Monday, June 16, 2014
Glade walked for groceries and carried
two heavy bags up our huge hill and had to have his second shower of the
day. He went to the fitness center this
morning first, but the pool still isn’t ready.
He biked instead. He gave a great
FHE lesson and we were happy that the Caziers provided the food.
A little over a week ago, a young
married sister in our ward who attends Institute here told me that the current
teacher had just been called as a mission president and wouldn’t be able to teach
the class any longer. The class is a
college level Book of Mormon 120-121 and is part of the Pathways program for students
who are preparing to attend BYUI. Students
who complete the course receive college credits. The remaining classes will go to next March.
She asked me to teach this class! The course is taught in English and they need
a native English-speaking teacher.
Wow! I was somewhat overwhelmed! I looked up the course material online and,
of course, they are currently studying Isaiah in Second Nephi. I realized that it would take a lot of work
and study to even attempt to do this.
Once Glade and I started talking about it,
one obstacle after another appeared.
First, I felt inadequate, although the class was very small, since I
have never taught Book of Mormon on that level; second, it was a drive of at
least 25 minutes across town and in the dark; third, it would take both of us away
from part of a shift in the Temple one day a week for the remainder of the
mission--I wouldn’t travel without him; fourth, we had no transportation of our
own; fifth, there should be no travel away from the compound after dark. Add to that a heightened stress level on a
daily basis for the next nine months and less time to study Spanish or anything
else; and I was not feeling too comfortable about accepting. Besides, Glade is indispensible at the
temple,
Somewhere along the road of life we get
programmed to serve when asked, to help out when we can, and to accept the
callings extended to us (although this was not a calling from a Priesthood
leader); so even though it looked bleak, I was feeling guilty about saying “No”
but couldn’t imagine how it would ever work out.
Pres. Amado (counselor) told me when I sought his
counsel, to carefully weigh both sides, count the cost of doing something good
away from my mission assignment, and then make the decision about what I wanted
to do. He reminded me about the Brother
of Jared who was faced with the dilemma of having no light in the barges for
the ocean journey and asked the Lord for help.
He knew he couldn’t build a fire and there were no windows, but the Lord
asked him what he wanted Him to do? That’s
how I felt—I laid everything out on the table and Pres. Amado asked me what I
wanted to do!! Even though the answer
seemed obvious, I felt so guilty about disappointing this sweet sister and
about saying “no” to an opportunity that might bring rich experiences, that I
actually considered giving it a try.
However, after “studying it out in my mind,”
and seeking help from Heavenly Father, I decided the cost was too great and I
could not accept.
Well, the bottom line here is that the temple
presidency would have to give their approval and permission for me to leave my temple
assignment (and Glade, too) before I could accept. They were going to discuss it in their
Tuesday meeting, but since I had decided not to do it, I told Pres. Amado not
to put the issue on their agenda.
Tonight after FHE, Pres. Amado said “I have
news for you.” The presidency traveled
together for speaking assignments on Sunday and discussed the matter ahead of
their scheduled meeting. Their consensus
was the same as mine! I was so grateful
to be “let off the hook,” so to speak, and to not feel guilty about saying “No.” I was also grateful that I had “studied it
out in my own mind,” sought guidance for my own answer, and that it was
confirmed by the presidency’s decision. It
was a lesson in learning to perceive spiritual direction. I’ll never know what might have been, but the decision
is right.
