A few days ago I received this text from my BYUI freshman
daughter, “Guess who’s the new 40th ward sacrament meeting
chorister! :D” It was time again. Time for all of the Bishops to pull the hat
off the shelf, dust if off, and figure out where to sort all of their members.
I have had children attending college for the past five
years. Every single semester there is
the usual getting settled in a new dorm or apartment, meeting roommates,
getting classes figured out, and buying books.
And every semester there is a new ward.
The bishop tries to meet with every single student-member of his ward at
the beginning of the semester to get to know them and to give them a
calling. Every semester I receive a text
declaring the new calling: “Family Home
Evening Mom,” “Gospel Principles Teacher,” “First Counselor—Relief Society,”
“Gospel Doctrine Teacher—again,” “Second Counselor—Relief Society.”
After the hat whispers the beloved calling the ward members
know their place for the semester. Who
they work with, how they spend their time, and what their focus will be is all
decided. The Sorting Hat has done its
work and takes its place of honor back on the shelf.
