“Accepting and Fulfilling Callings: Serving Like the Savior,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual (2026)
“Accepting and Fulfilling Callings: Serving Like the Savior,” Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual
For the Strength of Youth: Lesson 176
Accepting and Fulfilling Callings
Serving Like the Savior
Callings are great opportunities to grow in capacity and come closer to the Lord. But some students may feel reluctant to accept callings now or in the future. This lesson can help students serve like the Savior in their callings.
Student preparation: Consider giving students the following scenario and questions. Invite them to imagine what they would say.
Possible Learning Activities
How would you feel?
Consider beginning class by sharing the following scenario and asking the questions below. It might be appropriate to alter the scenario to make it more relevant to students.
A young woman named Evelyn is going to meet with a member of the bishopric. When he invited her to meet with him, he said he had a calling he wanted her to consider. She has never had a calling before.
If needed, explain that “the Lord calls men and women to serve in the Church today through inspired invitations from His servants. These opportunities to serve are known as callings” (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30.0, Gospel Library).
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What might be some of the callings Evelyn may be asked to fulfill?
Some possible answers are in a class presidency, on the missionary and family history committees in your ward, and as a minister to someone in their ward.
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How might Evelyn feel? Why?
Some examples students might share could include that she is nervous that she might not do well, that she is worried about taking another responsibility while she’s already busy, or that she is excited to serve because she has been looking for other ways to help others.
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What would you want Evelyn to know about accepting and fulfilling callings?
Take a moment to ponder how prepared you feel to accept and fulfill a calling. As you study this lesson, seek direction from the Lord to learn and feel what will best help you accept and serve in callings.
Why we accept and fulfill callings
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught one of the reasons we accept and fulfill callings:
In the Savior’s work, it is often by small and simple means that “great things [are] brought to pass” [Alma 37:6].
We know that it requires repetitive practice to become good at anything. Whether it’s playing the clarinet, kicking a ball into a net, repairing a car, or even flying an airplane, it is through practicing that we may become better and better.
The organization our Savior created on earth—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—helps us to do just that. It offers a place to practice living the way He taught and blessing others the way He did.
As Church members, we are given callings, responsibilities, and opportunities to reach out in compassion and minister to others. (“Believe, Love, Do,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 48)
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How would you summarize what Elder Uchtdorf taught?
Students may share a variety of truths. Ask them to explain why these truths are important. If students do not naturally mention it, write the following truth on the board: Church callings are an opportunity to bless and serve others like the Savior did.
Consider displaying an image of the Savior and asking the following questions. Students could write their answers around the picture of the Savior.
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When has someone served you like the Savior would? What effect did it have on you?
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Why might someone want to serve others like the Savior did, even though they might be nervous about accepting a calling?
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In what ways do callings help us learn to bless and serve others like the Savior?
Serving like the Savior
The following activity can help students overcome reservations they might have about serving in callings or look for ways they could improve in their efforts to fulfill callings. They could complete it individually or in small groups:
Study one or more of the examples in the handout that you feel could help you as you consider accepting and fulfilling callings in the Savior’s Church.
Give each student one or more of the activities in the handout: “Serving Like the Savior.”
After students have finished the activity, invite them to share what they learned and how it affected their own desire to accept and try to serve in callings like Savior.
Consider singing or listening to the song, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus“ (Children’s Songbook, 78). Then invite students to write down one thing they would like to do to serve like the Savior in their callings now or in the future.