A fabulous celebration

Todd's mom Debby is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and gave us tickets to Sunday's performance of Music and the Spoken Word. Riley, Todd, Amy and I got to go and see that plus a mini-concert similar to the ones they performed the previous three nights. It was magnificent! (And sitting next to Amy and Todd after five months apart was a treat too!)

There were several things that touched my heart. One is the way you feel the Spirit through music. What a beautiful gift music is! The choir, the orchestra, the guest tenor Nathan Gunn and the cool people with the bells (I want to be one of those people!) all added to the magic of the night. I don't remember the production's final song but it ended on such a crescendo that my heart was bursting with happiness. It was amazing.

Another thing that impressed me was Jane Seymour, the narrator for the night. She read her scripted parts and told the wonderful story of Good King Wenceslas. I've sung this song at Christmas but have never understood the story. As the choir sang and Jane narrated, the words to the song were on large screens so it was easy to follow along:

Good King Wenceslas looked out,
On the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Tho' the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
Gath'ring winter fuel.

"Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou know'st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?"
"Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence,
By Saint Agnes' fountain."

"Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
Bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I will see him dine,
When we bear them thither."
Page and monarch, forth they went,
Forth they went together;
Thro' the rude wind's wild lament
And the bitter weather.

"Sire, the night is darker now,
And the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how,
I can go no longer."
Mark my footsteps, good my page;
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter's rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly."

In his master's steps he trod,
Where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
Shall yourselves find blessing.

The message is of giving and receiving blessings in return - perfect for Christmas but one we should remember every day, not just during this season. Before Jane gave this reading she gave an impromptu speech about her feelings of being a part of the choir's production and how she loves Christmas but being a part of this made it so much better - that she felt something as she participated. What she felt was the Spirit and knowing that she will carry that with her is such an amazing blessing for her as well as a missionary tool, for her and others she will tell. Anyone who has ever felt the Spirit through word or song, especially in such a powerful way, cannot deny it. She pointed out to the audience that the choir, orchestra and many others are volunteers. She was amazed at that yet it is a wonderful common trait in LDS members to do just that, give of our time and talents.

The tickets to the event were free so much of the production had no cost attached. Yet there are those who are paid - the production crew who have these jobs to support their families. And there would have been cost for the grand decorations - the banners, castle scenes and costumes. So the Church puts on this magnificent production (and many others) to bring joy to people and have the Spirit enter their hearts through music and thoughtful words. I'm glad I live here and have access to these kinds of events and I'm thankful to Debby for giving us the tickets. The events of that morning gave me good things to think about for a long time. Merry Christmas!