Our attendance at Church today was 51, and in most respects, it was a fairly typical day of meetings. I gave a sacrament talk, taught Sunday School, and led the Elders Quorum. Sister Collins welcomed her new first counselor, Thembi Bila, into the primary, and they taught a large group of children consisting of English and Zulu-only speakers. Brother Ngema, our mission leader, took his calling to a new level by arriving early and warmly greeting every person who attended. He also assisted in passing the sacrament and led all of our music, a feat much greater than it seems as he has never had any formal training as a chorister or singer. 

After church, I was approached by a long-time member who expressed concern about the way a fellow member was fulfilling his calling. I listened carefully to his concerns and thanked him for his input. I told him I was aware of the situation and explained that Brother Nkosi* was new to the church and sometimes his incredibly rich background with so many different church influences leads him to do things that sometimes are quite different than what we expect in the church.

Sister Collins and I returned home and soon afterwards, I received a text from another member who was also concerned about Brother Nkosi and his calling. As I pondered these concerns and considered them within the context of the people providing them, I realized that both of these members were missing the big picture. Yes, as a church, there is great care taken to ensure that it is, and continues to be, a house of order; one that is patterned the same across the world and only changes when the Prophet, First Presidency, and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles unanimously agree to do so through revelation. But in regards to individual members, there is constant change as we respond to the spirit’s influence and, line upon line, continue the conversion process. Brother Nkosi’s sometimes awkward way of fulfilling his calling is only due to his newness to the church. Considering his background and complete lack of training, he’s actually doing an incredible job. Rather than criticize him, we must sustain and love him and step back to appreciate his progress and to remember our own struggles as God reconstructs us, one step at a time. For are we all not being shaped by the hand of the master potter?

Isaiah 64:8 . . . we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

*Name Changed