# PonderIt

## Monday, August 14, 2006

### "They don't pay me enough"

My wife has been struggling to keep all the slots filled to have a functioning Primary in our ward. On Sunday, she asked a former bishop of our ward to sit with a class that had only one teacher. Well, sit he did. And nothing more. Apparently, he might as well have been a bump on a log for all the help he was to the other teacher in helping the kids be quiet and respectful.
After Primary, my wife thanked him for coming in to which he replied, in essense, "Well, I guess I wasn't too much help, but they don't pay me enough!" He chuckled. Exhausted and exasperated, Keryn wanted to slap him and doesn't remember what she actually said in response, though I don't doubt it was very polite. She is such a good woman.
When Keryn recounted the story to me, my sanctimonious self knew exactly what to say. "You think that the pittance you give to the service of your fellow man (and children) isn't well enough repaid by the God who has promised to give us everything he has? You think that isn't pay enough?! *smack*"
When Keryn recounted the story to me, my other self knew exactly what to say. "I know what you mean."

#### 3 Comments:

- Unfortunately a lot of older men and primary classes just don't get along.
  Suffer the little children, for of such is the kingdom of God. Or something like that.

  By Eric Nielson, at 8/14/2006 7:13 PM

- We had a brother in our ward that had twice been a bishop and twice served in stake presidencies, including a long stint as stake president. He was an FBI agent. He was called to teach Sunbeams. He was scared to death. But he did a great job.
  The kids just loved him -- and he loved them. He ended up often having two or more of them sitting with him and his wife during Sacrament meeting. The kids had to take turns because there was so much demand. Whenever you saw him in the hallway at church, he invariable had at least two little kids hanging on him.
  Following his retirement he was called to be a mission president in England. When he and his wife attended the MTC, they put out a 'yearbook' showing all of the new mission presidents and their wives that were in attendance. They asked each to supply a bio for the book that included past callings. He included only one calling: Sunbeam teacher.
  That man has since served as a bishop in a university ward. A friend remarked that it was awful that they would make him do that now that he was fully retired and back from his mission. He replied that it was the first time he had the time he really needed to devote to the calling.
  I want to maintain an attitude like his when it comes to church service.

  By Reach Upward, at 8/15/2006 8:35 AM

- I'd like to be like that guy too.

  By Bradley, at 8/17/2006 3:11 PM

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