Why do we have callings?

Well it is about 4 A.M. the day before my two finals in Biology and Organic Chemistry back to back 7:30 to 11:30 and I have had enough for a couple minutes before I dive back into transcription and translation, monocots and dicots, and more interesting fun. What I really wanted to post about was the need for callings. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one of very few churches that has no paid ministry. The Church asks a lot of the members, especially those that hold leadership positions. I have often wondered why? Another interesting aspect is we don't pick what ward we want to go to, why? I have heard friends and others comment and say if their pastor is changed and they don't like the new one, they'll just go find another church and a new pastor who they like. Why can't we do that in our church? Here is an answer I have thought of. The purpose of the plan of Salvation is to help us become like God. Everything that has occured from the beginning of our existence (well I guess there never was a beginning) has been with the end-goal of becoming Gods. That is a doctrine well taught in the Bible and by modern prophets. Our best example of that was the Savior himself, God the Son Jesus Christ. I believe by examining and emulating His life, we help our progression in becoming more like God. What did the Savior spend His time doing? Administering to the sick, the needy, the hungry, the naked, the poor, the humble, but most of all, the sinner. Teaching, serving, and living a life of total self-denial as the perfect example was one of the divine purposes of His life. He even said to the people in the America's "What manner of men ought ye to be? Even as I am." So why do we have a calling? Why are we asked to be Sunday School teachers? Or Bishops? Or missionaries? Or serving on committee's? Because in doing so and receiving no reward, we are taught how to love like the Savior loved, how to teach like He did, and how to become as He is. In my ward growing up we had a trailer park in the ward boundaries that was very low-income. It seemed like a lot of the members in this neighborhood were less-active, always needing assistance, and had problems with lots of things. I had countless opportunities as a youth to shovel walks, gather food for a family in need, offer fellowship to kids who weren't as popular, and serve, serve, serve. I often complained as a youth and wished this neighborhood would be realigned to another ward. But now as I look back, I grew as a result of opportunities to serve the poor, the hungry, the naked, the sinner. That was God offering to me a divine opportunity to become more like His Son. So the next time you are asked to home or visit teach less-actives, clean the church, go with the missionaries, volunteer at a service project, take the deacons camping, help the ( ) family move, drive the scouts around on the morning of the food drive, teach a lesson in Church, just remember this is God offering to you a divine opportunity to become more like Christ. So instead of complaining, murmuring, or grumbling, cherish it as the gift from God it is.