in those positions.
I reflect that in addition to those wonderful opportunities to observe the order that the Lord wants for His church, I have also spent many years trying to cultivate in myself (and teach to others where appropriate) a proper and complete understanding of the doctrines of the gospel. That will always be a work in progress, but I believe that with the progress I have made so far I have built a firm foundation. If that were not enough I have also been blessed to “be able to have an understanding concerning the great latter day work.”
When considering all these factors I am left to wonder – why? It would seem that I have never been in a position to put this compilation of observation and understanding to any use in the work of the Lord. Not only that, but I do not seem to be on any track that would lead to being able to make use of any of it. This is not a matter of discontent. I would willingly continue doing the things I am currently called to do, but I just wonder at the fact that what I am called to do does not seem to make any use of the lessons that I have been taught thus far in my life. When will my previous lessons be brought to bear in the work that the Lord gives to me?