Meet the New Watauga Ward Bishopric
In the wake of a bishop’s move to a different state, a new set of leaders has filled the stand in Watauga. We’ll help you get introduced.
By Shane Dawson
From left to right, Michael Powell (1st counselor), Grant Cooper (Bishop), Clayton Fulton (2nd counselor)
In a church where every role — from nursery pianist to stake president — is filled by a member of the congregation, life changes often result in leadership changes too. When Danny Villarreal, who led the Watauga Ward for years, learned he’d become a first-time grandfather to twins, he and his wife prayerfully made the decision to move north and be close to their family. His departure triggered the calling of a fresh bishopric, comprising both new and familiar faces — Grant Cooper as bishop, with Clayton Fulton and Michael Powell as his counselors.
Each of these men comes with their own unique upbringing and interests (drone enthusiasts will love chatting with Bishop Cooper). More than that, though, each approaches this sacred duty with faith in a loving Heavenly Father’s call to serve.
Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and style.
Grant Cooper, Bishop
Where did you grow up?
Roosevelt, Utah. That's in the northeastern corner of Utah by the Colorado/Wyoming border.
How did you first become converted?
I became converted with many small rays of light. The first clear spiritual experience I can think of was when I was praying and I felt a warmth fill my whole body and mind. I knew God loved me and knew who I was.
What's your educational and career background?
A bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. I've worked at Bell Helicopter for 26 years. I started in Manufacturing R&D and Process Engineering. After five years, I moved into Rotor Design and ten years later moved into Rotor Stress Analysis. I have been doing stress analysis for 11 years.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I like playing music on my trumpet or guitar. I like gardening, tinkering with my drone, camping, hiking, and being a dad.
Tell me about your family.
I am the second of six kids. My wife Sandra and I were married in the Bountiful Utah Temple. We have been married 24 years. We have three children. The oldest is at BYU. Our second is busy preparing our mansion on the other side of the veil. Our youngest just graduated high school.
What's your favorite scripture and why?
Alma 5:16:
16 — I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
Imagining meeting the Lord and hearing the words "come unto me ye blessed" is what I look forward to and fills me with hope and purpose.
In brief, how do you feel about your calling?
I am excited to serve the Lord however he wants me to serve.
Clayton Fulton, First Counselor
Where did you grow up?
South Jordan, Utah.
How and when did you first become converted?
I have a bit of an interesting background in my church heritage. My paternal grandparents were converts and then were excommunicated for practicing polygamy. My father was raised in a modern day polygamist family and was raised reading The Book of Mormon but didn't join the Church until he was 18. As a result, my activity in the church was sometimes hit or miss. I had two experiences that really cemented my conversion. First, when I was 14, I went to Kirtland with my family and toured the Kirtland Temple. During the tour, I felt a strong conviction that the reorganized church had lost so much without the restored Priesthood. Then, as an 18 year old, I was in a rollover accident where I was ejected from the vehicle and should have died. I walked away from the accident with the conviction that God was aware of me and spared my life for a reason. As a result I went on my mission with a strong conviction that I had to gain a full testimony of the restored gospel if I were to be an effective missionary; that prompted my full conversion.
What's your educational and career background?
I grew up laying brick in a family-owned business. I was taught the values of hard work and the benefits of having a skill set to build and create. I relied on that skill set to get me through college and graduated with a masters' degree in public administration from BYU. I also received an undergraduate degree in sociology and have associates degrees in business, and general studies. I have also completed certifications in accounting and public finance. I currently work for the City of Hurst as an Assistant City Manager where I oversee finance, budget, IT, and public works operations.
What are your hobbies and interests?
I enjoy the outdoors, sports, and vehicles. My wife says I have expensive hobbies, but I mostly enjoy activities that provide a challenge and a sense of adventure. I love trying new food and exploring new places.
Tell me about your family.
Kristi and I were married in 2005.We met in 2002 and dated for a few months before she served a mission. I actually broke up with her before she left and I am very grateful she gave me a second chance. She also has a masters' degree from BYU. We have five children: two girls who are 16 and 14 and three boys who are 11, 9, and 5.
What's your favorite scripture and why?
My favorite scripture has changed over time based upon times and seasons of life. However, I am consistently buoyed up by Alma 48:18. I know that Alma 48:17 is read quite often to illustrate the power of Captain Moroni; however, verse 18 beautifully explains the power of the atonement and the role of Christ in our lives.
17 — Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
18 — Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God.
When you read verse 18 you learn that Captain Moroni was like Ammon, Alma, and the sons of Mosiah. We also know that they were at one point working to destroy the church. If Captain Moroni was like someone that actively worked against the church, then we know that repentance and change is real and powerful.
In brief, how do you feel about your calling?
I am extremely humbled by the calling and hope that I can serve with the love of the Savior. It's not something I aspired to. I pray for strength and discernment every day so that I may know how best to serve the ward.
Michael Powell, Second Counselor
Where did you grow up?
Rexburg, Idaho — home of BYU-Idaho and a lot of potato fields
How and when did you first become converted?
I had many great learning and little conversion experiences when I was in the Young Men’s program, but I think the one that I most attribute to my “conversion story” was when I was a Priest, contemplating if I really wanted to go on a mission. I felt conflicted about bearing testimony to people on a mission if I didn’t know for sure if Joseph Smith was the prophet or that the Book of Mormon was true scripture from God. I decided I needed to read the Book of Mormon for myself all the way through (I’m a little embarrassed to say that I had not done so up to that point), and study Joseph Smith. After months of studying, I remember one Sunday watching the movie Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration and felt such clarity in my mind of two things: 1. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and 2. There is no way Joseph Smith could have just made it up. He had to have been led by God to bring about something that is the source of so much truth and peace as the Book of Mormon is.
What's your educational and career background?
I graduated with my bachelors degree in Marketing, but by the time I graduated I had taken a lot more business analytics and finance classes, as well as worked in more of business analysis and finance roles, so my career so far has been more focused on that area. I now work for American Airlines developing all kinds of business reporting, visuals, and automations. And I love it!
What are your hobbies and interests?
I love sports. My favorites are basketball, golf, and tennis. I’ve also fairly recently gotten into woodworking/building and learning to cook and bake more.
Tell me about your family.
I am married to the greatest girl. Hallie and I have been friends basically since we were born. She was born 4 days after me in the same hospital, and we grew up about 3 or 4 blocks away from each other. We dated during our senior year of high school, and after I got back from my mission I was lucky enough to get her to marry me! We now have a perfect little daughter, Lennox, who is 2.5 and another baby girl due at the end of November.
What's your favorite scripture and why?
There are so many great ones that I go back and forth between, but one of my favorites has always been Doctrine & Covenants 18:10
10 — “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”
I like this one because it affirms Heavenly Father’s love for all His children, and also testifies of Jesus Christ’s love and sacrifice for us; the worth of something is determined by what you are willing to spend on it. And what was spent for our souls? The life and suffering of the only sinless person to walk the earth.
In brief, how do you feel about your calling?
There are so many things I feel about this calling. I’ve felt humbled and nervous. I feel like some leaders in the scriptures who wondered why they were called even though they were old, or had speaking problems or a troubled past. Me and Hallie have only been in the ward a short while and really don’t know a lot of the ward, so I have certainly felt inadequate. I have also felt nervous trying to fulfill the calling while not having that come at the expense of my family. With all of that, however, I feel gratitude and hope that God truly still cares and will bless His children, even when there is an inexperienced, insecure kid as second counselor in the bishopric.