President Russell M. Nelson knows how to do a birthday right!
The choir and orchestra spent Wednesday night and Thursday night prepping for the festivities, with the actual Birthday Celebration being live-broadcast Friday evening. You can read official news reports of this grand event HERE, HERE, and HERE. My "personal observation" report is below and includes the top six reasons why this was one of my favorite concerts to-date.
Ready?
Here we go...
6. The concert was one-night only. And it was being broadcast live. All of which meant we needed to do our best and only had one chance to do so. Pressure on!
5. The songs themselves were all ones I really loved both musically and lyrically. It's rare when that happens--so I felt especially excited to perform and put my whole heart and soul into it.
4. It was interesting to see the four guest artists rehearse and prepare. Watching them in this way is always an opportunity for the choir and orchestra to kind of get a glimpse into their personality. I find myself surprised sometimes, when I see how easy-going some are, and how perfectionistically demanding others are. How some are so warm and just want to share their love through hugs, and how others work to maintain professional boundaries.
3. The person we were honoring was, no doubt, worthy of every accolade. President Nelson is an incredible man who has done so much good in the world on so many different levels. And even though the focus was on him, and singing songs that were his favorites, everything tied back to Christ or attributes of Christ that President Nelson exemplifies and that we should work to exemplify as well.
2. Seeing President Eyring react to the rousing upbeat number that The Bonner Family performed. He was leaning out of his chair so far that I was afraid he'd topple out at any moment! His face had the biggest smile on it, and his whole body was just moving to the beat. I half-joked after the concert to my bass buddies that maybe we'd get more such music in our local congregations! Haha. Nice thought, but probably not.
1. The song Let Us All Press On (arranged by Richard Elliott). As mentioned, I loved all of the songs on the program, but this one, which we ended with--well, there was just something about it. I felt very "spiritually tingly" throughout the whole number--and especially at the end as we all swelled in volume and emotion: "As we do what's right, we have no need to fear! For the Lord, our Helper, will ever be near. In the days of trial, His Saints He will cheer and prosper the cause of truth!"
If you missed the event, you can watch it HERE.
Until next time, God be with you.
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| The Bonner Family, singing their Hallelujah Prophet Medley |
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| Nathan Pacheco and Donnie Osmond after singing "The Prayer" |
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| Jenny Oaks Baker and Family Four, performing a Sound of Music Medley |
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| Gentri performing Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing |
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| The basses singing Let Us All Press On |
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| Pres Nelson thanking everyone |
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