CALLED TO SERVE.

February 2000, I was called to be the financial clerk for the Springfield Ward in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Not having any experience with finances, I wondered how I would be able to do the things necessary for me to fulfill the call. My first semi-annual audit, I had two and a half pages of write ups to fix. I felt overwhelmed at times and prayed for guidance and support. With the help of another member of the Ward, we dug in to the books to straighen out the finances. We were at the church, three maybe four nights a week going over checks that had been written and financial statements that had been filed that had not been reconciled. This, of course was all before the computer came into play, so I spent many nights on the phone with church headquarters, trying to iron out situations that were just not right.

Well, after three months of this, I finally started to see light at the end of the tunnel. Things started running smoother, and the check book was remaining balanced. My second audit, I had two write ups that I was able to fix on the spot (OTS). Things remained calm for about 18 months when we received the first computer for our Ward. My partners brain melted, and I knew that if I was going to maintain my perfect record that I would have to hunker down and do the training classes provided with the computer. It was pretty computer friendly, but my older partner was still fearful of the box that now sat in the clerks office.

Fast forward to June 2012. I was released as the financial clerk, and I had a sense of pride, that I was turning it over to another, after 12 years, with no write ups of any kind. I was truly blessed and saw numerous miracles happen in my life, because of this calling.

A week later I was interviewed and called as the Second Counselor to the Elders Quorum President. I have been in this calling before and knew what was expected of me. The Stake Presidency sustained me and I prayed and asked the Lord to not make this calling as long as the last one. I got a phone call on Friday from the Stake Presidency again, asking if they could see me before Sacrament meeting today. 15 July 2012. When I went into the office, I was told that I was released because the Elders Quorum President was released, and with him goes his counselors. It was almost like I heard the Lord say: "WAS THAT SHORT ENOUGH?" So I went from the guy who served the longest calling in the Ward, to the guy who served the shortest calling in the Ward in a matter of three weeks. GOD IS GREAT!