"‘Call
of the Champions’ resounded through the hall to herald a great
second half. The emotion and beauty of the music, the scale
of the different arrangements and the diversity of musical style
had by now taken the audience hostage. We were on our way to
an evening of music that lingers in memory as one of the best.
"Then
to see the darling enthusiasm of a young girl on the front row
who held up a sign that said, ‘We Love America's Choir,’ to
have a burst of true standing ovation energy from a young man
just down the way that affected the entire audience, to ride
on the united sound of gratitude after we finished Shenandoah,
or feel the joy of expression at the end of Betelehemu, left
all in the hall having experienced an incredible musical feast.
"Our
dear Prophet's words came to fruition. We did need to sing for
the people of Portland. We were blessed by their response and
renewed by the experience. Our audience did as much for us in
emotional support and love as we gave them in musical performance
and spirit. It was a truly inspired evening. Thanks to our leaders
for vision and energy. Thanks to the backstage team and the
onstage leadership that gave us the ability to come and share
with our audience!"
I
can give an enthusiastic second to Meredith’s account! Seldom
— outside of the 21,000-seat Conference Center — have we been
greeted by such a large, energetic crowd. The 10,903 people
in attendance cheered so loudly as to make us wonder whether
they were confused and thought they were attending a Portland
Trailblazers basketball game! Choir administrative manager Barry
Anderson told us later that after the concert he met an arena
employee who was a graduate of Brigham Young University. He was thrilled about the concert and told Barry what
a joy it had been. He went on to say that the arena had hosted
another concert the night before. Many of the ushers and operators
of concession stands had told him what a contrast there was
between the kindness of the people attending the Choir and Orchestra’s
concert and those who had been there the night before. “Why
can’t we have more concerts like this?” they said.
Reflections
on the First Week
And
that brings me back to the theme of winning friends and influencing
people. The next day was Sunday. Early in the morning we held
a sacrament meeting before departing for San Francisco. Having
just passed the halfway point of the tour, it was good time
to reflect upon our experiences. President Mac Christensen asked
a sister from the Choir to share her testimony. I would identify
her by name but the story she shared was rather personal and
so I think it would be better to leave her anonymous. She began,
“The testimony that I want to share with you today is that what
we do really matters. It is important, and the influence that
it has is not just in the lives of our audience and those who
hear us in concerts and on recordings. It has an influence and
impact in our own lives, if we will let it.”
She
then told of an experience with a person who is very close to
her. This person grew up a member of the Church but has not
attended meetings for years. Many times she has given him gifts
of Choir recordings, but he has always seemed disinterested
and she suspected they were sitting unopened in a corner somewhere.
But when “Consider the Lilies” came out she felt emboldened
to tell him, “This one is special. The lyrics and the spirit
of this CD reflect my own testimony.”
Not
long ago they talked on the phone. She had assumed that this
recording would just be tossed on the pile with the others,
but in the midst of discussing other things, he suddenly said,
“You know that recording [the Choir] did? It was something about,
‘Lilies.’ How long ago did you do that?” “Oh, two or three years,”
she replied. He continued: “It’s kind of different, isn’t it?
And I liked the orchestra. It was different at first, but the
more you listened to it, the more you liked the orchestra.”
As
the conversation ended there were tears in her eyes. She knew
this meant he had listened to the recording several times. She
doesn’t know what influence it might have upon his life. But
this, coupled with the influence of faithful priesthood home
teachers, neighbors, and friends who keep reminding him he will
be welcomed with open arms at church, has her feeling optimistic.
She closed by saying she knows such a story and testimony could
be repeated many times among members of the Choir and Orchestra.
“The music that we sing, and the spirit of the music that is
recorded, has an influence not just upon our own lives, but
in the lives of our families and the lives of those who we know
and love.”
Everyone
who spoke had something to say about how the Choir and Orchestra
touch lives. Stan Parrish, Assistant to President Christensen,
said:
“Some
of you may know that I have spent some time in Washington, D.C.
Washington is a city where titles are very important. The titles
of Senator or Congressman or Ambassador or Secretary represent
tradition. And tradition represents power in politics. But as
I have traveled and shared experiences with you, I think the
most powerful title I have seen for making positive change,
and for moving and touching lives, is the title of 'Volunteer.'”
Brother
Parrish also spoke of the importance of cultivating feelings
of gratitude for the many things with which we have been blessed.
To
conclude, we heard from Elder Keith K. Hilbig of the Second
Quorum of the Seventy and his wife, Susan. Elder Hilbig was
assigned by President Hinckley to travel with the Choir for
the concerts in Spokane, Seattle and Portland. The Hilbigs also
attended the VIP receptions that precede each concert. This
being their last day with us, they bade us farewell.
Sister
Hilbig said that she grew up in a nonmember home and attended
a very small branch of the Church. “I was connected to the Church
by the Choir,” she said. “The only time I saw my father cry
was sitting in the Tabernacle, listening to you. And I believe
you were instrumental in his conversion [to the Gospel] at the
very end of his life.”
Elder
Hilbig spoke of the VIP reception in Portland:
“Last night
we had representatives of fifteen different religious organizations
in the city. There were seventeen members of the state legislature
present; U.S. Senator Gordon Smith; educational leaders. And
in every instance they were uniformly impressed. I wish you
could have the opportunity to meet with them afterwards so that
you could feel of their enthusiasm and their interest in what
you do and how you do it. The impact of that night and the nights
before will linger long in these communities because they have
been touched by the Spirit.”
He closed
with these words of counsel:
“You, as
artists, in particular, are sensitive to the Spirit. You have
a built in advantage over the rest of us. I would encourage
you not only to invite that into your performances for its wonderful
impact on all who listen. But I would also invite you to bring
that into your life more fully. As good as you are — as faithful
and obedient and contributing as you are — there is still another
dimension that can be sought in interacting with the Spirit:
to increase our own understanding of the Gospel — that which
we individually learn, not just that which we learn collectively.
And thereby our lives as members will be refreshed. And we will
come to know the Savior through the Spirit.”
The Mormon
Tabernacle Choir, as the events of the first week of this tour
have continued to demonstrate, is a powerful force for winning
friends and influencing people on behalf of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was touching to reflect upon
the impact of this world-class organization. Each of us feels
so very thankful to be a part of it. But as is the case for
all who are traveling the road of life, there is much to learn
and much to do in strengthening our relationship with our Heavenly
Father so that we may be all the more helpful in building up
His kingdom.
“The
experience in Portland was especially exciting for front row
members of the Orchestra at Temple Square. We are the first
to gauge the audience aura because we come on stage early to
warm up. All performers 'feed' off their listeners, and this
group seemed to be expecting a feast. Somehow, the space between
us seemed smaller — more like an intimate venue then a sports
arena. Craig Jessop came on stage with his powerful energy,
and we were off!