The University's Choirs and Orchestra were blessed to participate in an Oratorio this semester with words written by David A. Bednar of the Twelve Apostles.It was an amazing experience for all of us and many of us didn't want the experience to end. I love singing in a combined choirs and full orchestras to begin with, but the whole program was special in a whole new dimension. The man that wrote the music to Elder Bednar's words was so inspired. He wrote the music to imitate a sacrament meeting. There was a prelude and postlude from the orchestra, and an opening and closing prayer given by our conductors at each performance and all fourteen movements were about Christ and his atonement. The whole Oratorio was also a chiasma because it started and ended the same musically as well as in its message. There was a male soloist who was backstage and unseen while he represented God in the piece. He sang about the purpose of the earth being created and essentially about why we were put here. In the last piece we join in as a choir, as sons and daughters, and proclaim that we know our purpose on the earth and through whom it is made possible. The whole experience was so sacred and so well written.
We were blessed to perform it four times. Two times at the university, once in Twin Falls and Once in the Tabernacle on temple square. Each performance was sold out. Temple Square was an amazing experience. When we arrived we were instructed to go and change and then to meet in the "horseshoe" which is a green room or sorts. It was so cool to because it was under the tabernacle and you could see tunnels leading to the conference center and temple and we saw Mormon Tabernacle Storage in that room. We couldn't believe we were in that same room where the MoTab would probably warm up. Well, soon we were wanted on stage. We were being recorded and they wanted us to do the whole thing before we performed that night for editing purposes. It was so cool to watch the cameras and the screen (although I wasn't supposed to, I would look when I knew for certain there wasn't a possibility of me being filmed). It really looked like they were filming the Tabernacle choir and orchestra. The cool part is we get to get a DVD of the performance by the end of the semester. After we ran through it we were invited to eat underneath the conference center. We got to go through the security doors and pass the temple to get there through the tunnels. As we passed the temple we were encouraged to be respectful and reverent. We all were, and I couldn't but help think of the story where President Hinckley, in reverence, took off his hat as he passed under the temple. I wondered if that story took place where we were. The church fed us well in the Conference Center. I think we paid for a bit of it, but I think the portions were generous. Then we had to make our way back to the Tabernacle and we received more instruction and then we found ourselves going out onstage. I knew my grandparents got a hold of tickets and were going to be there in one of the balconies but I wasn't sure. Finally, right before the announcement that began ever performace commenced I found them. They were in the stage left balcony front row! I was so happy to see them and hoped the performance would touch them. I feel as a choir and orchestra, we put everything inot that performance. I was focused on musical skill more than anything that night, I think because I really wanted our DVD's to be good. But I kind of regret that. I'll go into more detail later. After the performance I was pleased to find my grandparents and hear how they had liked the concert. They loved what we had done and I think they understood the message as much as you could hearing it once. We walked around temple square together and took pictures. Finally my grandma I think couldn't take the cold much longer and I boarded the bus to go home.
I think through the whole duration of the trip I ate better than I had living on my own. I just have to say Relief Society sisters are amazing. In Twin Falls before and after our performance we were taken care of the stakes there. They fed us an amazing dinner and still came around with baskets of rolls and cookies while we were seated. There were more than 300 of us and they were so amazing they had fed dished everyone up in 12 minutes flat! And we were pampered even after that with water being poured into our half empty glasses and strawberries someone had thought of giving away. I felt they were being so generous! And then we stayed with host families. The family took us, had a big house and took five us. We were all comfortable and well fed again. Breakfast was amazing, snacks that night were amazing, and the family had a genuine interest in who we were. They found out that we played guitar and when I asked if there was anything we could do for them while we were staying with them they just requested a song. We kind of did an exchange of music. Their daughter played for us and one girl who was with us played Blackbird. I chose to play "Come Thou Fount" and one of my old roommates sung with me, so we harmonized to the music. It was a cool experience because almost immediately I noticed the room flood with the spirit. The family's eyes confirmed that they were touched and they thanked us for the song. It was just another confirmation to me of why I am going into music. I believe it can touch people in ways nothing else can.
During all four of the performances of God's Everlasting Love, I felt very strongly that I wanted the people I was performing for to feel the spirit and the joy of the message we were sharing. In that moment I felt inadequate to share such a special and true message with my own weaknesses. I knew I couldn't sing it perfectly to convey such a perfect message, and I knew the orchestra could not play beautifully enough to convey such a beautiful message. But I realized that our spirits could connect with those of our brothers and sisters to convey our own humble, but strong testimonies. And that is what mattered. All our hours of rehearsing paid off in the moment we touched at least one soul. THat would make it all worth it. But I can guarantee that we touched more than just one soul. Before we left on our tour we were instructed to treat this experience as if we were on a mission. We were representing a church, a school, and He whose name we take upon ourselves. I loved that idea! I tried to take that seriously, and get the most I could from the experience. The last night we sang the Oratorio I gave it everything I could. I put my heart my soul, my testimony, every ounce of musical ability I could into all the movements. By the end of it I was exhausted, but so happy with what we had done. I was emotionally drained for all my crying, but so spiritually full. I only wish I had had that in the tabernacle. But I know that the spirit can come to us in the most unexpected circumstance as long as we are listening and worthy to receive it. All in all, what I came away from it was that music can touch people, and I forever want to be a part in that. My testimony was strengthened and I was filled with gratitude for all that made it possible, especially those saints in Twin Falls who showed us such kindness. For certain you are never alone in the church and in your testimony.
