The chapel was full, the overflow was full, the gym was full and people were sitting on the stage as the Panguitch Utah Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held a historic Stake Conference on October 22. The word had gotten out that this would be a different conference and so it was. A new stake presidency was called and sustained by the members of the Panguitch Stake. The stake covers Piute County and the western end of Garfield County – from Marysvale to Hatch.
For the past nine years President Brady Eyre, of the Panguitch First Ward, has served as the Stake President with Mike Savage of the Panguitch Second Ward and Tim Westwood of the Antimony Ward as counselors. They have been an aggressive presidency and have implemented an energetic serving schedule which concluded with several days of service in gathering wood for those who might need it this winter.
All of the work these brethren have done over the last nine years is too extensive to mention but President Eyre felt inspired to ask the members of the stake to have 30 cords of wood, for each ward, by the end of September and it was accomplished.
The Panguitch Utah Stake Conference began with meetings on Saturday and interviews conducted by Elder John C. Pingree Jr. of the Seventy. He was accompanied by Elder Emerson B. Carnavale, Area Seventy, and his wife. They each spoke at the conference session on Saturday evening along with President Eyre.
Sunday morning’s session brought an overflow crowd of enthusiastic saints. The Stake Presidency was released and the new presidency was sustained by those in attendance.
The new Stake Presidency is Daniel Yardley, President, from the Panguitch 2nd Ward, and Jason Barney from the Hatch Ward and Wade Westwood from the Circleville First Ward as his counselors.
Each of the old and new Stake Presidency spoke and then Elder Pingree and Elder Carnavale gave inspiring messages.
The next nine years will be a busy time for these men and their families. They are beginning with asking members to fast for snow this coming Sunday. We are appreciative of their inspiration. We are sure the Lord will bless them as they serve.
– by Elaine Baldwin
Feature image caption: A generic image of an lds church steeple. Courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Read more about new stake presidencies in New Presidency Called in Escalante Stake.
Elaine Baldwin – Panguitch
Elaine Baldwin is an Editor/Writer for The Byway. She is the wife of Dale Baldwin, and they have three children, 11 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Elaine enjoys making a difference in her world. She recently retired after teaching Drama for 20 years at Panguitch High School. She loves volunteering and finds her greatest joy serving in the Cedar City Temple each Friday.