Watch the video above and talk about it with a friend or mentor.

Instead of being given a calling, it is your privilege to find a place to serve in your new church that fits your abilities and priorities.

In the LDS church most people have a “calling” – an assignment to serve. The LDS Church keeps people very busy. As you find a new faith in traditional church, serving can be very different. It’s still important, but for different reasons.

Video Highlights:

  • Serving is important. (1 Peter 4:10-11). You may need a break, but don’t give up on serving. God wants us to serve one another – just not as a means to prove ourselves worthy or earn salvation.
  • How to know where to serve.
    • Don’t expect a calling. In the LDS church, you will be called to a position by the bishop, and will typically accept. In most Christian churches, no one will tell you where to serve. They may announce needs, but then it’s up to people to respond.
    • Take some initiative. Pray about it. Ask God where to serve. Pay attention to see where the needs are. As you do, opportunities will open up.
    • Consider your gifts (Romans 12:4-9). God has made you with unique gifts, abilities, and personality traits. Serve in ways that match your strengths.
    • Trial and error. Try different things. No assignment is permanent. Then, once you find niche, it’s a joy to serve.
  • Service is a grateful response of worship to God.

[Related Topic: Foundations Truth #3: How to Grow in Your Faith]

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Key Points:

  • Serving Is Important
  • How to Know Where to Serve
  • Service Is a Grateful Response of Worship to God

See Also: Tags

Talk About It
  1. Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
  2. What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
  3. If you were LDS, what was your favorite calling? Your least favorite? Why?
  4. Have you begun to serve in the church you now attend? How did you decide where to get involved?
  5. Read 1 Peter 4:10-11. What two classes of service are mentioned? What are some possible ways to express each kind of serving in a church?
  6. Read Romans 12:4-9. Why is each person’s service important? Are there any gifts listed here that sound like you?
  7. Read Ephesians 4:11-13. What is the role of pastors and other church staff members? What is the impact of each person’s service on the whole church?
  8. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This is part of the Church Life After Mormonism series.