What the Emperor’s New Groove Taught Me about Fulfilling a Calling

The Emperor’s New Groove: that one hilariously sarcastic movie about that one emperor who meets that one shepherd and gets turned into a llama. You know the one. But did you ever notice

1. We’ve all got a part to play.

You may not think your contribution to your ward is a big one, but the Lord knows your talents. He knows what you need to accomplish, and, more importantly, He knows who will benefit from your gifts and your insights. Never feel like your part is too small or too insignificant. Give your calling everything you’ve got.

“The Lord knows you. He knows whom He would have serve in every position in His Church. He chose you. He has prepared a way so that He could issue your call. . . . The person who was inspired to recommend you for this call didn’t do it because they liked you or because they needed someone to do a particular task. They prayed and felt an answer that you were the one to be called.”

2. Everyone’s calling is significant.

“The contribution of every person in every calling is vitally important, especially because so much of the work that needs to be done in the Church is behind the scenes. Those who do this work—like the “feet” in the well-known metaphor of the body of Christ—move the Lord’s work forward in ways as indispensable as they are often unnoticed.”

“Who are these often little-noticed but absolutely essential “feet” in our wards and branches? They are the people who set up the chairs and control the temperature for our meetings. They play the prelude music and accompany our singing. They tend our toddlers so we can enjoy Sunday School class. They teach our children the gospel; they help them earn Scouting badges and Personal Progress awards. They show us how to submit records so temple work can be done for our ancestors. They deposit our tithing in the Church bank accounts. They greet us at the door of the chapel and make us feel welcome.”

“Your call has eternal consequences for others and for you. In the world to come, thousands may call your name blessed, even more than the people you serve here. They will be the ancestors and the descendants of those who chose eternal life because of something you said or did, or even what you were. If someone rejects the Savior’s invitation because you did not do all you could have done, their sorrow will be yours. You see, there are no small callings to represent the Lord. Your call carries grave responsibility. But you need not fear, because with your call come great promises.”

3. There is always an opportunity for satisfaction.

“You have as great an opportunity for satisfaction in the performance of your duty as I do in mine. The progress of this work will be determined by our joint efforts. Whatever your calling, it is as fraught with the same kind of opportunity to accomplish good as is mine” (“This Is the Work of the Master,” Ensign, May 1995, 71).

4. Put your heart into any calling you receive.

“Even the newest member of the Church can sense that a call to service should be primarily a matter of the heart. It is by giving our whole hearts to the Master and keeping His commandments that we come to know Him. In time, through the power of the Atonement, our hearts are changed, and we can become like Him. So there is a better way to help those who are called than descriptions of what they are to do.”

5. See your calling through spiritual eyes.

“What they will need, even more than to be trained in their duties, is to see with spiritual eyes what it means to be called to serve in the restored Church of Jesus Christ. This is the kingdom of God on the earth. Because of that, it has a power beyond any other endeavor in which humans can engage. That power depends on the faith of those called to serve in it.”

“You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. His work is to bless His Father’s spirit children with the opportunity to choose eternal life. So, your calling is to bless lives. That will be true even in the most ordinary tasks you are assigned and in moments when you might be doing something not apparently connected to your call. Just the way you smile or the way you offer to help someone can build their faith. And should you forget who you are, just the way you speak and the way you behave can destroy faith.”

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/ensign/2000/03/the-value-of-every-calling?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/general-conference/2002/10/rise-to-your-call?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/liahona/1979/10/your-calling-joy-or-drudgery?lang=eng