What the scriptures teach about being called to stay

Written by Boston Anderson Light.

When Kenzi first showed me her song Called to Stay, one of my first thoughts was to this journal entry/missionary email that I wrote over 5 years ago. I think Called to Stay is perfect for those of us who are missing a missionary, but I also think the concept works for those of us who are maybe not on the path we imagined for ourselves.  I've had times in my life when I so wish I'd been able to come to a cute little shop like this and buy myself a necklace that said "Called to Stay,"  But there were other times when a more fitting necklace would have been one that said, "Called to Wait."  

We are taught that God loves us and is proud of us and wants us to fulfill our righteous desires. It can feel tricky when God’s plan doesn’t match the plan we imagined for ourselves. Or when we have to wait patiently for those righteous desires. I felt this myself when I had to wait patiently for excruciatingly slow dental work to be completed before I could submit my own mission papers. I felt it again when trudging through perinatal depression. I know my parents felt this when experiencing secondary infertility. 

Please understand that I am not downplaying your difficult experiences. Being called to wait is hard. But I hope you can find even a smidge of comfort in knowing that there is purpose in this place. There are lessons to be learned and people to be served. And you really will find your promised land. 

Excerpt from my mission email on January 27, 2020:

“Some thoughts from scripture study this week: 

In my personal study I have been reading the Book of Mormon in Portuguese. Somebody please congratulate me because I am in Alma, in Portuguese. What?  

Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah. They had very similar backgrounds, they were children of righteous fathers, who made some poor decisions but who later were converted so fiercely to the Lord that they wanted to teach to everyone. But then the story changes. The sons of Mosiah could have easily been made kings, but they chose to go be missionaries. Their father changed the system so that the people would no longer have kings but judges instead. Alma was named high priest and Supreme Judge and stayed to take care of his people when the other 4 left to go take care of another people. When they meet up again 14ish years later, they were all so excited to see each other and to know that they were all still faithful to the Gospel of Christ. Their stories looked so different. Ammon had great luck with King Lamoni, Aaron had great luck with his Father, Alma had to manage the affairs of the homeland, but it still says he taught and baptized thousands of people. 14 years is a long time, I'm sure they all had good days and bad days, good years and bad years. My point though is that though they had very different roles to play, they gave all they had to the Lord in the role they were asked to fulfill and they were blessed.  

Maybe you are not currently serving in the calling you would like to have. Maybe your life isn't currently going the way you planned. Maybe you see others with their responsibilities and their promotions and perks and want that for yourself. That's okay. We are taught to be anxiously engaged and to do all we can to do many things of our own free will. But don't forget the stewardship you have right now. The Anti-Nephi-Lehis could not have been protected by the Nephites, if the Nephites had fallen wicked. Alma was needed at home. The Lord has a plan for all of us. He needs you to learn something right where you are right now and he has people he needs you to serve right where you are right now. 

As I was typing this I was reminded of something I learned in institute in the months before I got my mission call when I wanted so badly to already have it:  

There are lessons to be learned in the wandering. There are people to be served in the waiting.  

I don't know who it is that needs to hear that today but I promise you that God is in the details of your life and someday soon, you really will find your promised land.”

xoxo - Boston