TCATS #286 - To Be An American

Music & the Spoken Word today was the annual Independence Day Special and we sang six patriotic numbers to celebrate America--its history, its places, its people, and its symbols. Did I enjoy participating? Yes. Was the music uplifting and inspiring? Yes. Do I still think that God inspired men and women which in turn, gave way to the birth of this nation? Absolutely. The internal conflict I always have, though, as we celebrate the United States of America, is having less and less confidence that America still stands for what it originally stood for. I also have less confidence each passing year in its leaders and exactly where they are leading us to. Also, what exactly does it mean to be "an American" these days, anyway?

Despite my conflict, the one lyric that stood out to me the most today (and the one I really felt something while singing) was from the song "God Bless the USA". Along with that title which is always an earnest prayer of mine, there's a lyric that goes "And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free."

Amid the challenges and strife this nation is going through on so many different levels, there's some comfort in knowing that as citizens of this country, at least we know we're free. We're still free to dream, to think, to love, to help, and to smile. We're also free to criticize, to protest, to defend, to protect, and to worship. There are lots of things we are still free to do, knowing that all of our actions have consequences that either strengthen this nation, or weaken it. That either give a favorable or unfavorable meaning to the word "American".

I'm thankful for family, friends, and other people in my life who symbolize all that's still good with America. When I look at them, the answer to the question of what it really means to be an American, becomes clearer. They are the ones that carry my hope that this nation will continue to do great things, things that can make us all proud.

Until next time, God be with you. 

Singing "This is Great Country"

TCATS #285 - What or Who or Where is Gilead?

I'm embarrassed to say that until today, I was not sure what the word "Gilead" meant--in reference to the phrase "balm of Gilead". I had heard the phrase while in my youth, and it comes up occasionally when singing certain hymns (like the one we sang today during Music & the Spoken Word), but I've never taken the time to ask anyone, or look up what or who Gilead is. Just in case there are one or two of you who don't know either, I provide to you what I've learned.

First off, the literal meaning of the phrase refers to an aromatic resin that is used to heal wounds. The bush that produces the resin used in making this healing balm was one that grew plentifully in a city named Gilead (as referenced in the Old Testament). Boyd K Packer, in a talk he gave, mentioned that "in ancient times there came from Gilead, beyond the Jordan, an ointment made from the gum of a tree. It was a major commodity in trade. The Ishmaelite traders who purchased Joseph from his brothers were carrying this balm of Gilead to Egypt."

The spiritual meaning of the phrase, from a Christian standpoint, simply refers to Jesus Christ as being the balm of Gilead for all mankind. It's through Him that we can be healed. Here are the words of a traditional African-American spiritual we sang today:

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.

If you cannot preach like Peter,
If you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
And say "He died for all." 

There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin-sick soul.

The lyrics of this song speak to the plight of every person on earth. We are all sin-sick. We often feel discouraged. We work and toil and persevere and at the end of each day, we may sometimes feel like our efforts have been in vain. Then something happens. Some experience, some moment, when our low supply of hope gets renewed and we are able to keep moving forward. Christians believe that such renewal of hope comes from Jesus Christ who suffered for all so that their suffering might be made light, might be bearable, might even in some cases be alleviated. At the very least, Christ takes His ointment and generously applies it to our wounds of sin. We can then be free from those wounds and move forward in greater faith and confidence.

How grateful I am for Him. And how grateful I am for the spiritual balm of Gilead He provides.

Until next time, God be with you. 

TCATS #284 - Dad Assessment

Each year when Father's Day comes around, I ask myself two questions: how am I doing in my fatherhood role? And, how is my relationship with my own father? As we sang the song FATHER today, I couldn't help remember back to when I was a young dad, not really knowing what I was doing, but enjoying the payoffs that fatherhood brought. What's not to love when your kids give you big hugs, say "I love you daddy", fall asleep peacefully in your arms, or are eager for you to sing them another song or tell them another story? Yes, there were plenty of frustrating and hard moments, but the positive experiences far outweighed those. As my kids are mostly all now in an older stage of life, the stakes are higher and the worries are more complex. Do I tell them I love them enough? Do I listen enough (really listen)? Do I give good advice? Am I too lenient? Do I give them my best self? Do I give them enough time? Am I setting a good example? 

