In defense of some of these "older sisters", there are some (many, maybe) who have "invisible" health problems. They seem to have it together enough to attend church and Relief Society, and people figure if you're well enough to attend, you're well enough to serve. Some members are offended when these women say they can't accept a particular calling. But many of them have issues with vertigo, incontinence, nausea, poor balance, unstable blood sugar, poor hearing, reflux, and pain, just to name a few. They don't like to complain all the time, so some in the ward just think they prefer not to accept callings. Maybe it is better to say, "No, I'm sorry. I won't be able to accept that assignment" instead of "Oh, okay, I've been told to never turn down a calling" and then they stay home because they can't fulfill the calling.

I have heard that before, many times. Having served in four bishoprics through the years. Way back I decided to remove my blinders and just move forward to someone who would finally say yes.

Being 64 now and in the process of "slowing down gradually" I still have some spunk and energy. So, when asked to do something, I simply say, "Ok, but have patience with me. I am not as agile as I used to be.

What did President Hinckley say over and over? "We are all in this together" and "it will all work out."

Most folks in the ward won't know about the turndowns of primary callings or any other calling. That is good and that should be the way it is. Saves a lot of tongue wagging.

My way of thinking is "just do what you can the best you can" and not worry about what someone else does or does not do.

It is a choice when the ASK you to take a calling. Personally I don't blame anyone for not wanting to babysit for 2+ hours every Sunday.

I just want to add that the men's names aren't submitted as often because of the church's policy of two people teaching if one of them is a man (to protect against sexual abuse and accusations of sexual abuse). I am in favor of the policy, but to call men, it doubles the staffing issue.

In my experience, it's VERY hard to staff a primary, especially the nursery. People do feel that they've "outgrown" the calling. I personally have been teaching Primary for over a year and while I love my little 7 year olds, I do long for more adult interaction at times.

I love my primary calling and yes I have been in some kind of primary service for over 20 years and I will assume I will serve even more but I guess that is the key word here "service" it is a part of being a member. Where we live we all have to serve because there are only so many of us and even the older sisters teach and work in the primary we had one sister who is in her seventies working in the nursery and she loved it and was sad when she was released so I guess its all about choices.

I don't remember singing "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord except primary!" I have been teaching primary for the past ten years and I believe that this particular calling is the gateway to to our children's testimony. I think it's sad that our pioneer ancestors crossed the plains and sacrificed what they did so that some old bitties sit their caboose out of growing the gospel. Sure, it's a choice. Our salvation is a choice.

Meh, this is a bit preachy, even for Orson. I have heard many times - including General Conference - that we are a volunteer organization. Some people are invigorated by primary, some are drained. We'd be best off taking that to heart and not pushing people into primary that don't derive enjoyment from being there.

I think one of the things that needs to happen is that those who teach primary need to have the support of others who view it as genuine teaching laying the foundations of the Gospel and not babysitting.

It would be a wonderful blessing if the parents of the little ones would encourage the teachers and publicly praise their work. For those who have been in the church for awhile have a time of remembering their own Primary teachers perhaps on Family evening.

In primary is where the fundamental principles of the gospel are taught.

And then they are repeated again, in the same dumbed down way, in Sunday School, Young Men/Young Women, Gospel Doctrine, Relief Society, Priesthood, Sacrament Meeting, Stake Leadership Meetings, Ward and Stake Conferences, etc. -- over and over for the rest of your life!

It is no wonder more than half of Church members are inactive. How can anyone in their right mind tolerate such repetition!?

My take is this: If you see a call to the primary as baby sitting then you probably should turn it down unless you like to babysit.If you are willing to allow the Lord to give you the inspiration you need to shepard his little children then you are right for the calling.No member ever served sucessfully without that inspiration. If they thought they did then it was only babysitting.

There are three types of members: those who attend a structured class during sunday school, those who work the hallways and dont think SS is for them, and primary workers.

To One More Time: Try attending a catholic Mass.And you think Mormons have a niche on repetition.

Years ago I was in a bishopric and we were having a hard time finding a Nursery leader. The 7th person I talked to accepted the call. When I announced the name for sustaining in sacrament meeting, i added a comment to the effect that we thanked sister X for "accepting a call many of us would not." There was an anonymouse (of course) note passed forward to the Bishop during sacrament meeting excoriating me for my off the cuff comment. I cannot prove the author, but my stong suspicion was that it was sister no. 3 that turned down the job.
Whe I was released from a stint on the high council I was called to teach the Star B class - which was the most enjoyable calling I think I have ever had in the Church. Likewise, when our former stake president was released, he went into Primary and had a ball and loved every minute of it.

