Temple Assignment Assignments

[wally]

Thank you for honoring your commitment to staying away from the board for the weekend, Wally.

I am a sucker for "will you" commitments.

[BigFatMeanie]

It's both.

It's neither

[Jeff Lebowski]

It's neither

Actually, I would split the difference. I doubt it is official church protocol (someone could easily provide documentation to prove otherwise) but I certainly think it is poor leadership.

[Sleeping in EQ]

Actually, I would split the difference. I doubt it is official church protocol (someone could easily provide documentation to prove otherwise) but I certainly think it is poor leadership.

I'm not claiming that it's "official," merely that I've noticed that it is common.

[Eddie]

In my Mom's ward, in January they assign EVERYTHING for the entire year and then let people know that if they can't keep the assignment they are responsible to find someone to fill it for them.

This is for temple assignments, church cannery assignments, stake farm assignments, temple cleaning assignments, building cleaning assignments, etc. You name it, it is assigned in January.

Then they sent out reminders 3-4 weeks in advance and again the week of.


I'm OK with the concept of "assignments". It seems like otherwise you get the exact same people who have a guilty conscience and volunteer for everything and the same 75% of people who tell themselves (after signup sheets have been passed around for 3 weeks and they've been waiting to see if they are "really needed") - "Hm, all of the spots are full. Looks like they don't need me to volunteer after all."

Having been the guy who had to make phone calls in the past - let me agree with those who say it sucks.

What I always hated most was that the Bishop would say "we just need 5-6 men for this, just make a few calls - this one should be easy." Then he'd tell me he didn't want me to do it (did he not know that it often actually took me LESS time to do the "service" myself than to make dozens of calls and follow up calls to try and get someone else to do it?)

And if I ever mentioned I was having difficulty finding people to help - the Bishop would make 5 phone calls and have 4 of them accept the assignment immediately. Dang brown-nosers trying to make the Bishop think they are so much more willing and helpful than they actually are.

Not long before I was released I finally got smart. I started calling people and telling them that the Bishop had asked me to call and give them the assignment. MANY more accepted after that - made for much fewer calls. When some said "no", I'd just reply with "OK, I'll let him know". and they were less likely to decline on the following call.

I don't miss that at all. I'm also much more likely to volunteer for certain assignments.

[wally]

Actually, I would split the difference. I doubt it is official church protocol (someone could easily provide documentation to prove otherwise) but I certainly think it is poor leadership.

Agreed, poor leadership.

Good leadership fills the assignments themselves, thus sparing their constituents the pain and suffering. Good leadership falls on the grenade, as it were.

[Eddie]

Actually, I would split the difference. I doubt it is official church protocol (someone could easily provide documentation to prove otherwise) but I certainly think it is poor leadership.

This may be one of those unwritten rules.

I remember talking with a member of the stake presidency once (not my stake, he was one of the counselors in another stake) and he talked about being trained by a Seventy when he was put in - and told that assignments should be assignments and that volunteer signup lists should not be passed around quorums in order to fill them.

[Indy Coug]

Stop raising your hand to sustain people. When they assign you, tell them you didn't and don't sustain them.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Stop raising your hand to sustain people. When they assign you, tell them you didn't and don't sustain them.

Oh geez... Come on, Indy.

[pellegrino]

There was a discussion of this a few months back in a PEC meeting I attended. The 2nd counselor brought up the "church of assignments" bit and the bishop corrected him and said that they had specifically been told (by whom I do not know) that they cannot assign temple work to individuals, other things (HT, ect.) yes, but temple work no.

take it for what it's worth.

[Indy Coug]

In the wards I've been in, assignments start happening when the membership repeatedly demonstrates they will not volunteer for jack shit. It's the Tactic of Last Resort.

[Moliere]

There was a discussion of this a few months back in a PEC meeting I attended. The 2nd counselor brought up the "church of assignments" bit and the bishop corrected him and said that they had specifically been told (by whom I do not know) that they cannot assign temple work to individuals, other things (HT, ect.) yes, but temple work no.

take it for what it's worth.

Good to hear. Assigning temple work gives me the creeps.

[Moliere]

In the wards I've been in, assignments start happening when the membership repeatedly demonstrates they will not volunteer for jack shit. It's the Tactic of Last Resort.

Or it's a way to determine if what you are asking is really regarded as service. More people are willing to show up to help a widow move than to help a 40 year old guy that is adequately healthy and wealthy.

If you aren't getting volunteers, you aren't likely providing meaningful service opportunities.

[Eddie]

I agree with this.

Temple work is one of those things that should be left up to people to volunteer. I suppose I'm OK if the bishop wants to call and assign someone - but folks who don't do recommend interviews and don't know what's up with a family shouldn't be assigning people to do temple work.

[falafel]

I agree with this.

Temple work is one of those things that should be left up to people to volunteer. I suppose I'm OK if the bishop wants to call and assign someone - but folks who don't do recommend interviews and don't know what's up with a family shouldn't be assigning people to do temple work.

Ah! There's your perfect response, Dwight. Email back and tell him you're currently not able to attend the temple. You'll never get an email from that guy again.