In September 2013 I was serving as the branch financial clerk. A few of us were planning on finding tickets to go to general conference. I learned the name of the person I needed to contact to get tickets. Funny thing is that night my phone rang and it happened to be that very person. He asked if I would say the prayer at Stake Conference and I agreed to say the prayer in exchange for the tickets. The following week I was in Utah doing some construction. The week of stake conference came and I said the prayer. The next week I was in Utah again then Monday night I went in to write some reimbursement checks. Brother Fisher came in and asked if I had any trouble logging into the computer and I had not. I was confused watching president Lewis show brother Fisher how to set up an account for the new branch financial clerk. Turns out they had called a "second" clerk to help out when I was gone. At that point I knew I was being released, I knew the member clerk had gone to school so I was expecting to receive that calling. That Sunday I had made arrangements to pick up the conference tickets at the stake center. When I received the tickets the stake Secretary realized who I was and told me to meet with the Stake president at 1. After I left the stake center I needed to pick up Emma. Her van was out of fuel so we had to go get some before church. I asked Derek to text Jason and ask if I was giving the opening or closing prayer and we didn't get a response. We got to sacrament as they were singing the opening song. As I walked in I saw President Lewis and President Evans point and talk about me. The song got over and no-one stood to say the prayer I assumed I had the opening prayer. I got up and said the prayer, turns out, it wasn't supposed to be me. After sacrament, President Evans asked to speak with me there. He took me into the office and interviewed me then called me as the Elders quorum president...It was a big calling. I wasn't sure if I was ready for it. All my friends knew I was getting a calling but I couldn't tell them the calling. I wanted to tell people but I couldn't. The current president hadn't been released yet. At general conference I finally got a hold of brother walker to give him the name's of my councilors. Finally 2 weeks after I was called I finally was sustained and set apart as Elders Quorum president. The next year and a half brought so many blessings into my life. I made several friendships and was blessed by so many people. There were times I was ready to quit, tell everyone I was done and walk away. I was so busy and stressed I didn't want to do it anymore. But other times, I could see the effect I had on people. See the happiness that my friendship brought as well as the council I was able to give them. I have known for some time that I was going to be released and I wasn't ready to. But the past little while I accepted it and actually looked forward to it. In December one of my councilors moved and I needed to call another one, it was taking a while to get the stake to approve the name I had submitted and at that time I realised my time was up. Two weeks ago I met with President Evans who extended a release to me. And today I was finally released and I sustained President Kunz to be my replacement. Beau was an amazing councillor. He helped me in so many ways. I know he will do an amazing job. As for me, I didn't have a calling for 10 minutes. I am now on the activities committee. This new calling will bring some of its own challenges, but it will be nice not having so many responsibilities. I can sit in church and listen to the teachings, and feel the spirit.
