In January or February Dave started waking up in the middle of the night. He would be awake for an hour or two. It happened over and over again. He would get up and sit in his chair and read his scriptures or another book until he was sleepy again.
One morning he said, "Something is coming." "I am getting a new calling or something but I have no idea what it is." I told him he would do great whatever it was and then I started praying, a lot.
Dave had been having a lot of shoulder pain since the fall. It had gotten bad enough that he started talking about it to other people. I tried to get him to go to the chiropractor, doctor, someone. His scout buddy told him it sounded like a pinched nerve in his neck. So, he went to the chiropractor. That gave him some relief but not enough. His fingers were getting tingly and the pain was constant. The Chiropractor felt he better go to a specialist. He finally did in December. They did the MRI and found lots of things wrong in there. Bone spurs, poor curvature, three bulging disks. They wanted to do a cortisone shot immediately. Dave had the shot and it worked for two days and then it did nothing. The doctor wanted to schedule immediate surgery. This is a scary surgery. Dave balked. He didn't go back to the Dr. or the chiropractor. The Chiropractor felt that he could help him but Dave wasn't talking to anyone. This is when I started praying.
I started praying that Dave would be able to get the help that he needed so that he could serve anywhere they Lord wanted him. I know my husband. He loves serving The Lord. However, I knew that he needed help to be able to do that. I prayed and prayed that he would find some relief. Generally, if a cortisone shot doesn't help within ten days it isn't going to help. Dave was way past that time frame. However, about the middle to end of February he started to have less pain. Then the pain was gone completely. He could feel it in certain positions but it was not a constant thing.
His sleep was still erratic. He was aware that the Stake Presidency in the Young Single Adult Stake(LDS church) was going to be reorganized. He served as a Bishop in that stake. He still kept having the feeling that a new calling was coming but nothing more.
At the beginning of April people started talking about the reorganization of the Stake Presidency. I guess that the outgoing President is asked to request worthy men from the stake that could possibly serve. They are then interviewed and then chosen.
Paul Barnes served with Dave as his counselor. He asked Dave if he had been called about his appointment. He had not. Dave Prete also served with Dave. Both of these men were still currently serving in the stake. Dave had been released over a year ago. Prete asked if he had his appointment? Dave said no.
One Friday in early April, Dave left early for work. He called me and told me he had to buy a suit. I said "ok, why?" He needed a new suit, his suit he used while Bishop was totally worn out. However, he hadn't wanted to spend the money. He just wore his white shirt. He said that while he was awake in the night a voice told him to "go and buy a suit." So, he decided he better do it. I agreed.
The next weekend was the weekend that the new Presidency would be called. Paul and Dave Prete kept calling Dave to ask if he had an appointment. He didn't. Thursday evening Dave received a call from Brother Dayley setting up an appointment. Dave was shocked. His appointment was for 11:30 Saturday morning. I picked up Dave's suit on Friday night!
Unbeknownst to us until a few weeks later was this story. Dave Prete had taken President Neilsen(current Stake President) to lunch to thank him for everything he had done, all the guidance for him as a Bishop etc. While they were at lunch Dave Prete asked President Neilsen if Carrigan was on the interview list. Pres. Neilsen said no. Dave Prete looked at him and said "I think he should be." Prete told us that President Neilsen just looked at him and didn't say anything for a long time. Long enough that it was obvious he was really pondering what he had said. Then President Neilsen said "your right, he needs to be on the list." My sweet Dave was the last person to be added to the interview list.
Saturday morning came and Dave left for his interview. All hell broke lose at my house. My children were fighting viciously. It was one of those times that I could not deal with the horrible feelings. I called Dave and left a message to hurry and come home. His interview had to be finished, it was 1:30p.m.! A few days later I realized that the horrible awful feeling that were happening in our home at that very time was exactly like the awful feelings that were there immediately before Dave was sustained as Bishop. The Devil wanted to stop the things that were happening, even going after our family.
Dave finally called and said that they were terribly behind schedule but he would be home as soon as possible. He finally went in for his interview with Elder Richard Hinckley(President Hinkley's son) and Elder Charrington. He said it was a wonderful interview. They were both so interested in him and his family. Where he grew up, his mission, his marriage. He left the interview feeling like old friends.
Dave came home and told me about the interview. He said it was a wonderful experience. About ten minutes later Paul Barnes came over. His interview had been a bit before Dave's. He said that his interview was short and to the point. He said it was the most "nothing" interview he has ever had.
Dave and I looked at the time. We knew that they had to have the new President called by 4:00 so that he could choose and call counselors. We both starting doing projects. I worked on laundry in the basement while Dave worked under the boat. Our basement phone doesn't have caller ID so I rarely answer it. While I was in the laundry room the phone rang. I knew I had to answer it. As I answered it I looked at the clock-3:55. I said hello. Brother Dayley asked if Bishop Carrigan was available. I took the cordless phone outside and said to Dave "Dave, you are wanted on the phone" He said, "who is it?" I said, "you don't want to know!" He got out from under the boat and took the call. Brother Dayley asked if he could bring me and his bride down that evening. He then called right back and they changed the time to 7:30 am. Dave looked at me with a shocked knowing face.
Neither of us slept at all that night. We had talked about if he was the President. Who would he call as counselors. When we got up we both absolutely knew that he wasn't the President, he was a counselor. We went into the stake offices and Bishop Lyle Parry and his wife were sitting there. Within a few minutes another man walked in. Neither Dave nor Lyle knew him. We all knew he was the new Stake President. We went into the interview and visited with Elder Hinkley and Elder Charrington. They asked questions and then asked Dave if he was worthy and willing to serve. They asked me if I would support him. They also asked if there were any legal matters, or lawsuits that we were involved with that they should be aware of. It was a very humbling experience. We then had a few short minutes that we met with all six of us. The Presidency and their wives. President Tony Reynolds had never met either of his counselors. I asked how he chose them. He said that Elder Hinkley had given him a folder with a few of their recommendations and then they had a half an hour to pray about about who to choose. He and his wife Connie felt directed and guided with the choices they made. We had about an hour to go home and get our families ready to be with us at Stake Conference.
As we sat down in the audience waiting for the sustaining of the new Presidency I looked around. It was such a surreal experience. There were many people there that we knew. Many were there to support the outgoing Presidency. I don't know if we looked different because we had our family with us. I just know that I was so nervous sitting there waiting. The release and then the new sustaining happened. Just like that, the mantel was shifted.
The members of the leaving Presidency spoke as did their wives. It was very emotional. It was then the new Stake Presidency's turn. I remember very clearly that I expressed that I knew that my prayers had been answered by Dave's neck/shoulder pain going away so that he was able to serve. I know that it was through the power of the Lord. I told them that I was grateful for a husband that was always willing to serve the Lord.
After the meeting there was a short meet and greet with stake members and then we had a luncheon with the new Presidency and Elder Hinkley and Charrington. It was a lovely luncheon. The beginning of a five year calling that would change our lives!
