If you were to ask Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy what they thought about the Choir's performance this weekend at General Conference, they would likely say it was one of the best Conference performances, ever. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, after singing each of the 20 or so songs that were part of the Conference repertoire, they gave us several compliments, smiles, and thumbs-up. And I think all of that positive feedback not only represented excellence from a technical musicality standpoint, but from a spiritual standpoint as well.
At any rate, I wanted to devote the rest of this blog entry to those things that impacted me the most--from the perspective of the "choir conference" experience.
Most Impactful Songs
While it's challenging to pick just a few, I'd have to choose the following:
**O Thou Rock of Our Salvation - Each conference I dedicate a song to my wife just for fun. It's a way that she knows I'm thinking of her while I'm away for so long. So this time, this is the one I picked. Also, I just really felt a powerful hope in the song's lyrics--especially in the last verse coming true. "When for all that we’ve contended, when the fight of faith we’ve won, when the strife and battle’s ended, and our labor here is done."
**Now Let Us Rejoice - This is one of my favorite hymns and it always reminds me of the last church meeting I had in Japan where I asked the choir director to have the congregation sing this song after I had exhorted the Saints there to rejoice both now, and in the great future ahead.
**Called to Serve- I have two missionaries serving, so, of course I thought of them while singing this one.
**How Firm a Foundation - Another favorite hymn. And this arrangement is top-notch.
**I Need Thee Every Hour - What a better way to end General Conference this year--with a plea to have God's help every hour as we strive to become better.
Easiest Session to Sing
This goes to the Saturday morning session. It was nice to be fully confident in all the songs I was singing.
Best "That's Really Awesome" Moment
This one is a tie.
First one goes to what happened after the Conference was over. Bishop Causse came over and personally thanked our women organists for doing such a fine job.
Second one goes to President Oaks who, after he was exiting the rostrum, turned to the choir and made several heart-warming gestures indicating he had loved the music and was thankful for our service and talents.
Yummy Moment
Haha! This one goes to all the brethren who brought yummy treats to pass around while the speakers were speaking. (And yes, we do pass around treats--as discretely as possible--in an effort to keep us awake and alert) I think the row I was on had the best and most varied selection of goodies.
Funniest Interchange
When Ryan Murphy was conducting us during a rehearsal, he looked at the camera guy who had his camera pointing at his right side and jokingly said "Hey! That's not my best side." The camera guy then proceeded to point his camera at Ryan's backside--at which point we all started laughing.
Best Bro Moment
A few of us backstage who knew each other well, were greeting each other with hugs. A choir member just a few feet away saw the hugging and half-laughing asked if he could join. So we all gave him a hug, too, as he introduced himself to everyone. Instant friends.
Proud Moment
As our carpool made its way into the Conference Center this morning, each talked about how they were planning to take President Nelson's counsel to heart, citing the need to repent more and sharing personal thoughts about becoming a better husband, father, and friend. I was grateful for each one of their honest expressions and commitment to follow counsel and do better.
Overall, I'm grateful, again, for this prized experience of getting to sing spiritually upliftings songs that feed my soul, and getting to do it with people I love. I'm also grateful for my wife and kids for their continual support!
Now onto Easter music, extra rehearsals, and an upcoming Easter concert. The choir train does. not. stop.
Until next time, God be with you.
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| Singing "O Thou Rock of Our Salvation" |
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