Hallelujah!

12 December 2009

Last Saturday I had a wonderful experience singing in a choir. Actually all last weekend (Fri.-Sun.). But Saturday was my special day.

First, let me explain the logistics. Our stake (large group from church) formed a choir and we've been practicing for weeks. On Friday and Saturday earlier in the evening there was a beautiful nativity display (with hundreds of nativities) and a live nativity going on (inside, no animals, warm). It was great. And then each evening there was a concert, featuring a variety of choirs from our community (different ones each night) and then our choir at the end, doing a few numbers. On Sunday it was just a concert and only our choir--so we did our full length program. Every night was great. I loved watching/listening to the other choirs--children, teenagers, instrumental ensembles, etc.

On Saturday I was in a very happy mood, probably the happiest I've been for a long time, so that made the whole evening very nice. Also, a wonderful thing happened: someone came to the concert to see me! My co-worker Lila and her daughter Clarissa (the ones I lived with last summer) came to watch and it made me so happy! I saw them as I was going out to line up (when it was coming up on our turn) and then later as I was standing up on "stage." During our numbers Clarissa was waving to me. Of course I couldn't wave back, but it really warmed my heart and I realized how truly, performing for someone makes a world of difference in how you feel about it.

Also that evening, during a couple of songs the words really struck home. First was one, which I can't remember the name of now, but it talked about how prophets foretold his birth and now it had happened.... and I felt a great joy as the Spirit witnessed anew that 1. Christ did come as foretold and 2. We have prophets on the earth today who also foretell and direct us to be prepared for the Savior's second coming. Then, we concluded by singing the Hallelujah chorus, and those words also rang true to me: Lord of Lord and King of Kings! He truly is! His kingdom is restored to the earth right now. And he will reign forever and ever. I know he lives. As surely as anything, I have a personal knowledge, from the Holy Spirit, that Jesus Christ does live. And the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is his church, restored again to the earth and in place to prepare the world for his second coming. Knowing that, regardless of what else may be happening in our individual lives, how could we not sing with joy?

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!