These are all questions that are continually going through my head without any answers. In fact, in regards to that last question about setting a good example, I have to echo a line from the Spoken Word today: "Nothing makes a man aware of his weaknesses quite like fatherhood, and the only thing worse than fearing that his children won’t follow his example is realizing that they probably will."
 
While I don't know if my example is good enough, I sure pray for help everyday from my Heavenly Father in hopes that He'll inspire me and lead me in being the best dad I can be.

As for my relationship with my own dad, we've had a few extra conversations this year that have helped our relationship to be more than it ever has. So I'm grateful for that. We still don't have a lot in common and probably never will, but I've learned that that is OK. We can still talk, can still love, and still appreciate, and can still find common ground in our quest to be good fathers to our kids. I love my dad very much and look forward to more conversations in the years to come.

To end today's post, I just want to thank my wife for her important contributions in helping me be a better dad. She helps me know when I'm doing well and lovingly helps me do better in areas I need to improve upon. Thank you Jennifer. :)

Until next time, God be with you.

Singing on today's broadcast

Some pics from a little photo shoot after the broadcast

TCATS #283 - Tour Q&A

Ever since the 2020 Tour was announced a few weeks ago, I've received a lot of questions from people: family members, friends, co-workers, and even newer members of the Choir. So, I thought I'd take a few minutes and put together a Q&A post, inspired by my friend Siope (friend and fellow bass in the Choir) and included here for the benefit of those who have questions. Note that these questions and answers won't cover basic fundamental info that can be found in the official tour announcement you can read, here.

Q:  Is going on tour a mandatory requirement of being a member of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square?
A: No, it's not. It's left up to the individual to decide if he/she wants to participate.

Q: What factors are considered by those trying to figure out if they want to go?
A: First, they have to meet the official requirements set forth by the Choir administration. These include things like attendance record, seniority, whether or not it's your last tour opportunity, and having a doctor certify you're up for the physical demands of tour. Second, they have to take into account personal considerations such as time off from work (15 working days), family summer plans, and whether they are ready for how demanding tour can be.


Q: If everyone in the Choir wanted to go, and met the requirements, could they?
A: No, logistically that just couldn't happen. There are a lot of reasons why, but to give you an example of just one: venue capacity. Most concert halls we perform at don't have the capability to handle a choir as large as the Tabernacle Choir. 

Q: Do those going on tour get financially compensated?
A: Nope!

Q: I heard that spouses can go on tour. Is that true?
A: Choir members who meet all of the eligibility requirements and are selected to go on tour can request that their spouse (or a "guest") come as well. However, there are only a certain number of guest "slots" available--so not all choir members who want their spouse to come will have that opportunity. Additionally, guests have to pay their own way to come (choir members are paid for), and the cost can be significant (anywhere from $5000 to $7500 typically). 

Q: Isn't tour mainly just having a good time with little to worry about?
A: Those going on tour have a good time, sure, but it's a lot of work. As Siope mentioned in his post, it's like a job. There is sightseeing time and down time during the tour, but there's always quite a schedule to keep. Early mornings, very late nights, sometimes sleeping on the bus, walking lengthy distances, etc. Plus choir members on tour naturally worry about their families back home. Those leaving a spouse behind and who have kids still at home might worry a little extra that everything is going OK. 

Q: Do you choose a roommate? Or are roommates assigned?
A: Once you are approved/selected to go, then you figure out who you want your roommate to be (and hope that whoever you choose wants to be yours!). This process can be a little bit stressful--not only in the asking, but in the realization that you'll be rooming with this person for three weeks. You hope they can live with your quirks, your possible snoring, and any idiosyncrasies you may have. Of course if your spouse is going, then he/she is your roommate and you don't have to worry about the whole roommate selection process!

