Singing at Conference

So it has been a long time since I have posted on my blog.  I can't believe that it has been over a year.  Well I have made a commitment to do better.  I first need to share one of the most amazing experiences that I have had in some time.  This past general conference, our stake as well as 5 other stakes in the Ogden area were asked to form a choir of 360 melchizedek priesthood brethren to sing at the priesthood session.  It began about 6 weeks before conference as our bishop asked me to be the one to select 8 brethren from our ward to participate in the choir.  This was a difficult assignment.  I made it a matter of prayer and asked for the Lord's help in selecting those brethren whom He would have participate in this great experience.  In the end I truly believe that I was directed by the Lord in the selection of those 8 brethren.  There was one person who I also felt should be signing in the choir but it was already after we had selected the 8.  The Lord took care of that as well as he showed up at the first rehearsal at the invitation of the stake president.  He took a spot from another ward from someone who couldn't be there.

The rehearsals were held at a nearby stake center.  The first time sitting in the chapel and overflow area I heard the majesty of 360 priesthood brothers united in singing.  What a glorious moment.  I had a hard time controlling the tears.  We rehearsed every Sunday night for about 2.5 hours.  Our conductors Brother Shenck and Brother Furch were amazing.  They carried a great spirit with them.  They are men of God and also very talented musicians and conductors.  Everything they did carried the Spirit with them.  We sang three numbers all of which were arranged by the conductors.  We sang "Praise to the Lord", "Love one Another", and "Hope of Israel".  They were beautifully arranged.  Our conductors helped to take our unskilled voices and turn us into something that would be worthy of general conference.

The Wednesday before conference we went down to the conference center and had a dress rehearsal.  That was a great experience.  Deanna came and listened to us rehearse.  She commented that she had never heard a more beautiful arrangement of Love One Another.   This comes from a very skilled and talented musician.  (Deanna is going to be directed the stake choir for stake conference in November).

The day of conference we arrived at the conference center at 3:00 p.m.  We warmed up and rehearsed once again.  We practiced not looking at the cameras as they would pan in on us.  We were asked to turn off our cell phones, (they called it communication black-out).  We ran through the songs one last time and then waited.  We stood as President Monson, a prophet of God entered the building.  Following the welcome, we sang our first number.  It was amazing.  Then after the prayer we sang our second number.  The Spirit was strong as we sang the beautiful message that the Savior taught of loving one another.  This is probably the main message and example that our prophet has taught us during his ministry.  We sang for the congregational hymn.  That may have been the hardest part was remembering the words to "Guide us O Thou Great Jehovah".  We did not rehearse that but knew that the cameras would be on us and we were expected to know the words.   At the conclusion of the conference we sang, "Hope of Israel."  It was an amazing, powerful rendition that was a spiritual highlight.  I thought of the words, "onward, onward, youth of zion."  These words had special meaning given the announcement of lowering the mission age for both men and women.  The youth of Zion must be prepared and ready at a much earlier age then they have been in the past.

Following conference I turned on my cell phone.  I probably had 6 or 7 messages from people that said they saw me sing.  Apparently there was a nice close up for several seconds during "Love One Another."  Over the past couple of weeks I have had 20-30 people tell me that they saw me sing during conference.  This truly was a highlight and a once in a lifetime experience.



Here are the links for the music at priesthood session.


http://www.lds.org/general-conference/music/2012/10?lang=eng&session=3&song=2&media=video

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/music/2012/10?lang=eng&session=3&song=1&media=video

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/music/2012/10?lang=eng&session=3&song=10&media=video