I had the chance to give another talk in church yesterday, and so that means I also have the chance to share it all with you today! Here are my full remarks. (It was a short talk, this time.)
I wasn’t sure if I was going to have time to speak today or not. One of the many learning curves I’ll no doubt have as a bishopric member in the coming years. On the off chance that I’d have this opportunity, I sat down and wrote out a few thoughts.
It’s been a long time since I was last in a ward calling. How long? I was called to the High Council in August of 2017. Tomas was thirteen years old, Daniela was nine, and Michaela was four. Now, Tomas is married, Daniela’s about to go on a mission, and Michaela is in young women’s. So let’s just say that my familiarity with ward-level positions is a little rusty.
During my time as a stake executive secretary, I began to see many callings in one of two lights. Mary and Martha. In Luke 10, we read
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
I have been in a calling that’s very Martha-centric. I’m good at keeping track of details and doing the legwork. No one’s going to accuse me of doing too much housework, but when it comes to church responsibilities, that’s the exact sort of thing I excel at.
This new calling is much more Mary-centric. More ministering and less administering. Instead of working behind the scenes to make sure everything functions correctly, I’m up here conducting the meeting. I can’t say I enjoy it, but service isn’t necessarily about enjoyment. To me, it’s much more like hiking. Something I like to have done once it’s over, but don’t really relish when I’m in the middle of it.
As I’ve thought and prayed about my new responsibilities, I’m reminded once again that God doesn’t call us to positions so that we can turn ourselves into little robots that all function identically to anyone else in the same position. A Bryce Cundick first counselor is going to be inherently different than a Justin Taylor first counselor, and that’s kind of the point. We all do our best with what we’re asked to do, and God makes up the difference.
And perhaps my way of viewing things as Mary vs Martha is too reductive. Strictly speaking, Mary had the experience of going to sit at the feet of Christ and listen and learn. Anytime any of us is asked to serve, we by nature step outside the role of Mary and become a Martha. For a ward to function, both sides need to exist.
In 1997, President Hinckley said new members need three essential things to become firmly rooted in the church: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with the good word of God. The responsibility is the Martha side of the gospel, and the nurturing is the Mary side. As we serve together, I’ve found we naturally make friends as we go.
I’m glad to be “back in the ward,” so to speak. I will do my best to serve in this new calling, though I’m sure there will be bumps along the way. I ask for your understanding, and I also ask for your help. Not just help for me, but help for each other.
A ward works best when we’re all willing to be a little bit Mary and a little bit Martha. We need people who will notice the details, set up the chairs, send the emails, teach the lessons, make the visits, and do the often invisible work that keeps things moving. But we also need to remember why we do those things in the first place: to come unto Christ, to hear His word, and to help each other feel His love.
My hope is that, as I serve in this calling, I can help with both sides of that work. I hope I can help the ward function well, but more importantly, I hope I can help people feel seen, supported, and pointed toward the Savior.
I’m grateful for the chance to serve with Bishop Longhurst, Brother Noorda, and all of you. I have a testimony that this is Christ’s church, and that He works through imperfect people to do His work. I’m grateful He does, because that gives me some hope. And I’m grateful that when we offer Him what we have, even when it feels small or awkward or incomplete, He can make it enough.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.