A few months ago I was called into my Bishop's office. They didn't tell me why so I assumed it was for a calling. I already had three callings at the time and was kind of worried about getting another one. I was relieved when I saw the high council representative for our ward there in the bishops office. I sat down and they said they had an important question to ask me and that they had prayed about who to ask and my name was one they felt impressed to talk to. They asked me if I would like to be one of 5 women from our ward to sing in the choir for the General Relief Society Meeting at the end of September. I said Yes of course, I have always loved to sing and so I was so excited. The practices started a few weeks later. The five us car-pooled together to the 1st practice. It was so cool to see all these women filing into the Stake Center, we checked in and got our parts , all 5 of us were given the 2nd Soprano part. We went in the Chapel and found some seats together in the back. We started singing hymns together to warm up while everyone was getting there. It sounded AMAZING to hear 365 women sing together!! After we were all warmed up. They had a little devotional . A woman that was on the General Relief Society Board spoke to us, I wish I remembered her name. The choir consisted of women 6 stakes in Eagle Mountain and Saratoga Springs. I think one of the Stake Presidents spoke to us that night also. Then they introduced the lady who would be directing our choir. Her name is Emily Wadley, she is from Bountiful (that's quite the drive for her to come here every week) Anyways, she had us open our music. We sang through all 4 songs, "The Morning Breaks" and "Sweet is the Work" would be sung by the choir and the Relief Society Meeting and "Hark all Ye Nations" and "Now Let Us Rejoice" would be sung by the choir and congregation. Sister Wadley was the most amazing director I've ever worked with. She is always happy and smiling, had the best sense of humor, she made me laugh a ton!! She made learning these arrangements so much fun!! She was also very spiritual, she's one of those people that is just full of light, and you love just being in the same room as her!
Now this is the part that is hard for me to write about, but the past few months previous to being asked to sing in this choir. I had been really struggling spiritually. I felt so disconnected from the spirit or God. I would try to pray and just feel like I was talking to myself. I would try to read the scriptures and I just couldn't keep my mind focused on what I was reading and wasn't getting anything out of it. I think part of it was that I was feeling overwhelmed by everything, being a wife, mother, friend,accountant, student, sending my daughter off to college. None of which was I doing very well, so I would feel guilty and beat myself up about everything.
I didn't know what to do. I needed to feel the spirit again and be guided by it, but I didn't know how to get it back. I thought that God was probably to busy helping mothers who are homeless and who kids might starve or freeze to death during the night, I mean that seems more important than me and my dumb insecurities and lack of faith right? Boy was I WRONG!!
While I was singing with the choir that first night, I felt the spirit so strongly that I started to cry!! I knew God was not too busy for me! He knew what I needed!! and he gave it to me!! When I got home I tried to tell Tad about it, but there were no words to really describe it, you just had to be there. I could hardly sleep that night!
I looked forward to our weekly Sunday practices every week. They just got more amazing each time, and even though I thought we sounded great at the first practice, we got better and better each week. I felt so full of gratitude to be there!! So blessed and loved too! I would leave so uplifted and knew I could get through that next week.
As the conference date approached, we got to have a dress rehearsal at the conference center, it was so amazing to sit in those choir seats. We got to have a little devotional there, and Sister Barbara Thompson from the General Relief Society Presidency spoke to us and so did our Stake President. It was such a neat experience.
On the day of the conference, we all met at the Stake Center so we could be bused to the the Conference Center. They took a picture of all of us in our white shirts and black skirts, out on front lawn. They had to stand across the street to get us all in the picture, they literally stopped traffic too. Then we all loaded the buses. When we got about 5 blocks from the Conference Center we were stopped at a red light. The bus in front of us went when the light turned green, but our bus wouldn't start , the driver kept turning the ignition and pumping the gas pedal, but it didn't work, we were stuck!! It was hot on the bus with no AC, so we all decided to get off the bus and wait on the sidewalk in the shade, till they could send one of the buses back to get us. We waited there for a few minutes, and then decided we mind as well start walking. As we were walking this van pulled up to us with two Tongan guys it, they asked us if we were in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! We said no, but we were as close as we were ever going to get!! The bus rescued us and we made it to the Conference Center. We got to practice in the conference center again, I love the sound of that organ, there's nothing else like it!! They surprised with a visit from Sister Beck the General Relief Society President and both her counselors, they told us how much they loved an appreciated us for the sacrifice us and our families had made so we could participate in this choir. I didn't feel like it was a sacrifice at all, I loved every minute of it!! After our last rehearsal, they fed us a yummy lunch. Then it was time!! We went back into the conference center, and we could see the women starting to fill the seats. We were all so nervous and excited as we saw the little clock on screen counting down. Sister Beck got up and welcomed everyone! Then it was our turn to sing "The Morning Breaks" it sounded amazing, I could hardly believe I was singing in front of the 33,000 or so women there, not to mention the millions watching from somewhere else. It was indescribable!! After that first song I sat down and felt so grateful again to be there. The whole conference was amazing! I especially loved President Uchdorf's talk. I felt like he was speaking right to me individually! It was exactly what I need to hear! After we sang the last song, I couldn't help but cry, I was sniffling all through the prayer. I didn't want it to be over. We all sat there an watched as President Monson and his counselors left, that was as close as I've ever been to the prophet! Then we sat down till they told us we could leave. Some of us touched the organ pipes as we walked out and took one last look at our choir seats, knowing we probably won't get another chance to sit there again. I am really sad that it is over, but I will always remember it. I even got to be on TV for a few seconds, that was cool! I want everyone to know that God does love you and he knows what you need. All you have to do is have faith in him and trust him and he will direct your path!!
Here are few pictures someone took of us in the choir seats. I also put the videos of both our songs and my favorite talk by President Uchdorf.
Seattle at Night
Boys in there Sunday Clothes
