On Church Callings: Public Affairs

A few weeks ago I was asked to do volunteer public relations work for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here's what I wrote in my personal journal on the matter:

"After church today I was called into the stake president’s office. He extended me the call of stake and multi-stake public affairs specialist. I’ll no longer be doing young women’s. Right when he told me, I felt like it was the right thing to do. Basically, I’ll be writing press releases, making media contacts and arranging interviews, etc. for the stake and the region. It will be good in many ways because it’s already what I do professionally, but in other ways frustrating because after writing all day long…writing is probably the last thing I’m interested in doing once I get home. 

I went to my first meeting tonight, a multi-stake meeting. Everyone was really nice and it was exciting to hear everyone’s ideas. Although, it was a tiny bit overwhelming. I will get the hang of it soon enough, though, I suppose! 

We are getting a big public Christmas concert ready. The concert is at one of the concert halls in Oklahoma City. ... It’s amazing for me to reflect on this last year and see the Lord’s hand in everything that’s happened. ... It is really…serendipitous. It’s like being on top of a mountain and being able to see my entire course behind me. While you’re trekking up the mountain, it’s almost impossible to see or know what you’re headed towards or what the view will be like once you’re at the top. But once you’re there…everything makes sense. You can see the whole valley. You can see the path the Lord has taken you on, and more importantly, you can see why he has taken you there. I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful I’ve managed to exercise the faith to follow him where he wants me to go. I’m grateful that because I’ve endured and trusted his will, I’m able to use my talents — the talents he blessed me with — to bless others and share the gospel! It is humbling and utterly gratifying. 

So as much as being in young womens was fun and as much as I learned there…I know the Lord has a new way for me to serve now. I know this is the best way I can use my talents to build up the kingdom of God at this time. What a beautiful, beautiful thing."

Always,