How I Lead as Stake Primary President in Indiana | An Interview with Angela Sturgeon

Jul 10, 2025

Angela Sturgeon, Indiana's Stake Primary president and a former flight attendant, shares her inspiring journey of leadership and resilience. She candidly discusses overcoming challenges in her role, emphasizing the importance of empathy and community support. Angela explores the significance of embracing diversity within church leadership and fostering connections through shared experiences. With a focus on empowering children, she highlights innovative initiatives that encourage young leaders and strengthen community ties, all while deepening her own spiritual connection.

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ANECDOTE

Jumping In Without Prior Experience

Angela Sturgeon transitioned quickly into stake Primary president with no prior ward Primary experience.
She relied heavily on her counselors and learned on the job, feeling humble and needing support.

ADVICE

Build Relationships for Leadership

Build genuine relationships to understand each ward's unique needs.
Take time to know leaders personally, listen to their struggles, and be open to learning local culture and terminology.

ADVICE

Embrace Flexibility in Leadership

Embrace flexibility and tailor primary programs to fit diverse ward needs.
Collaborate with your presidency to listen and adapt plans based on local feedback.

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Angela Sturgeon has served in a variety of callings, including Sunday School teacher, Young Women first counselor, Relief Society counselor and secretary, Relief Society president, Primary Activity Days leader, and in Scouts. She most recently served as the stake Primary secretary and now as stake Primary president.

Angela earned an associate’s degree in History and Political Science from Orange Coast College and after many years of balancing work, family, and part-time study, will be graduating in a few weeks with a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She worked as a flight attendant before retiring in 2022 and has since pursued her passion for encouraging and mentoring others, becoming a published best-selling author of How to Be Resilient for Turbulent Times and a TEDx speaker of the same title. She speaks regularly on resilience, faith, and purpose—inspiring audiences to rise with strength in the face of adversity.

Links

How to Be Resilient for Turbulent Times: 7 Guiding Resiliency Principles
How to be resilient for turbulent times | Angela Sturgeon | TEDxUSFSM
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Highlights

Angela shares her unique experiences and insights gained from her leadership role in a diverse and spread-out stake. She candidly discusses her initial challenges stepping into the role of stake Primary president without prior experience in a ward Primary presidency. Angela emphasizes the importance of building relationships and understanding the unique needs of each ward and branch within her stake. She shares key principles that guide her leadership approach:

Embracing Flexibility and Personal Growth: Angela speaks about the necessity of being adaptable in leadership, especially when faced with diverse needs across different wards. She emphasizes the importance of relying on Heavenly Father and being open to the Spirit to guide her decisions.
Fostering Spiritual Resilience: Drawing from her own life experiences, Angela discusses how spiritual resilience is crucial for both leaders and members. She shares personal stories of overcoming challenges and how this resilience can inspire others to keep moving forward in their faith.
Cultivating a Culture of Love and Growth: Angela stresses the importance of creating an environment where individuals feel loved and supported. She describes how building relationships with other leaders and members fosters a sense of community and encourages open dialogue about struggles and successes.

00:03:40 – Angela’s Background and Move to Indiana
00:04:51 – Transition to Stake Primary President
00:05:49 – Initial Orientation in Leadership
00:07:10 – Navigating Leadership as a Convert
00:08:57 – Visiting Wards and Branches
00:09:48 – Scheduling Visits
00:10:45 – Personal Experiences and Challenges
00:12:23 – Building Relationships in Leadership
00:16:22 – Embracing Flexibility and Personal Growth
00:19:26 – Fostering Spiritual Resilience
00:25:54 – Cultivating a Culture of Love and Growth
00:30:47 – Windshield Time and Connection
00:32:27 – Unique Activities in the Stake
00:34:00 – Navigating Stake and Ward Dynamics
00:35:33 – Final Thoughts on Leadership and Love

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