Our stake president is President Thomas, who we [my wife and I] know very well. I was Elder’s Quorum president at the time and had only been in that calling since the EQ and High Priest group were combined after April conference. He asked me to meet with him and since I was new to the calling, thought he was going to do a little training and follow up. It never occurred to me that I would be getting a new calling. We actually went to his house on the way to the airport for a trip with our 16 year old daughter, Alia. We thought it was convenient to meet at his house so that Deanna and Alia could spend time with Sister Thomas while I was talking with President Thomas, not knowing that he wanted Deanna there anyway. I was in jeans and muddy hiking boots. I had the presence of mind to put on a shirt and tie but I chose the darkest shirt in my closet so I could cover up the t-shirt I was wearing. I made no effort to match the tie and then threw on a jacket. As the interview started going in an unexpected direction, I wondered what was going on. When he extended the calling of bishop, I was so caught off guard, it was like being hit in the face with a frying pan. I didn’t hear anything he said after that and Deanna had to fill me in later. Unbeknownst to me, Deanna had been having promptings for about a year that I was going to be called as bishop. She says it’s because I adapt to things better than she, that the Lord knew she would need extra time to accept the calling. I’m not sure if that’s true or it just shows that I wasn’t in tune with the Spirit.
Due to work and travel schedules, we had to keep the calling secret for 3 weeks. That was excruciating. We would spend time with close friends from the church and not be able to tell them what was coming but after the call was issued, inspiration immediately started flowing even though I wouldn’t be sustained or set apart for another three weeks. I started pondering and praying about counselors. The name of my first counselor struck like a lightning bolt almost immediately. For my second counselor, Deanna and I made a long list of candidates while we were on the plane for our trip with Alia. Over the course of that week, as we talked and prayed, one name gently distilled upon me like the dew from Heaven, as it says in Doctrine and Covenants 121. Then names starting coming quickly for other callings in the ward, including two more lightning bolts in the form of a ward mission leader and a primary president. By the time I was sustained, I already had a number of callings ready to implement. I also met a few times with the outgoing bishop, Bishop Baker. He was kind, humble and gracious. He built me up and gave me confidence that I would be able to handle the load of the calling and that the Lord would support me.
After carrying the secret for three weeks, the sustaining was a relief. I was touched by the words Bishop Baker said about his time as bishop as well as what his wife had to say about watching Bishop Baker try to serve the ward and the Lord. I was grateful for the testimonies of the men who accepted callings to serve with me as my counselors.
After being sustained and receiving kind words from members of the ward, Deanna and I made our way to the bishop’s office with my new counselors and the stake presidency to be set apart. I felt the Spirit strongly as hands were laid upon my head and keys bestowed. I felt the mantle of the calling descend upon me. The mantle of the calling surprised me with how real it felt. One former Bishop told me with sorrow that he has deeply missed that mantle since he was released a number of years ago, and it is easy to imagine why. For me, it feels like a direct connection with Heaven or like a big piece of the divine nature within me has been temporarily unveiled. I’m not certain if anyone around me senses it, but I feel it and it is truly a blessing.
I know that my time as bishop will involve struggle and sacrifice, but I also know that the Lord is there and He will provide a way.