My sentiments exactly. I got a lot of “congratulations” after I was called as elders quorum president. It made me uncomfortable for exactly the reasons you cited.

I started telling people that “gesundheit” would be a better thing to say.

“They will be put in a position to grow spiritually.”

But don’t we grow spiritually from all callings?

“All callings are important for our eternal progression.”

So then why are congratulations only given out with some callings? I never receive a congratulations when I was new in the ward or was made ward clerk or secretary to the stake mission presidency.

As well, it’s not like I was never an elders quorum president before.

There is nothing wrong with expressing joy for them with a new calling. A new calling is “Good Fortune” for them. They will be put in a position to grow spiritually. All callings are important for our eternal progression. We serve because we are asked to serve. If we serve with charity in our hearts blessings will be poured out upon us. Serving will keep the Holy Ghost with us and he will acknowledge our good works. Serving others should be thanks enough. There is no other feeling that lifts our spirits as the Spirit we receive when we serve others. We must sustain those whom the Lord has chosen to serve. Which requires us to pray for them and to help them when they require our assistance.

None of us are perfect we all have a short comings. We are asked to do the best we can do. We may offend others, we may bring others into the fold. But if we are humble and serve where we are asked to serve we will have the Lord on our side helping us.

So I say “congratulations” in your new calling good blessings and spiritual experiences are to follow if you serve with a charitable heart.

…folks that are given calling…have demonstrated their commitment to live gospel principles.

Without a doubt. I wonder though how offering congratulations affects a person’s understanding of the purpose of obedience. If we congratulate persons for new callings on the basis that they received it because of their obedience — despite the fact that this clarification is never included with the congratulations — are we teaching them that they should be obedient so they can receive a calling?

I don’t know about you, but of all the callings I have held, I have never asked for any of them. I certainly don’t see them as any sort of reward for whatever level of obedience I may possess. If anything, I see them as additional burdens. If my callings are directly related to my level of obedience, then I am tempted to reduce my obedience so I can receive fewer of them.

“To withhold congratulations is missing an opportunity to let other members know you love, respect, and support them.”

Aren’t there plenty of opportunities other than new callings to let members know you love, respect, and support them?

However, I would ask that you consider that folks that are given calling, though by no means perfect, have demonstrated their commitment to live gospel principles. I know of no excommunicated members who hold callings. I know of no folks who openly oppose the teachings of the church and hold callings. It is those folks to whom I apply the term “loser”; perhaps an inappropriate term. But, virtually everyone I’ve ever known that was called to a church position was, in their own way, striving to live the principles of the Gospel, that’s commendable, difficult and to be admired. So yes, from my point of view, to offer congratulations is very appropriate. To withhold congratulations is missing an opportunity to let other members know you love, respect, and support them.

I have to sort of disagree with you. Callings are issued to those who are able, ready and at the time called of the Lord (generally). As far as being issued to “losers”, not everyone who is a bishop or a RS president is perfect and some are far less than perfect.

I knew a man who was called as a bishop, in spite of the fact that he told them straight out he wasn’t sure he had a testimony. He served for a short period of time, asked for a release and went inactive for a good 20 years afterwards. A calling isn’t a recognition of a person’s effort to live the gospel. It’s a calling from the Lord to do the work and accomplishments come from fulfilling one’s calling.

A RS president isn’t better than any other calling, nor is a bishop. Callings are made hierarchal only by us weak humans. Let me tell you, when I hear people say they are “only a primary teacher” or “only the bulletin editor” as if those are not important callings, it gets to me. My son’s Sunbeam teacher is absolutely marvellous. He adores her and her helper teachers. He learns so much from her. She is an amazing person. My daughter has similarly been blessed with wonderful primary teachers. If I am going to say that any calling is not issued to “losers”, I would say any calling where children are to be taught. Actually any calling in the Church. What makes a person a “loser” or a “winner” is what they do with that calling, however seemingly innocuos or not.

Serving the Lord in whatever capacity, is important. The Lord doesn’t make distinctions in people, only people do that.

For the record, I wasn’t singling you out. :) I was singling out the 20+ congratulations I’ve received in person.

Anonymous,

If every calling acknowledges a person’s efforts to live righteously, why congratulate them every time they receive a new calling? There level of righteous living likely hasn’t changed, so why not simply acknowledge your appreciation of their righteousness from time to time?

Now that I’ve been think about it, our HP group leader congratualted me on the ‘promotion’ when I was called as an EQ president. I didn’t really process what he said and I went on. I respect this man very much, but to think of any church calling as a ‘promotion’ is very egocentric.