IS THERE A STAKE PRESIDENT'S MANTLE?

IS THERE A STAKE PRESIDENT’S MANTLE?

I have been a bishop. I have observed lots of bishops and I have called eight men to serve as a bishop. I know that the “mantle of a bishop” rests upon them while they serve. They have special spiritual powers. They are directed by the spirit to act for their members. They have words of counsel from God come from their mouths. They receive special insight to act as a “common judge in Israel.” I know those special powers and that “mantle” leaves them when they are released.

But what about a stake president? Does a “mantle of a stake president” rest upon him when he is called and reside with him until he is released? I had never given this concept much thought until after I have been serving a few years as stake president. Strange and different things happen to me as stake president that surprise me. Let me explain.

I was surprised when I was called as stake president. I thought I was too old to be considered as stake president material. In fact, when Elder Eyring told me “the Lord has called you to be stake president”, my response was “Are you sure? You have to be kidding.” I certainly had not coveted this calling but because Elder Eyring told me that Lord had called me, there was no choice but to accept the call. I remember how naked I felt when Elder Eyring had me stand before the congregation about 10 feet from the podium but right up front where everyone could see my faults, sins and inadequacies. I thought, “what if they vote against sustaining me as stake president?”

I knew from serving in the stake presidency before that if you want to be respected in that calling, you have to act like the calling. Elder Eyring had gotten after our stake as being too informal in how we addressed each other. I immediately started to introduce myself as Pres. Summers-if I didn’t call myself as President, why should anyone else. Elder Eyring set me apart and gave me a special blessing in how I would be perceived by the members. I began to serve and the unusual things started to happen.

A member told me his wife had seen me walking down the hall in the stake center just before the meeting commenced to sustain me. She reported to him that my countenance was transfigured to that of the existing stake president and she knew I was the next stake president. Elder Eyring had challenged the stake members to get their own testimony that I was the man called by God to be the Stake President. Numerous people came up to me and announced that the spirit had testified to them as I a stood to be sustained or later in their prayers that I was the man called of God to be the new stake president. I never have known why I was called as stake president but that wasn’t important to me to know the why but only to know that I was called by God and do the work.

I have always viewed myself as a person born of great parents who grew up in an ideal setting in a small southern Utah town that no one cared about, loved to be a cowboy as a kid, had a reasonably good mind and was blessed to get into law school at the University of California in Berkeley, had a great family, liked living in Grand Junction and practicing law and enjoyed working in the kingdom. I knew that Heavenly Father loved me, Christ was my brother who accepted and blessed me in spite of my sins and imperfections and that the Holy Ghost inspired me and had bore witness to my soul of God’s truths many times. I have never considered myself as any one special but I now, as stake president, seem to have an effect on other member’s lives. Examples:

1. Speakers express fear when they find I am on the stand at Sacrament Meeting. I don’t see anything about me that should scare anyone
2. Others tell me I bring a special spirit when I visit their ward.
3. I am referred to as “our beloved stake president.’
4. I meet a new member of our stake coming out of Office Depot-he has this shocked look on his face and is almost speechless. He later tells his Sunday School class that when he met me coming through the door at Office Depot the Spirit testified I was a man of God.
5. I am treated with great respect at our youth conference in Wyoming. Everyone volunteers to help me and ten young men sign up to help me walk.
6. I feel this great love and support when I interview the bishops monthly.
7. I visit members in their home and are told that they feel the spirit very strong.
8. The Spirit prompts me to visit someone in their home or in my office. I give them a blessing or leave a blessing in their home-I am told that I was an answer to their prayer or that my blessing and visit was exactly what they needed.
9. The Spirit tells me to visit DC and invite him to come back to the church, be rebaptized and receive his priesthood back again. I take Pres. Landes , his stake president, for the visit. The invitation is not accepted but his non-member spouse reported to her in-laws that she loved the visit and said the two men that visited their family were “awesome.” (I have not given up-I committed to DC’s parents that I would fast and pray for DC every Fast Sunday while I am stake president until he returns to the church. They said they would invite their extended family to join in these monthly fasts.)
10. A man who is inactive but was a youth when I was bishop comes to me for a blessing of peace because his parents are fighting, getting a divorce and putting him in the middle. He reports he feels peace just being in my presence. I give him a blessing of peace.
11. In a Ward Council, Pres. Bowen invites members to share how they are blessed by someone that served faithfully in their calling. One member whose face I recognized but those name I did not know said that he had been blessed by my example of serving with physical difficulties. This member said he prayed for me each day. I didn’t even know his name and I have never interviewed him.
These are the kinds of things that happens to me all the time. Members love meeting me in the halls of their chapels. Missionaries love me coming to their missionary conferences. My High Council support and sustain me, privately and publicly. My counselors will do anything I ask. I am blessed beyond measure. These kinds of experiences are happening to me-I don’t deserve them. The compliment I am most grateful for was given by Bishop Swenson. I was describing my Dad to him-a 5’5” man who was all trunk who was greatly respected and loved by the saints and he loved them. He overlooked faults and judged people by their hearts. Bishop Swenson said he had never met my father but I just described the characteristics of someone he knew.

