The young stake president, called to his weighty position less than 24 hours earlier, stood at the pulpit - humbled, yet filled with the spirit and a determination to serve the Lord.

"Let me share with you," he said, "the things that were on my `to do' list yesterday: Clean the garage and take down the Christmas lights."Needless to say," he said as a chuckle arose from the congregation, "those things didn't get done."

Virtually everyone in the Church has felt the sudden change in one's individual and family life brought on by an unexpected call to serve. It is a testimony to the truthfulness of the work that so many so willingly adapt, adjust, and accept such changes in order to build the kingdom.

In accepting such callings, Church members should be careful to keep a proper perspective and set proper priorities.

This newly called stake president didn't get his garage cleaned that day; nor did he take down the Christmas lights. Rather he spent much of the day seeking the inspiration of the Lord as he selected counselors, a clerk and executive secretary, high councilors and others to serve with him.

And he no doubt found time for pondering and prayer in further preparation of the trust which the Lord had placed in him.

But from the pulpit, he also recalled some other very important - essential, really - things for which he did have time.

"I did get to shoot the Nerf bow and arrow with my young son. And then there was the 10 p.m. run for French fries in the van with the family. And there was the midnight discussion with my sweet wife as we lay in bed, exhausted from an eventful day, but eyes wide open."

The wisdom of this servant of the Lord was obvious. Among all the duties, obligations, opportunities, responsibilities, goals, hopes and dreams that we must balance each day, we must be riveted to a proper perspective so those things that matter most never become subservient to those that matter least.

These priorities, of course, can vary from situation to situation. While leaving home to attend to Church duties will sometimes be most important, staying at home to attend to family duties will at other times be most important.

Perhaps this is the lesson that the Savior taught to Martha.

"Now it cam to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

"And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42.)

Church service is certainly included in "that good part" spoken of by the Savior.

The blessings of service through callings in the Church are immeasurable. Among them are:

- The fulfillment of helping to build the Lord's kingdom.

- The compensation in our homes for the time we spend away.

- The association with other fine people and the bond that develops among those with whom we work so closely.

- The joy of knowing that we have helped, whether it be a major or a minor problem, another of the Lord's children.

But also included in "that good part" is serving our own families. Through all we do, serving and attending to responsibilities of our families should remain paramount in our lives.

As President David O. McKay said, "No other success can compensate for failure in the home." (General Conference, April 4, 1964.)

That, of course, was echoed by President Harold B. Lee who said, "the greatest of the Lord's work you brethren will ever do as fathers will be within the walls of your own home." (General Conference, April 7, 1973.)

Service in the Church and in our families is essential. Together, they go hand-in-hand. With proper planning and organization there is time for both in our lives. As we attend to our family and Church responsibilities, we should follow the Savior - He who set the example.