The District President was the closing speaker for the Tutay Branch conference.

“Exactly twenty-two years ago today I entered the Mission Training Center in Manila. One month before I was to leave, the Branch President called me into his office. The President said that he had been inspired to call me as Branch Clerk. I was astonished. I had no experience as a Branch Clerk. I had no knowledge of how to do the job.

I was about to leave on my mission and what little time I had left seemed to be completely filled. I explained all my reasons to the Branch President. The President told me that he had considered all those things. It didn’t make sense to call me, but he still felt inspired to do so.

I accepted the calling, but for the next month, I asked the Lord, “Why me?” Until the day I was released, I could not think of one reason why I had been called to be Branch Clerk.

After I left the MTC, I was called to serve in a new mission on the island of Tacloban. There were few qualified to serve in leadership positions, and often missionaries were asked to serve as leaders. After I had been in the mission six months, I was called to be a Zone Leader, and as part of my duties, to serve as Branch President. My companion was my counselor.

I was young. I was not a very experienced missionary. Again I asked, “Why me?”

I found that the branch financial records were in shambles. The financial report had not been completed. There was no branch clerk. My companion had no idea what to do.

Then I knew the answer to my question. I been called because I knew how to manage branch financial records, and I could teach others what to do. The Lord had prepared me during the month before I left for my mission.

Eight months later, I was called to be Branch President in a different branch. I found the same problems there with the financial reports.

The Lord works in mysterious ways. You may not know why you should accept a call, but the Lord does. He knows what we do not know. We can trust Him. He has blessings for us that we will miss if we are not willing to serve.”

I know not by what methods rare,

But this I know, God answers prayer.

I know that He has given His Word,

Which tells me prayer is always heard,

And will be answered, soon or late.

And so I pray and calmly wait.

I know not if the blessing sought

Will come in just the way I thought;

But leave my prayers with Him alone,

Whose will is wiser than my own,

Assured that He will grant my quest,

Or send some answer far more blest.

EZRA TAFT BENSON April 1977