We Sang for the Prophet!

Last night April and I sang in Joseph Smith the Prophet with Rob Gardner, composer and conductor. Yesterday at 4 pm was the first time that we rehearsed with the orchestra and all the soloists. Jordan Bluth (who is my new favorite tenor) was one of them. All were wonderful! As we rehearsed, it was tricky to keep time with Rob and the orchestra because the sound reverberation in the tabernacle makes a delay. So if we kept time with Rob's conducting as he instructed, it felt as if we were always coming in early. But we got use to it and it came together in the performances.
Before we started, we were told at the end we would have to wait for the "special guests" to leave first, then we could. I thought that we might have an apostle come. Then we saw President Uchtdorf and his wife come in. Then people started standing and I saw President Monson and his wife coming in. One man started singing We Thank Thee Oh, God for a Prophet, and everyone joined in. My heart was full as I looked at the prophet and his smiling face. As I practiced the music at home and during the two rehearsals, it never occurred to me that we would be performing for him. I had a prayer in my heart that the music would be all that it could be, and it was! When we finished Rob was beaming and mouthed, "Perfect! Perfect!" From him that is high praise, indeed.
President Monson and the audience gave us a standing ovation. As he and President Uchtdorf left, they waved and blew us kisses the whole way out. President Uchtdorf pointed at April and smiled, waving right at her. She was the youngest member of the choir. She thought her braces may have given her away.
The music filled the hall and our hearts, as we bore testimony of the Savior and the prophet, Joseph Smith. We are singing again tonight. I hope it goes as well. It was most likely a once in a life time opportunity, that I hope to have again if we get to do He is Jesus Christ with Rob.

A Wish and a Prayer, Heavenly Father will answer both

Remember, remember...
Yesterday, I was sitting in Sunday school listening to a lesson on coming unto Christ and avoiding the flaxen cords of the adversary. Something stirred within me, and I began thinking about several times when Heavenly Father has answered my prayers. I thought of the big things; Dan getting a job in my hometown after being laid off, Elder Jarom Walz (an old friend of his) taking care of Ryan when he had to have a surgical procedure on his mission, when teaching the gospel to a dear friend, having the very things I should say come to me by power of the Holy Ghost, and when I had been striving diligently to share the gospel, I had a very sacred and overwhelming experience that let me know that Heavenly Father had forgiven me of my sins. Then some small, sweet things went through my mind, like hearing a favorite song when feeling down, or reading a scripture and feeling like it was written just for me to read that very day, or a kind word or deed from someone that was completely unexpected (which most are). I felt that Heavenly Father wants me to remember these things because I need to remember them. Not just on Sunday, but on everyday. I need to remember because He does answer my prayers, because He did answer them before, and will again and again. Not because I am deserving, because I am not. Not because He has to, because He does not. But because He loves me, no matter what. His answers to my prayers, both the big and the little are a testimony to me that this is the truth.
And I will remember. How I love Him!



Here is a Tender Mercy Story on ANWA Founder & Friends Blog. It really touched me, and got me thinking about how Heavenly Father really does take care of us all.

Tchaikowsky, Heavenly Father, and Me

Kathleen H. Hughes, "Remembering the Lord's Love"

"The Savior's invitation is clear and direct, and importantly for us, it is constant: 'Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden. . . . Take my yoke upon you, . . . for . . . my burden is light'(Matthew 11:28-30). This is the Lord's promise to me and to you."My prayer for each of us is that we will remember when the Lord has spoken His peace to us and has encircled us in the arms of His love. And just as important, will you, if you haven't felt that love for a while, seek to see it and feel it as you go about the ordinary tasks of your life. As you do this, over the days and months and years of your life, the memories of those interactions with the Lord will become sweet gifts to open a second time--or many times--to bolster you when life is difficult." 'Peace I give unto you,' the Lord promises, 'not as the world giveth, give I unto you' (John14:27). Peace. Strength. It is what we long for and what is possible. We only need to turn toward His reaching arms."

This was posted on Magic Valley Mormon Blog. I like what Sister Hughes said about spiritual memories being "sweet gifts to open a second time--or many times-- to bolster you when life is difficult." I believe that this is why I keep a journal, so that I can later remember the spiritual gifts from Heavenly Father and feel that same sweet warmth and gratitude from knowing that He loves me, and answers my prayers.

Kathleen H. Hughes, "Remembering the Lord's Love," Ensign, Nov. 2006