By Rebecca Kellogg
Elder Henry B. Eyring spoke in the Sunday morning session of General Conference on the magnification of callings.
He said not long ago he was approached by a young man who said he had been called to be an Elder''s Quorum President and asked Elder Eyring what advice he had. Elder Eyring said he didn''t feel he could give him what he needed in that time and place, so he said he would give him some advice during General Conference.
People with a broad range of church experience get called to various callings. There is a lot of advice for them and many manuals to help them learn their calling.
'There is a better way to help those who are called than to give them descriptions of what they are to do,' Elder Eyring said.
Those called to responsibility may realize instinctively that these callings are largely matters of the heart.
'This is the kingdom of God on the earth,' he said, adding that because of that there is power.
'There are a few things you must know,' Elder Eyring said. 'First, you are called of God. The Lord knows you. He knows whom he would have serve in every position of the church. He chose you. He prepared the way so that he could issue this call.'
Elder Eyring said through the keys of the priesthood callings are issued. Those keys confer the right to revelation.
'The person who was inspired to issue this call didn''t do it because they liked you or because there was a task that needed to be done,' he said. 'It was prayer and revelation . . . that brought you here.'
Elder Eyring said men and women are called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands by those whom God has authorized.
'In a calling, you are called to do God''s work,' he said. 'This is true even in moments when you are doing something you wouldn''t ordinarily associate with the calling.'
Elder Eyring said that if those in callings forget who they are, they could destroy a faith.
'If someone rejects the Savior''s invitation because you did not do all you could, their sorrow will be yours,' he said. 'There is great potential for sorrow in any responsibility, but there also comes great promises. With your call comes the promise that answers will come. But that guidance will come only when the Lord is sure you will obey.'
President Eyring said that those who serve God must be humble and obedient.
'The words ''thy will be done'' written on the heart are the window to revelation,' he said.
Obedience and faith will determine how well the Lord can answer prayers.
'Pondering the scriptures will lead you to ask the right questions in prayer,' he said.
'There is a third thing you need to know: Just as God called you and will guide you, he will magnify you. You will need that magnification. Your calling will surely bring opposition . . . Eternal lives depend on you. He faced opposition and he said that facing opposition would be the lot of those he called. The forces arrayed against you will try to frustrate you.'
'There will be times when you will feel overwhelmed. There will be times when you will feel inadequate. Well, you are inadequate to represent God with your own abilities, but you will be magnified, and you do not work alone.'
Elder Eyring said that the words and actions of those called of God will be magnified.
'It is so much a part of your call that you may begin to take it for granted,' he said.
After Elder Eyring was released as a Bishop, a member came to talk to him, saying he wanted to have one last talk with Elder Eyring, as he felt the new bishop didn''t know him as well as the old Bishop did. Elder Eyring said he reluctantly agreed to talk with the member. The member talked to him and then asked for advice, but when Elder Eyring searched within himself for the inspired advice that had always come before, he could not find words to say.
'When you are released from your calling, you will learn what I learned then,' he said.
The Lord magnifies the power of the efforts of those called to the work.
He will also work with you himself. He gives courage to all in the kingdom.
Elder Eyring said that because the Savior is a resurrected being, he is not physically with his servants at every moment.
'He can however, send his spirit, and can thus be with us all,' he said. 'There is yet another way the Lord will magnify your call and your service.'
Elder Eyring said there will be times when the responsibilities seem too great. Family and other responsibilities will seem as though they have not been well enough attended to.
'When I remember that the Lord has said he would go with me, I pray to see his influence on the people around me,' he said.
After praying, he said he remembers the people who were touched by God and sees how God has made up the difference with the work he was not able to attend to.
'I know then that I have done enough for the promise made by Joseph Smith to be fulfilled once again,' he said.
Elder Eyring said Joseph Smith promised that if we do all in our power, God will multiply our power.
'All he asks is that you give your best efforts and your whole heart,' Elder Eyring said. 'Do it cheerfully.'
Elder Eyring said that times can seem very trying when we are putting our efforts into serving the Lord.
'When you look back on what may now seem trying times of service and sacrifice, the sacrifice will have become a blessing,' he said.
Elder Eyring said those who do so will see the arms of God lifting them and lifting those they served.
Elder Eyring closed by bearing his testimony of the priesthood and of the Savior.
'I am a witness for Him and of Him. He sees and appreciates your faithful service in the work to which He called you,' he said.