The weekend of October 27th-28th, 2018 was a very humbling one. Elder Leonard Greer and Elder Carlos Villarreal of the area seventy came to reorganize our stake. Joseph was called as the new stake president.

For those who don’t know what a Stake President is here’s an explanation from the church website: “A stake president is the lay leader of a stake, which is a geographic subdivision similar to a Catholic diocese. A stake president is a man who is asked to serve as a volunteer in this position. He oversees Church programs in a defined geographic area composed of individual congregations called wards and is responsible to help the members of his stake in their efforts to follow Jesus Christ. He also oversees the activities of the bishops or ward leaders, counseling them as needed.” The new stake presidency was published in The Church News here.

Joseph’s counselors are very good men. I know they and their wives will help and support him (us) over the next nine years of church service.

There were many tender mercies leading up to the call and during that whole weekend. The first was receiving inspiration and revelation as promised by President Nelson if we read The Book of Mormon. During my study of the Book of Mormon starting after General Conference the spirit whispered to me that Joseph would be called as the new stake president and I needed to prepare myself for that.

Saturday, October 27th, Elder Greer and Elder Villarreal met with over 25 different men from our stake. They were bishops, members of the high council, and any others the current stake president felt they should interview. Neither Elder Villarreal nor Elder Greer had met these men before. Each interview was roughly 5 minutes. Can you imagine meeting with that many men trying to discern who it was the Lord wanted to be the next stake president?

Joseph came home after his interview and went out to work on a well pump with Ira. He received a phone call asking that we both go back in to the church around noon. I met with Elder Greer and then he met again with Joseph. While they talked I visited with Elder Villarreal. Here was another tender mercy for me. He visits Piedras Negras, Mexico several times a year for business. That is where my Mexican grandparents are from! We talked about their conversion to the gospel. Then Joseph and I met with both Elder Villarreal and Elder Greer who extended the call to Joseph to be the new stake president. An intense feeling of peace and then gratitude came over me. A confirming witness of what I already knew would occur. Joseph and I were given 20 minutes to discuss, pray about, and choose two counselors.

We still had meetings to attend that afternoon. My presidency and I (stake young women) were in charge of the meal that is provided between the leadership meeting and the adult session of stake conference on Saturday. It was hard to act “normal” knowing Joseph would be sustained the next day during the general session of stake conference. Another tender mercy occurred during the adult session in the evening. Elder Greer played the following video.

“You can’t tell me how good it made me feel to know that the Lord knew there was such a person as Joseph Millett.” The story of Joseph Millet is one of Joseph’s favorites.  It’s how he has tried to live his life, to be ready to serve the Lord whenever He calls.

Sunday morning I left early for choir practice. A combined choir from our ward and another ward were singing. Another tender mercy – we were singing my favorite hymn, “I Stand All Amazed”. It was chosen months before stake conference. It was wonderful to be a part of the choir, joining them in singing praises to the Lord.

I had also been asked to conduct the music (lead the congregation in singing the hymns) for this session. So I was able to be on the stand and see the sea of hands raised in support of Joseph and his two counselors when their names were presented for a sustaining vote. Yet another tender mercy!

The newly released stake presidency each bore their testimonies, then the new stake presidency did. I also was asked to bear my testimony which I will share in another post.

After the meeting we met in the Relief Society room with our families and Elder Greer and Elder Villarreal. They set apart the new stake presidency. We (the new stake presidency and their wives) met for a little over an hour with Elder Greer and Elder Villarreal to receive training on our duties and what our priorities should be. I loved that both men called their wives on Facetime so we (the wives) could ask them questions and get their perspective on helping our husbands with their new callings. It was so helpful!

So now you know a little why I haven’t posted very regularly for a while. I’m still trying to adjust my time, making room for the most important things first.