A house of holiness

This morning, our stake choir started rehearsals for a piece called "Come to the House of the Lord." It's a musical presentation for soloists, readers, and chorus, all about temples. I am really excited about it. I love the temple so much, and it's easy for me to love temple work. I grew up in the heart of Utah Valley, where everyone knows what temples are, what they are for, and why they are so special to LDS people. Since I've moved back East, I find people are very intrigued by temples, and their curiosity sometimes seems skeptical and critical at times. I feel this musical piece is perfect...it will help build the testimonies of the LDS singers and members of temples, but also it could really help our non-LDS friends, family members, and neighbors get a "feel" for what temples are all about. The music is by Steven Kapp Perry and it's just beautiful.

I heard this piece way back in 1996 as a young grad student at BYU. I've never heard it performed live, I've only played the CD. But I've always dreamed about conducting it. I have really felt strong whisperings of the Spirit, ever since I've been the stake choir director, that the time has finally come to do it. A few weeks ago, I almost abandoned the whole project out of discouragement. I felt that although there is TONS of talent here in our stake, there wasn't enough enthusiastic and DEDICATED people that were willing to commit to coming to regular rehearsals. This is a constant tug-of-war I have, but I have come to accept that it will always be this way to a degree. But a couple of weeks ago, in the temple of all places, I had a strong feeling to go ahead with it, that the discouragement was coming from the other side, Satan who hates it when we talk or sing about temples.

The first rehearsal was this morning, and we only had about 10 people. Luckily, those ten were good! They learned the parts pretty well, but I think everyone got a taste for the music, and that it's much more difficult than it sounds. I need at least 40 singers to make it happen, but I'm just going to do my best and keep praying and begging people I know to come join us. I have to go for now, but I wanted to share my favorite quote from the lyrics....("favorite" meaning I like it today, tomorrow I might have another favorite part).

Foxes have holes, birds have their nests,

Where has the Son of Man to rest?

Where is the place his peace can be found?

Where is the place the Lord may call His house?

A house of order, a house of fasting

A house of faith, a house of learning,

A house of glory, a house of order,

A house of God, a house of holiness.