Q: What's the hardest part about the pre-tour and on-tour experience, for you?
A: Well, pre-tour, it's first figuring out if it's even possible for me to go, given scheduling conflicts, getting time off from work, etc. Then it's consulting with my wife to gauge her interest level and the overall feasibility of her coming given the financial cost, being away from kids & home, etc. But most importantly, it's praying to know if God wants either, or both of us, to go in the first place. It's a big commitment and comes at a cost. Maybe He has other plans for us and we try to be open to those alternate plans. So overall, it's an involved process. I've heard some choir members talk about tour who don't even give it a second thought as to whether or not they'll go--of course they're going (assuming they meet all of the selection criteria). I'm glad it's so easy for them. But for me, there are a lot of considerations and it occupies a lot of my pondering time. While I'm on tour, I think the hardest part is just worrying if things at home are going OK and missing my wife and kids.

Q: Lastly, what do you like most about tour?
A: Having the opportunity, through music, to share my love, my testimony, and the truths of the gospel of Christ with the people who come to the concerts. There's nothing I enjoy more than that. The sightseeing is nice. Tasting new foods is, well, interesting. And spending quality time with other choir members is really great, too (since that's really hard to do during the short 10-15 min breaks each week). But the concerts themselves are what make all of the sacrifices worth it.

The deadline for choir members to submit a "yes" or "no" to the question "Are you wanting to participate?" is July 15, 2019. We'll see how things turn out for me!

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #282 - Finlandia & Playing Our Part

Every so often, of the (typically) five songs that make up the weekly broadcast, there isn't even one that really moves me. Such was the case this week. That's not to say I didn't appreciate them, or acknowledge the truths they contained, or recognize they were prayerfully selected for many around the world who would tune in and feel inspired. Because I did. But personally, I was struggling a bit and realized I needed to say a prayer to get fully on board and truly fulfill my calling. So as I reviewed the music this morning during rehearsal, I tried to lock in on the lyrics and get excited to sing the truths they contain. I also leaned back and asked a friend of mine what song was his favorite for today, hoping for some additional inspiration and insights. Without much hesitation, he answered "Finlandia/On Great Lone Hills". I had to smile because that was my least favorite of the five. I mean, I love the orchestral beginning. It's majestic, it's bold, and it's triumphant, with strings and horns and drums and brass all combining forces to capture our attention and draw us in. But then the choir comes in and it's like it suddenly changes to a very slow and somber piece--plodding along for several pages to a (in my opinion) plain melody. Such plodding finally comes to an end though, as the grand finale kicks in and the orchestra and choir unite to bring things to a glorious conclusion. 

As I drove home after choir, I thought more about Finlandia and realized that it's a lot like life, actually. We have moments or experiences that are grand and majestic--ones that are exciting and captivating. But a lot of life is just plodding along, steadily trying to do our best, and getting through the various hardships that come along. I suppose, too, that even along side the daily plodding, there are small moments of grandeur. Moments that may not fit into the underlying narrative, but that appear on our personal sidelines and then take center stage just long enough for us to transform our plodding into a steady, confident walk with a smile on our face and a brighter hope in our hearts.

All of that said, I guess I owe an apology to Finlandia. Thanks to that song, I was reminded of some important truths today. :)

Before concluding today's post, there are some lyrics from another piece of music I wanted to highlight, mainly for some friends--several of whom are in the choir-- who need to be recognized today for their strength and valiant determination. Their particular struggles are uniquely challenging, but they fight the good fight each day and use their talents and strengths to bless all around them. 

Let every instrument be tuned for praise;
Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise,
And may God give us faith to sing always.
 
These three lyric sentences from "When In Our Music God is Glorified" speak about all of God's children:  each is an instrument that receives personal, divine tuning to contribute to those around them; each is a voice that is worthy of being heard; and each is an individual who goes forward in faith, singing their own unique song of love and hope.

Let us all keep singing, always.

