In October of 2012 something life changing happened to me. I was issued a calling by Bishop Brian J. Anderson to be the Relief Society President of the Garden 2nd Ward.

I knew the calling was coming before it came. The spirit was kind enough to give me a little heads-up and I was so grateful for the forewarning; but it wasn’t enough to soften all the blow. As soon as I left the bishop’s office after accepting the assignment I instantly felt overwhelmed (read: I completely freaked out!)

I became even more overwhelmed after the out-going Relief Society President came over to “train” me. She had a car load of stuff and over two years worth of important information to try and transfer to me. After our 4 hour summit I remember standing in the middle of the piles of books, boxes, files, and manuals and weeping. Our ward is a wonderful community of church members but it also has many unique challenges. I knew this before the calling was issued so I knew I was in for an experience. I wasn’t concerned about my level of desire to accept the calling (I was willing), but I had serious worries about whether or not I had what it took to do the job. I was wondering what God could be thinking, giving this calling to someone as limited and unknowledgeable as myself.

Turns out I was right to have concerns.

Luckily though, there is this special something called a ‘setting apart.’ After the sustaining of the calling by ward members in Sacrament meeting (I was so grateful they all raised their hands in a show of support); I was brought into a little room. There, men who hold the Priesthood placed their hands on my head and gave me a beautiful and powerful blessing. At that moment I felt something very tangible happen to me. I instantly felt powerful feelings of love and an increase in capacity that were way beyond anything I could ever muster on my own. I knew I had been given gifts from my Father in Heaven that would help me in the responsibilities He was issuing to me. Those strong feelings of love (His love) I felt for every sister in our ward were real and tangible. It was something that is hard to explain, but very powerful. It’s those feelings of love that were the motivation and energy I needed.

What followed in those next 2 years and 8 months were certainly challenges, but mostly blessings that I will never forget and forever be grateful for.

There is no way that I could even begin to remember or capture all of the significant experiences I had and lessons I learned while serving as Relief Society President. I could never write down all the blessings, both large and small. There were challenges too, and stress and tears and heartache. Those things were important as learning experience as well. I wish I would have been better at keeping track along the way, but I wasn’t. There were lots of things I had to cut out to make everything fit.

Here in this space I did want to share a few things of significance though. Things that impressed me the most…

1- This is something I knew before, but I had it reinforced to me hundreds of times over and more powerfully than ever before… that Heavenly Father most certainly loves his daughters. He knows them, He cares, He is aware of everything, He is in the details. He knows our hearts, our thoughts, our loved ones, our challenges, our joys, our lives. He wants us to have help and support in this experience and when we are willing to serve and when we ask for His inspiration and guidance, He will send us to the people who need us most. I saw this reality over and over again (almost everyday) during my time of service. This is very real and significant knowledge. I know we hear this all the time, but we are truly His hands. When we open our eyes to see, we will surely see how He works in our lives because of His infinite love and by means of our love for each other. Even the smallest service is significant and important. I’m surrounded by loving and inspired women who serve God by serving others and it’s one of the most powerful things that can ever by witnessed.

2- People are what matter to Him. Not numbers, not statistics, not check lists…people. All of us individually and all of us as a group matter to Him. Serving well is loving people. No good service takes place without love. He can give us that love if we ask for it. I’m so grateful for Relief Society and it’s vital emphasis on coming to Christ for His love and then using that love to serve our brothers and sisters.

3- When God gives you a task to complete, He gives you the help you need to complete it. I’ve learned this lesson most significantly through the dedicated and faithful service of my wonderful counselors, Relief Society board members, and the men who hold the Priesthood who have been such a fantastic support. And most importantly, through my dedicated and faithful husband who has been with me every step of the way. (My children were pretty patient too. I was gone a lot!)

My relationships with these sisters in the photo’s below are so dear to me now, and will be forever. When people work together, magic happens.

 
Left to Right:  Kara Hogan – secretary, Lori Baird – 2nd counselor, Shauna Golightly – 1st counselor

Later a new addition: Tiffani Wells as secretary

 
And even later: My new 2nd counselor after Lori moved away – Camber Hess (and her daughter, Mary)

4- Life is incredibly challenging for every single person, but people are strong and good. When we meet our challenges well, we add to a collective energy of goodness that extends to the people around us. I’ve seen so many examples of strength and fortitude in the face of extreme difficulty. The world is a good place, full of good people meeting their challenges the best they know how. Compassion, understanding and love is what is most needed in the world. Judgment, condemnation, smallness and anger are not helpful. It is hard enough without all that. It is true that ‘charity never faileth!’ I’m so grateful to be part of a vast organization of women who take that truth to heart and live it!

I know we receive callings to serve others, but this calling has mostly been a blessing for me. The things I’ve mentioned here are only a few. There are so many more profound lesson I learned. I’m so grateful to my Heavenly Father that He blessed me with the chance to serve and who gave me the capacity needed to do so. I made plenty of mistakes and didn’t do it all perfectly of course, but I don’t have too many regrets, I’m just grateful…so grateful for every blessing along the way.