Recap: Buena Vista YSA Stake Conference
By Hannah Doolin
This past weekend, March 26 and 27, the Buena Vista Young Single Adult Stake had its biannual Stake Conference.
The Saturday General Session took place at 7:00 p.m. in the YSA Stake Center. Present at the meeting were special guests: Elder Randall K. Bennett (General Authority Seventy, First Quorum of the Seventy), Sister Shelley Bennett, Elder J. Matthew Scott, and Sister Allyson Scott. Residing at the meeting as well was the Stake Presidency and their wives consisting of President Scott Doxey, Sister Annelle Doxey, President David Moss, Sister Heidi Moss, President Bill Braddy, and Sister Braddy. Additionally, Brother John Armstrong, the Second Counselor of the Mission Presidency was on the stand.
The meeting began with a beautiful musical performance with Stephan Ewan on vocals, Sarah Bench on violin, and James Gebler on the piano.
Following the musical performance, student Terrell Phillips II, a recent convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, shared about his life experiences and his personal testimony. Afterwhich, members on the stand were invited to ask Brother Phillips questions.
Another student, Sister Ashley Jones, shared her life experiences and testimonies, followed by a question and answer session on the stand.
The Sunday General Session of Stake Conference took place at 10:00 p.m. in the Knight Arena. The meeting began with a choir performance led by Sister Doxey. All members who were on the stand for the Saturday General Session were in attendance.
At the beginning of the meeting, the awaited news of the new Stake Presidency was announced. Called to serve as the new Stake President was Dallin Palmer, who is currently the Director and teacher at the Southern Virginia Institute of Religion.
Brent Dryden was called to serve as the First Counselor of the Stake President. President Dryden currently co-owns his own Family Dentistry office in Buena Vista.
President Roger Johnson was called to serve as the Second Counselor. President Johnson is currently working at Southern Virginia University as an Associate Professor of Biochemistry, the Biochemistry Program Coordinator, and the Division Chair of Natural Sciences & Math.
