I served as the public relations specialist in the St. George East LDS Stake at the time when we lived in our Morningside neighborhood and for a short while after we moved to Bloomington. I loved the opportunity to work with President Tad Derrick helping him get information out to the members of the stake and the community about what was happening under his stewardship.
After about six months, President Derrick called to say he was going to need to release me because he had just been informed mine was a priesthood calling. During Stake Conference a couple of weeks later, this amazing Church leader called me to the stand (which is not the way a release generally happens), asked for a vote of thanks for my work as the Stake PR specialist … then immediately called for a sustaining vote for my call to be the Assistant Stake PR specialist to some quiet laughter in the congregation! I served another couple of years in this calling – until the organization of the Bloomington Stake – and he never did call a priesthood leader to my original assignment.
And, while I stood next to him, he told the large congregation, "if the Lord ever sees fit to give the priesthood to women, I would be the first to sustain Sister Sappington!"
PS: Several years later, as a long time member of the Bloomington 7th Ward, we were all eagerly awaiting the announcement of a new bishop. Bishop Mike Bair had served five years and 53 days when it was announced he would be released at our upcoming ward conference. As is always the case, ward members were speculating as to who our new priesthood leader might be. The subject came up at dinner at Olive Garden with friends Frank Knowles and Bruce Christensen. Brother Knowles said he knew who it would be and the candidate of his choice was sitting at our table. Br. Christensen said, "Ed?" "Nope," replied Brother Knowles. "I think it's going to be Sister Sappington!"
After about six months, President Derrick called to say he was going to need to release me because he had just been informed mine was a priesthood calling. During Stake Conference a couple of weeks later, this amazing Church leader called me to the stand (which is not the way a release generally happens), asked for a vote of thanks for my work as the Stake PR specialist … then immediately called for a sustaining vote for my call to be the Assistant Stake PR specialist to some quiet laughter in the congregation! I served another couple of years in this calling – until the organization of the Bloomington Stake – and he never did call a priesthood leader to my original assignment.
And, while I stood next to him, he told the large congregation, "if the Lord ever sees fit to give the priesthood to women, I would be the first to sustain Sister Sappington!"
PS: Several years later, as a long time member of the Bloomington 7th Ward, we were all eagerly awaiting the announcement of a new bishop. Bishop Mike Bair had served five years and 53 days when it was announced he would be released at our upcoming ward conference. As is always the case, ward members were speculating as to who our new priesthood leader might be. The subject came up at dinner at Olive Garden with friends Frank Knowles and Bruce Christensen. Brother Knowles said he knew who it would be and the candidate of his choice was sitting at our table. Br. Christensen said, "Ed?" "Nope," replied Brother Knowles. "I think it's going to be Sister Sappington!"
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