It might help if the primary leaders didn't leave you in there for years. My last time teaching I loved jr. primary, but it had been 5 years and I needed a break and needed to be with adults for awhile. I do sub when needed. In our ward, you have to ask to get out of primary. People need to be asked every year if they want to continue serving. I think it might help.

Don't you think their is a time when older women would like to do something else besides tend kids. Sometimes it's nice for the mind to try something new. I love kids ,but I do not want to spend my older years in the primary tending a bunch of kids as old as I am... I did my time! Now it's time for younger people to take responsibility for their own kids. I speak for myself, I am no longer a baby sitter for anyone else other than my own grandchildren--THANK YOU! Have mercy on the old! Kids are a lot of work, and this is why we have them when we are young and NOT when our bones have grown old and ache!

Joseph b Wirhtlin in a talk railed on people that would die for the kingdom and not serve in the nursery.

Gary,

You only prove that Church leaders are not perfect and your "mantle" did not give you sufficient empathy or understanding to avoid unrighteous judgment. You have no idea why these other people turned down the calling. But you judge them unrighteously anyway! Have you ever considered that YOU were NOT IN TUNE and so you asked the WRONG PEOPLE SIX TIMES before you finally got it right?!

There is very little inspiration in the issuing of callings in the Church. Instead, it is 99% DESPERATION! They will take whomever they can get! And no wonder, with the way the Church exploits people as it does. First they take 10% of your money, then they take several hours of your week in meetings and in preparation for your callings, then they take your comfort and make you wear those bulky, bunching, binding garments that creep up (you know what I mean!), then they take your ability to think for yourself by telling you to go against your sense of right and wrong and support a bad Constitutional Amendment, and the list goes on and on. And what do you get for it? Well, I have heard members say they get "blessings", but it sounds an awful lot like an abused wife being grateful for all the "blessings" she gets from her abusive husband!

What we want to do and what we should do aren't always the same thing.

My daughter, a young mother of 3 tiny kids, was recently called into the primary presidency and has been shocked at the number of people who turn down callings to work in the primary. She and her colleagues struggle every Sunday to staff the primary. After reading the comments responding to this article, I can see that there are many "valid excuses" to refuse to serve in primary, but those excuses don't get the lessons taught and the lives touched.

I agree with granny-- We love children when we are old but they are for the youth to handle and raise. Older people don't have the strength nor the nerves as that of a younger person when handling children. I think that is absurd thing to come up with! to have older people in the primary. Good grief! Take care of your own darn kids! and let the old enjoy life a little bit before we die. I find this very insane! Why not get some YOUNG slaves in the nursery. I raised mine kids, I love them, but and I am wore out!!!!!!!

My solution, teach your kids at home! Quit making slaves out of church members. Most people grumble constantly about the time spent in church callings. Anyway, find some solutions that do not take up everyones time away from their own families. There is nothing spiritual about this whole idea,and I find it pretty lame to say the least.

I'm 50 years old and I LOVE serving in the primary. I have the most wonderful class-the 5 to 6 year olds. They are so cute and are so eagar to learn. I don't know why anyone would turn down a calling to teach these special spirits. Just the hugs and kisses are worth it to me:) !!!

I have been the Primary President for 5 years now, and I love it. I have 6 of my own children, my oldest is getting ready to leave on his mission, and my youngest is 6 years old. In these past 5 years I have only had 2 sisters turn down a call to Primary. I am very picky about who I have serve in Primary. I want the best I can get to teach the children. Right now in our Primary we have the wife of the Stake President, two past Relief Society Presidents, two past Young Women's Presidents, two Bishop's wives, one past Stake Primary President, two past Primary Presidents, and the wives of the Elder's Quorum President, High Councilor, and Bishopric Counselor. These women are not "slaves" to the primary children. They are wise, faithful, stong, wonderful women. I thank the Lord everyday that the children in our ward are so blessed to be able to learn from them. Maybe that's why we have such amazing youth in our ward - because of these women whom they are taught and surrounded by.

A sister in our ward is 85, and teaches every

Sunday one Primary class or another, sometimes with

the help of her 85-year old husband, between his

surgeries and accidents.

My Father served as a Primary Teacher for over 12 years and was well in to his 80's when he was released. He loved and enjoyed teaching childern.
Chis Plummer is wrong, you are not a baby-sitter. You are teaching the further Leaders of the Church.
Keep that in minded when you are asked to serve.