Cauayan Stake

39 years ago, as a 19 year old missionary, I received a gift of a pocket handkerchief from some dear friends in my first mission area of Hermosa, Bataan.  Later that year in May, with that handkerchief in my pocket, I attended a special Church conference in Cabanatuan City for the formation of the 6th Stake of the Church in the Philippines.  When the Church is new to an area with only few members of the Church, they form the several small Branches (congregations) into a District, presided over by the Mission President.  When the District attains a size, strength and maturity so that they are truly self sufficient, they transition into a Stake, presided over by local leaders.  Today, I attended another special conference of the Church with that same handkerchief in my pocket.  This special meeting was for the creation of the Philippines Cauayan Stake, the 120th Stake in this beautiful country.

That pocket handkerchief has seen a lot.  In May 1982 when I was in Cabanatuan City, there were about 46,000 members of the Church in the Philippine Islands.  Church membership in the Philippines now approaches 900,000.  In Cabanatuan City in 1982 there were three small Branches of the Church which met in one of the few chapels the Church had in the Philippines; the Del Pilar Chapel.  Now there are three Stakes and three Districts there.  In Cauayan City in 1982, there was not even a Branch of the Church.  A Branch would eventually be formed in 1984, which would meet for a time in the Cauayan South Elementary School.  As the Church grows and blossoms here in the Philippines my thoughts turn to the writings of Moroni, found in the Book of Mormon, where he urges:  "And awake, and rise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever...." 

Yesterday I was awake at 5:30 in the morning.  I did not need to be up that early (and I believe anyone who chooses to get up that early should be shot) but I was just too excited to sleep.  I usually only get that way when I am skiing or going to Disneyland the next day.  Starting at 8:00 that morning the selection of the new Stake President would begin.  Usually a General Authority accompanied by an Area Seventy come to organize the Stake.  Because of the COVID-19 pandemic it would be done virtually.  Elder Bangerter accompanied by Elder Madriaga would attend to this happy duty virtually, through video conferencing technology.  Elder Bangerter  would attend from the Area Office in Manila and Elder  Madriaga from the southern Philippines.  They came fasting, prayerful and seeking for the Lord to reveal to them the identity of the man He has prepared to be the President.  After an opening prayer with the District Presidency and myself the interviews begin.  There is a set list to be interviewed: the current (and soon to be released) District Presidency, the members of the District Council, the Branch Presidents and a few others added to the list by the District President with permission.  These are the men who have led the District and who have experience and proven commitment to this great work.  About 1 week before the interviews the visiting Authorities are given a a 1 page biography and a picture of each man to be interviewed.  They have studied these and sought for any impressions they can obtain from them.  Now they are with them in an interview that typically last about 7 minutes.  They inquire about health, family, worthiness, employment, commitment and so forth.  The men to be interviewed come early and dressed in Sunday clothes out of respect.  When the interviews end, these two men discuss the interviews and pray for guidance as to the Lord's choice.  Typically, an old District President is not chosen as the New Stake President, but in this case the impressions were clear that the Lord wanted President Uy, the old District President to continue as the new Stake President.  

This Stake organisation would also see three of the seven faithful wonderful Branch Presidents released and three new men called to serve as Bishops.  The Stake now has 5 Wards and 2 Branches.  It was so much fun to watch these three new men (young men) come with their wives to be interviewed.  They seemed terrified, (as did their wives) but determined to do the Lord's work (I remember well those feelings, knowing my life was about to change).  

I was up again early today (I hate that but I just couldn't sleep for excitement).  The new Presidency and their wives were trained by the visiting Authorities and then at 10 AM the general session of conference would begin.  Typically these conferences are well attended by hundreds and hundreds of people. Because of the pandemic, less than 50 people were in the chapel and the rest would attend virtually, including Elder Bangerter and Elder Madriaga.  In some ways it was wonderful, because many old missionaries from across the world who had served in the Cauayan Mission could attend because of this miracle of technology.  Russell Hiatt and his wife, who preceded us here, attended virtually from the USA.  In our first or second discussion with them before we came here they told us of their work to prepare Cauayan to be a Stake.   Cayetano and Thelma Infante, our dear friends who worked so hard to ready the Branches to become Wards, attended from Canada.  Many other missionaries young and old watched and rejoiced.  I suspect the angels in heaven (including Moroni) did also. 

With our visiting authorities unable to attend in person, the new Presidency and Bishops will be ordained High Priests and set apart in a few days, after President Ballard delegates that happy task to a local Area Seventy.

To steal a line from Oliver Cowdery:  "These are days never to be forgotten."  I am so pleased with the creation of this Stake.  There are so many people here that I love and admire so very much.  Not just the leaders (who are wonderful) but also many of the those who come and sit quietly in the back and love and serve.  I am so happy for this accomplishment by them.  At the same time, with a twinge of sadness, I  recognise that I will no longer preside here and that I will lose some of the association that comes from serving closely beside them.