Fall 2007

Here it is. Fall again.

A little catching up might be in order.

Back about the time Adam went on his mission I was called to the High Council. I have some event and sports and music background and that seemed to be needed. I served in that calling for just short of five years and was then called to be a counselor in the Stake Young Mens' program. I enjoyed both callings a lot.

The nice thing about the Stake callings is you don't have to deal with individual people's issues that much. The bad thing about Stake callings is that you don't get to deal with the individual members that much.

So when I got called to be our Ward Young Mens' President, I was pretty excited. Even though our Ward seemed a little weak at the time (hence me as Young Mens president at age sixty) I truly enjoyed getting to know each of the young men. Great kids. We had a lot of fun and a lot of meaningful conversations and trips of various kinds.

So Brother Russ Ellsworth and his family moved into the Ward and he, being younger and having all sorts of other worthwhile characteristics, was ca;lled as the Young Mens President after I had served for nearly two years. There was a need for a music chairman and Choir Director. I got the call and liked that too.

We proceeded to have a wonderful Ward Choir. I bought myself a baton and really acted like I knew what I was doing. We had good participation and sang some great arrangements.

Toward the end of 2006, Cathy and I were called to be Adult Advisors in the YSA El Dorado Ward. That was a very interesting calling for me because Bishop Clark Posten, an old friend from High Council days, and I get along well. I think the world of him and he treated the men advisors as sort of quasi Bishop Counselors and included us in all the Bishopric discussiona and meetings. I did a lot and learned a lot but the wives weren't asked to do anything but sit there and look nice. Cathy tried but couldn't come up with any way to sunstantively contribute.

We are planning to move next year and Cathy sort of resigned herself to ride it out because there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

So six months later we get a call to see President Hyatt of the Stake Presidency and now I'm a counselor in the Ward Bishopric. Bishop Saunders is a devoted man and loves the Lord and he can really use some help. And, he is teaching me a lot about Church management. I finally get my very own complete Handbook of Instructions and it has been very enlightening to read. It is truly an inspired writing. It's amazing how much in formation is in there and how easy it is to retrieve.

So I'm over finances, Primary, Young Men, Music and a few other things.

Lots of work. Very rewarding. The difficult thing about a calling like this is that you cannot accomplish what needs to be accomplished without the Lord's help. And, of course, the wonderful thing about a calling like this is that if you keep yourself worthy and on your knees, you get that help. It's a great feeling. I don't think there are words to properly describe it.