On June 19, 2011, immediately following Sacrament Meeting in the chapel, those of us in the newly-called Bishopric and our families congregated on the cultural hall stage to be set apart. I sat on a metal folding chair surrounded by 8 Melchizedek Priesthood holders, one of whom was my 82-year-old father, an emeritus Patriarch who in his prime gave hundreds of blessings in the American Fork East Stake. Each brother placed his right hand on my head and his left hand on the shoulder of the man to his left. The Stake President performed the actual setting apart, conferring on me the priesthood keys necessary to perform as a Bishop, and blessing me with the gift of discernment. I was authorized as the President of the Aaronic Priesthood, the Presiding High Priest, and the Common Judge in Israel in the American Fork 29th Ward. I was further blessed with prosperity in my personal life and the wisdom necessary to delegate everything except those things that only a Bishop can handle. Basically, the counselors, clerks and secretaries who serve with me in this Bishopric will administer most aspects of the programs of the Church, freeing me to minister to individual ward members. After the ordinance, I shook hands with each of the 8 brethren who had participated and then embraced President Ivins, tears streaming down my face.
--
I have had hands placed on my head before:
My father gave me a name and a blessing as an infant.
I was confirmed a member of the Church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost at age 8.
The Aaronic Priesthood was conferred upon me and I was ordained a Deacon at age 12.
I was ordained a Teacher at age 14, and a Priest at age 16.
The Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred upon me and I was ordained an Elder at age 18.
I was set apart as a full-time missionary at age 19.
I was ordained a High Priest in my early 40's and a Bishop just over a year ago.
In addition, I have been set apart to many callings in the Church over the years as my wife, our children and I have lived in wards in Utah, Massachusetts, Georgia, and Maryland.
My Dad has given me a number of powerful and prophetic father's blessings at key junctures in my life, and I have received a couple of health blessings following anointment with consecrated (extra virgin olive) oil.
In addition, I have been the living proxy for hundreds, maybe even thousands of Temple ordinances performed on behalf of deceased persons.
Occasionally when Priesthood brethren have placed their hands on my head, the experience has seemed rather pedestrian. Most of the time, though, the event has been accentuated with a certain spiritual sublimity.