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #281 - 2020 Tour, Memorial Day Special, & SuperFan

On Thursday night as we walked into the Tabernacle to take our seats for rehearsal, the large movie screens on either side displayed the following information: 

Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra
2020 Tour
June 25 - July 16, 2020

Finally! We had been waiting for quite some time now to hear about where we were headed in 2020, and after some warm-up by Maestro Mack, President Jarrett thanked us all for coming and proceeded with the slide presentation. With cheers and clapping, the next slide (and future slides) let us know that the 2020 "Heritage Tour" will include 10 concerts at venues in six countries: Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Wales, and Scotland. You can read the official press release, HERE.  I have a lot of mixed emotions and concerns about tours in general, but now the task at hand is figuring out what the Lord wants my wife and I to do, given a variety of factors that need to be weighed and considered. Some of these factors include the length of the tour (22 days), the cost of a spouse coming ($7500), and the events going on in our lives next summer. 

In other news, today's broadcast was a Memorial Day Special and we sang an unprecedented number of patriotic songs to celebrate those who have lost their lives in defending our freedom. The broadcast was fast-paced and really demanded complete attention in going from one song to another. But it went well and Mack was pleased and as a bonus, I knew a few people in the audience--which always adds to the whole experience. My wife's cousin was in town (who currently lives in Costa Rica), and she brought her kids with her--including a "super fan" of the choir--her 11-year old son, Garrett. I had no idea he was such a fan until just a few days ago, and he was super excited to finally see the choir in-person. Afterwards, I met them outside the Tabernacle with a friend of mine, and presented Garrett with our latest CD "Let Us All Press On"--which included signatures of various men in the choir. He was stoked :)

Singing the patriotic songs today made me think not only of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for my freedom, but also of the state our nation is in and how divided we are. It's a dismal thought. BUT, I quickly thought of all of the loving, kind, and tolerant people in my life and how grateful I am for them. I'm not sure about the the future of our "united" states, but I am sure that if we all keep trying to do our part by being civil, respectful, and kind, that progress CAN be made. It's up to me. And it's up to you.

Until next time, God be with you.

TCATS #280 - Of Compliments, Love, and Sissel

Never suppress a generous thought.

A fellow choir member, who I have the fortune of being good friends with, is simply a Master of Compliments. It's amazing. In my short time with him just today, I probably heard four or five compliments given to various people. 
[To a me] "I love that tie."
[To another choir member] "That's a great haircut!"
[To a lady at the visitors center] "I like your hair."
[To a group of Chinese visitors] "Thanks for being here. Are you going to come watch us sing?"

Just last week, as we were walking through various tunnels to get from the cafeteria to the Conference Center for a concert, do you think he noticed each of the individuals working security? Well, of course he did! Each received a genuine "Hello! Thanks for keeping us safe," and I could tell it surprised a few of them to be acknowledged, let alone receive a compliment.  

I don't think he'll ever know how much his compliments impact people. I mean, most of us when we give compliments, we never really know how much it helps the receiver. But undoubtedly it helps in some way. And who knows, it may even help in a big way. I'm determined to be a person who gives more compliments--not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it's a win-win thing to do. And, after all, we're all brothers and sisters and showing love is really what it's all about.

Speaking of love, that was today's theme of Music & the Spoken Word. All of the songs we sang testified of God's love for us--from "I Feel My Savior's Love," to "How Firm a Foundation," to "I Sing the Mighty Power of God." What was extra special about today's broadcast was one little girl who was in the audience. A girl named Lydia who President Nelson mentioned in a talk he gave last December. Lydia has cancer and isn't expected to live much longer. So as we sang about love today, we kept hoping that Lydia and her family would feel a lot of love--not just from us, but especially from a Heavenly Father and Mother who will be eager to welcome her home soon. 

To end today's post, I just wanted to mention the announcement made this past Thursday regarding the guest artist for our upcoming Pioneer Day Concert in July. If you're a fan of Sissel, then you definitely won't want to miss getting tickets. (And fortunately, the Pioneer Day Concert is typically available on YouTube for all to enjoy)

Well, that's it my friends. Give a few extra compliments this week. And give a few extra hugs of love, too. 

Until next time, God be with you.