Pappa Hardy's Musings on Life.

Today I was released as the 2nd Counselor in the Page Ward Bishopric. I had served in that position for almost 4 years. When you serve in a position like that for as long as I have, you come to feel a huge loss when the situation is changed. I enjoyed serving with some fine men and women in the Page Ward. I now find myself without a calling. I am sure that will change soon, but it is an unusual feeling for me. I praise the Lord for the opportunity that has been mine to serve with such wonderful men.

I have the blessing to serve as a counselor to Bishop Wayne Pullan of the Page Ward. I have served as a counselor to two other Bishops, Bishop H.P. “Ted” Cardon of the Southfield Ward in the Bloomfield Hills Michigan Stake and Bishop David G. Ditto, of the Cheyenne 3rd Ward of the Cheyenne Wyoming Stake. I have had the opportunity to watch these Bishops serve and see the impact it has on their lives.

They are truly great men who serve with the interests of their members at heart. They are blessed by the Lord. However, I have also concluded that if you aspire to this office you must be nuts. Why? Bishops have great demands on their time. They sometimes put in 30 hours a week over the time their full time job takes, and I am sure that they are thinking, dreaming, or experiencing the calling the rest of the time. I am told that they receive great blessings for their service and sacrifice and certainly I have been a first hand witness of those blessings. However, I don’t believe that I have the ability to handle the kinds of stress that they experience. They are truly great men. I know the Lord blesses them. I would be nuts to want to take on their responsibilities.