MTC Week #98 - Christmas Prep Begins

I don't have any first-hand Mormon Tabernacle Choir experiences to share with you this time, since I took both Thursday night and Sunday morning, to be with my family. My wife had a flute performance Thursday evening and I was excited to support her in that. Then, this morning, since my wife is Primary President and the Primary Program was today, I attended our ward to see that program and enjoy listening to lots of great primary songs. It was a great event and kudos to my wife and her counselors for having it work out so well! It was also nice just to attend my ward as that has been a rarity this year.

The Choir's upcoming Christmas Concert is only a month away and last week, we started extra rehearsals to start learning the music. While I can't disclose what we're actually singing for the concert (just to keep it a surprise for those who get to attend or watch it on DVD later), we've certainly enjoyed rehearsing the music. 

Speaking of rehearsing, just to get a feel for what it's like for Choir this time of year, below is a look at our schedule:

Busy, busy, busy. But despite it being busy, it's very rewarding and I'm constantly grateful for the opportunity. The Christmas Concert is the Choir's most popular concert of the year and millions end up seeing it. So it's both an opportunity and a serious responsibility to do all I can to help make this a heart-felt event--one in which people will feel peace, and hope, and the love of their Savior.

I'll end with a story.

So this past week, my wife and I decided to get a phone for my daughter (for her birthday). I went to the AT&T store and was helped by a guy named Matt. Since it was a new store, with new employees, there were lots of other guys observing the process of me getting a new phone. Anyway, Matt was from Nashville, Tennessee, and had just moved out a few weeks before to help open this store. He's a big music fan and when I asked if he had heard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, his eyes lit up and he said that his dad was a big fan and had encouraged him to see the choir live while he was living out here. 

I told him I was in the choir and after Matt and the other guys responded with "No way!", "That's really cool,", etc. the other guys began telling Matt he needed to go to Temple Square and see all of the beautiful things that were there. I chimed in by telling him when the choir practiced, when Music and the Spoken Word was, and about our upcoming Christmas concert.  The other guys said it was impossible to get tickets to the concert, but I told Matt I'd give him two of my allotment so he could attend. 

While I didn't get any additional discounts on my phone, Matt was excited to get the tickets and really looks forward to going. Whether he ends up wanting to know more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or not, I hope he feels love and acceptance from not only his fellow Utah brothers and sisters, but from his Savior, too.

Until next time, God be with you.