would you support your child's desire to be inactive?

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I'd hate to think that I am the pinnacle of sacrifice around here.

For some reason I cant bring myself to believe you.

[Indy Coug]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I'm disappointed that no one has claimed that they probably give more time to the church, away from their families than me. I'd hate to think that I am the pinnacle of sacrifice around here.

At least no one is willing to be as big of a chest-thumping martyr about it as you.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I'm disappointed that no one has claimed that they probably give more time to the church, away from their families than me. I'd hate to think that I am the pinnacle of sacrifice around here.

I suspect my wife, a newly called YW pres, is giving as much or more time. I won't go into details.

Callings ebb and flow. I remember as an EQ pres in a very needy ward giving a lot more than you. It was practically every night, along with monthly calls to move people out of their apartments the next day.

I don't recall complaining that much, I was young then like you are now.

[SteelBlue]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I think it actually might be easier to be first counselor in the bishopric than it is to be a scoutmaster in terms of time.

I don't think there's any question that this is true. I think only the Bishop and the RS President have a similar workload. You could probably throw a seminary teacher in the mix as well.

[MikeWaters]

I learned an amazing thing during my time as executive secretary.

That people turn down callings. All the time.

People turn down talks. All the time.

People even turn down giving prayers!

Perhaps I accepted my past two callings much too quickly. I should have asked for a week or two to pray about it, so the Lord could have given me, possibly, the answer that it was not the right thing for me or my family. Instead, being asked in a moment and expected to give an immediate response, I said "yes".

How many of you would have gone to scout camp a week before your bar exam?

Yet the excuses you hear...

I've taken my turn at the wheel. I'm increasingly under the impression that it is someone else's turn coming up.

[Solon]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

I learned an amazing thing during my time as executive secretary.

That people turn down callings. All the time.

People turn down talks. All the time.

People even turn down giving prayers!

Perhaps I accepted my past two callings much too quickly. I should have asked for a week or two to pray about it, so the Lord could have given me, possibly, the answer that it was not the right thing for me or my family. Instead, being asked in a moment and expected to give an immediate response, I said "yes".

How many of you would have gone to scout camp a week before your bar exam?

Yet the excuses you hear...

I've taken my turn at the wheel. I'm increasingly under the impression that it is someone else's turn coming up.

On the flip side - although I'm sure it varies from ward to ward, region to region, etc. - there are lots of people who are willing to serve but are never asked. There's a contingent of students, young marrieds with kids, etc. in my ward who would be excellent YM or YW leaders (or other), but are never asked. They end up in the "temporary" callings because the assumption is that they're not permanent enough for certain callings (never mind that many graduate students are here for 5-7 years, a longer average stay than some of the professions in my ward).

There's also the appearance factor. A couple of long-hairs in my ward would make great scout leaders, but don't look the part.

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by Solon

On the flip side - although I'm sure it varies from ward to ward, region to region, etc. - there are lots of people who are willing to serve but are never asked. There's a contingent of students, young marrieds with kids, etc. in my ward who would be excellent YM or YW leaders (or other), but are never asked. They end up in the "temporary" callings because the assumption is that they're not permanent enough for certain callings (never mind that many graduate students are here for 5-7 years, a longer average stay than some of the professions in my ward).

There's also the appearance factor. A couple of long-hairs in my ward would make great scout leaders, but don't look the part.

My ward has put in some of their stronger resources into the YM program. When a stake presideny was dissolved, just a few months later that counselor was made YM president. I was moved from Executive Sec. to SM. The counselor we just lost was a very intelligent lawyer, who could have excelled in a number of callings. The incoming counselor is coming straight from being the executive sec. Formerly an EQ President was moved from there to YM.

As a wise man recently told me, you can tell how much a Bishop values the scouting program by who he calls into the positions. Some Bishops do not value it.

Actually come to think of it, including me, the last three executive secretaries are all in scouting/YM.

[Mormon Red Death]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

Actually come to think of it, including me, the last three executive secretaries are all in scouting/YM.

Maybe he is punishing you all for doing a bad job

[MikeWaters]

I will make a bold prediction. I predict that the man who will replace me in YM is the man whom I prayed and received an answer should have filled the last open YM slot.

[RC Vikings]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

It's not a competition. I'm happy if someone has.

I think it actually might be easier to be first counselor in the bishopric than it is to be a scoutmaster in terms of time.

It's to bad a father of one of the scouts can't be the scoutmaster. I always had a son in scouts when I served in scouting and I can't imagine doing it any other way. We have several men that serve in our ward without any sons that are involved and I really admire their dedication. It also blows me away when people complain to these guys about what is happening in scouts yet you never see them on a camp out.