Bishop Ballard

In March of 2007 Alanna and I moved into our new condo. The following Sunday we attended church at the Lee Ward, our new ward. I was sitting in priesthood meeting waiting for it to start when there was a young man, with a bald head, working the room with handshakes and a big grin. I soon was shocked to hear everyone calling him Bishop. I looked at him and thought he couldn't be any older than 27. He soon got to me and shook my hand and whipped out his phone to record my name and contact info. He then set up a time for him to come visit us at our home the following Tuesday. Little did I know the impact that man would have on me over the following two years.

When he and his executive secretary met with us in our home I found out he actually was a handful of years older than 27 but still quite young.

It didn't seem longer than a week after that visit when I received a phone call from the stake presidency asking me to come see them Sunday morning. I had only received a phone call from the stake presidency once before and left that appointment with a lot of responsibility attached, so getting this phone call shook me up a bit. When my wife and I went to the appointment I was relieved to hear Bishop Ballard had submitted my name to be his executive secretary. I thought this was pretty cool considering I would get to work closely with the bishopric and it was a responsibility that seemed reasonable.

Over the next two years that "stake presidency phone call" came a few more times when I was called as Bishop Ballard's 2nd counselor and later on his 1st counselor. Those 2 years when I worked closely with Bishop Ballard become a very sacred time in my life. His mentorship taught me the details of church government, how to love those in need, how to set an example, how to listen to the Spirit when direction is needed. Most of all he showed me that a leader was in me as long as I followed the Spirit.

Last Sunday Bishop Ballard was released as bishop which meant a release came to me too. I am excited that Bishop Ballard gets to move on to the next step in his life that probably should have come long ago. Though his bright orange Cadillac won't be there, his influence will carry on in the people he loved and those leaders that he trained.

I felt it necessary for me to post this so that I won't forget in the future what my good friend taught me.

Thank you Bishop Ballard.