[AgnesMarie]

Quote:

Can I even do this? Like just ask the bishop to be released?

Yes.

You’re a volunteer. You actually don’t need to ask anything.

When my two callings were both causing me grief and felt more bureaucratic than filled with any kind of Spirit, I sent a polite email to my bishop letting him know that I was resigning on a certain date (two weeks from then) and that my work would be completed for the upcoming month. I also added that when I felt available for another calling, I would let him know. He was very gracious about it all and now I feel much lighter and much happier.

Again, you don’t have to ask to be released. That’s the verbiage that’s common in the church but you’re a volunteer giving of your time and energy. You can reset your boundaries and re-evaluate your own needs at any point. Maybe you might find volunteer opportunities outside of the church that feel more genuine and useful to you. Or maybe you might find opportunities to serve within the church that aren’t “official” callings. You can still be part of the community.

Good luck!

[AgnesMarie]

SamBee wrote:

A lot of stuff I don’t agree with though – reincarnation, mantra

chanting, making obeisance to statues/images etc.

Just wanted to point out that there are many different varieties of Buddhism and not all involve the mystical stuff. You can be a Buddhist without believing in reincarnation, chanting, etc. Like anything, Buddhism comes with cultural trappings it has picked up along the way so there’s a lot of optional stuff to sift through. Brad Warner’s books have been helpful to me in stripping away the frills.

[AgnesMarie]

That’s lovely to hear. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

[AgnesMarie]

pentium3 wrote:

I’d rather stay home and read a book than put myself in a position like that. .. I wonder how many inactives are introverts?

Amen. It’s easier to skip RS since when I show up, I make it on the radar and end up with calls, emails, and texts filled with opportunities I must have forgotten to sign up for. My introverted self gets anxious at the idea of hosting missionary lessons for strangers in my home, trying to find food the missionaries will eat even though my husband and I eat a particular restricted diet, and a list of other things which all involve people coming into my space or me having to be awkwardly social.

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It was lovely and encouraging.

[AgnesMarie]

Curtis wrote:

There also is nothing stopping you and/or your husband from using the time that normally would be dedicated to HT and VT to visit nursing homes or members of the ward socially. If you aren’t getting an assignment, create one on your own.

That’s brilliant. I would love to create one on my own instead of the calling I got assigned (which feels like it involved zero inspiration and is more like a not-veiled-at-all attempt to force me to attend RS).

To Donna:

Seriously, if you knit or crochet, make lap blankets or shawls or hats for the elderly or the homeless. Maybe volunteer at a soup kitchen. Even picking up trash in the park is a help. There are so many amazing opportunities out there to genuinely help people aside from the sometimes busywork stuff involved in callings. From what I just learned, you could even volunteer as a temple worker if you’d like. Personally, I think you’re in a rich and wonderful position- you can evaluate where your skills are needed and what you like to do (or what you feel would be a welcome challenge) and make an offer to your bishop (or whoever handles this stuff). He’d probably be grateful and relieved you took the initiative, I bet.

Good luck!

[AgnesMarie]

angel333 wrote:

I have discovered from all of your comments that I was wrong.I went and apologized to everyone on facebook that I offended.I now will go back into hiding and keep my feelings to myself where they belong anyway

In my reading of this thread, I don’t think anyone called you out as being “wrong.” People offered their input on how they would have interpreted your actions or what they would have done were they in your position but that doesn’t mean you’re not still entitled to feel like you made the right call for yourself. If you’re just wanting positive feedback, I don’t think that’s realistic or fair. But I think you got some valuable, well-thought-out, considerate responses whether they agreed with you or not.

If you truly feel like you need to “go back into hiding,” etc. because folks engaged in a conversation about your post, that’s entirely your decision but no one here is telling you to keep your feelings to yourself.

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck to you.

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