Is there a “mantle of a stake president?” I have concluded there definitely is such a mantle. I am only a retired 67 year old man with Parkinsons. I am nobody special nor have I done anything special. Elder Eyring blessed me that I would be transformed as people looked upon me and they would see the power of God through me. That is the mantle. It will end when I am released. I don’t fear losing the mantle but I do worry about my health when people start praying for a new stake president and not me. I take comfort in the prayer offered by Bro. Richard Huffaker in High Council when he prayed that I would be “sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of my body.” D & C 84:33. After all, I only ask Dr. Burnbaum, my neurologist, when I first saw him for Parkinsons, to give me seven good years until I am released as stake president.

K. K. Summers

January 22, 2009

HEALTH REPORT CARD KKS

January 20, 2009

RE: HEALTH REPORT CARD OF KKS

JUNE 4, 2009 PROSTATE GRADE A

It has been 5 years since my prostate cancer surgery. Dr. Nishya told me that years 1,5 and 10 are the key indicator s of whether all the cancer was removed with the 5th year being the most important. My PSA was 0. I am very grateful. There never was any doubt that surgery was the correct procedure for me.
JUNE 4, 2009 ANNUAL PHYSICAL GRADE A

Dr. Motz was very pleased of my physical condition at my annual physical. He said the blood work numbers looked very good . He said he looks forward to our annual physical appointment . I like him but his staff is not very warm.

JANUARY 12, 2009 TEETH CLEANING GRADE F

Dr. Weenig, my Periodontist , is concerned about the inflammation of my gums. He recommends I start putting hydrogen peroxide on my gums. I was disappointed because I thought I had taken better care of my teeth—at least my baby dog tooth is still intact. I remember a line in a movie where an elderly man reviewing his life said, “I wish I had taken better care of my teeth.” That applies to me. I committed to get a better report when I have my next teeth cleaning in three months.

JANUARY 14, 2009 PHYSICAL THERAPIST REVIEW GRADE A

In December 2008, I visited Dan Babbel to obtain instructions on stretching exercises that might help me with the effects of my Parkinson’s Disease. Carol and Connie accompanied me and filmed the instructions given me and then with the help of others prepared for me a DVD that I could follow in doing daily exercises. I started my exercises the first of the year and did as I was instructed. Bishop Stagg gave me a Bishop’s Blessing when we went to Tithing Settlement and instructed me to read the Book of Mormon this year and pay particular attention to the lives and teachings of Lehi, Nephi and Enos. Dan Babbel, my High Priest Group Leader told me to read the Book of Mormon as I stretched my legs against the door frame while lying flat on my back. I believe in doing what my priesthood leaders advise and instruct. I have been reading the Book of Mormon while stretching my legs and found that it has been a spiritual experience but in addition, I have been blessed physically. In my January visit, Dan said there was a substantial change in the flexibility of my body since my last visit. He gave me an A Grade. I have in the last week, walked 3 miles, 3 plus miles and 3.5miles without experiencing a festinating gait. I am very grateful for how I feel. I will walk 4 miles today-I have got to get ready for the Bolder Boulder.

JANUARY 16, 2009 ANNUAL DERMATOLOGY EXAM GRADE A

Dr. Rashleigh told me again, “You have the best skin I will see all day. You Mormons know how to cover up.” My skin was in good condition.

JANUARY 19, 2009 DR. BURNBAUM, NEOROLOGIST GRADE B

I have asked people I’m around to evaluate my Parkinson’s condition. I agree with their evaluation. My voice remains strong. My movements have not dimished. I do have shaking in times of stress and when I am tired in my right hand and lower lip. I am more relaxed as a whole since I stopped practicing law. Dr. Burnbaum examined me and told me I am as strong as when I was examined three months ago He gave me the option of increasing my medication but I turned it down. I can put up with the shaking although it is embarrassing to me at times and I hope my exercising continues to help me maintain or maybe even improve. Dr. Burnbaum said that the higher I increase my medication the greater chance there will be of the negative side effects of the medication. I know one man that can’t take any medications because of the side effects. My pill bottles contain warnings that the medication may cause drowsiness or dizziness. I don’t want to risk my ability to drive by taking more medication. I will see Dr. Burnbaum in three months.

CONCLUSION:
I am most blessed. My blessing by Elder Eyring that I would have the “health, strength and endurance” to fulfill my calling as stake president has come to pass. I am very grateful. K. K. SUMMERS
January 20, 2009