The Lesson

I visited a friend in another city last week, and I went to church with her. Sacrament and Sunday School passed as usual, but Relief Society was a little different. The young woman teaching the lesson was very nervous. I could see she had prepared well because she had several papers on the stand. I have been a Relief Society teacher before and know that the lessons are very sparse and are created to encourage class discussion. But this teacher hardly looked up and gave little time for the class to answer any questions she might ask, which made participation very difficult. Consequently, she got through the lesson in about 15 minutes. I could see that her nervousness increased, and she began to panic, grasping at anything to fill the time. Many people could condemn this as a failed lesson, but I felt the spirit more in that lesson than the rest of the meetings that day. This girl was inexperienced, but she had put forth the effort to fulfill the calling she was given from God. Therefore, God lent his spirit to those who could look past the messiness of the presentation and see the pure testimony born. I know that the Lord calls people to positions in His church because He knows it is for the best (for them and the whole congregation). He doesn't call us because we are experts at what He has called us to do. He wants us to improve. If we do our best, He will be with us and the spirit will make up for all we lack. He is the real teacher and will provide the way to manifest His spirit through those He calls