A Spiritual High

I say this each week. I know I do. But this week there was something very different about you as a choir. This week there was more. There was something about your countenance as you each walked into the cultural hall and checked in. There was a different way about how you found a seat and how you readied yourself during the warmup music. There was a difference this evening that left me walking out of the Stake Center on a spiritual high that I don't know if I want it to end.

Tonight we had the blessed opportunity to have Sister Jean Stevens as our guest who would share a spiritual thought with us. Do you want to know what I loved most about Sister Stevens? Before the rehearsal began she was wandering among you and introducing herself to you. She was asking names and giving hugs. She was smiling and laughing. She showed to us that she too is a Daughter of our Heavenly Father and that she loves us. As I spoke with a Mom about her daughters hair clip that would not work for this particular choir, Sister Stevens leaned down to this young Primary aged girl and with a smile on her face said "But I want you to know that you are beautiful and your hair clip is beautiful too". She then wrapped this young gal in her arms and sent her on her way to find her seat. This incredible woman stood among us this evening and we are blessed to have had such an opportunity.

Sister Stevens spoke about how Magna brought back fond memories for her from when she was a young child as her Father was born here. She stated that she still comes out each year as her Grandparents are buried here as well. She reminded you just how much she loves you and how as she listened to you warm up that she feels connected at the heart with each of you. She spoke of how she was able to look at each of you and that she was grateful to the Lord for allowing her to love you on a level she never knew was possible.

Sister Stevens spoke of sacrifice and how she recognizes that you are each committing your time to this choir. She spoke to the Primary girls and validated that they are right that this is hard! This takes a lot of time. But she also spoke to them (and to the rest of us there) that when we sacrifice and give to the Lord, he doesn't forget that. The Lord has promised that He will reward you and He has taught us that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.

Sister Stevens spoke of our beloved Prophet, President Hinckley. She shared with us a story he told of when he was younger and attended a Priesthood session. During this session they sang "Praise to The Man". He stated that he would never forget the power and the Spirit that was brought forth through that song and the presentation that the choir gave when singing. Sister Stevens said "You are singing of Jesus Christ and His love for you. You are singing of the joyful meeting we will have as we join as Daughters of God." There will be many sisters among us that evening. Not just in the Conference Center but worldwide who are going to be able to hear and more importantly feel the words of the songs in which you are preparing to sing. There may only be one, but there may also be hundreds who will take away an experience that will touch their lives and perhaps commit them to follow the Savior even more. The potential of good that can come from this meeting is phenomenal.

President Packer said "We are able to feel and learn very quickly through the power of music that otherwise we would have learned very slowly". Being a member of this choir is a blessing but more importantly, it is a life changing event...if we allow it to be. The Lord has said He will "be there with you on your right hand and your left. My Spirit shall be in your heart and my angels will be around you."

Sisters, as you finished off the rehearsal this evening with 'I Am a Child of God', I don't know if there was a dry eye in the building. You truly have angels round about and who are singing these pieces along with you. I am so grateful that I was able to listen and to watch as you presented your hard work this evening.