At least this was my experience back when I was on the High Council.

At the request of the designated Apostle, the sitting Stake President receives a letter and is told:

- when stake conference will occur by date time, location
- that the stake will receive a new Stake Presidency during this conference
- who will be sent on assignment to preside and make the changes, and who their traveling companion will be.

The Stake President is asked to submit a "application/profile" for each person on the interview list. This includes:

Current counselors in the Stake Presidency
All sitting Bishops
All sitting members of the High Council
A short-list of others that should be considered.

The application/profile includes name, occupation, occupation commitments, spouse, spouse occupation commitments, children, children at home, special needs, etc. It includes previous callings and a picture.

These are all sent to the visiting authority in advance. Those on the short-list typically do not know they have been submitted, in advance. Everyone on the mandatory list is eventually told their interview slot, and those on the short-list provided by the current stake president are given their slot. After the interview, all are told to "wait by the phone".

During the interview, the person presiding leads the interview, and the traveling companion observes from the side. All those interviewed were asked "What are three things your stake does well? What are three things you stake could improve? Who would you suggest lead these changes?" We knew these questions in advance and had chance to ponder/consider our responses.

During the course of the interviews and kneeling in prayer between the 2 visiting authorities, the Spirit makes known whom to call, and they call the person in for a second interview. The new stake president is given a short (e.g. 30 minutes or less) to suggest counselors who are then interviewed and called.

The interviews started Saturday morning, and by Priesthood leadership training at 3p, the new stake presidency has been called, and keep it confidential until presented to the Stake on Sunday morning.

It is amazing to me that this occurs every week, globally. We are reminded it is His work, by the Spirit.

As for Ken, he will be fine. The Lord qualifies whom he calls, and his family will be blessed much more than the sacrifice required.