Praise the Lord, All Is Well. :)

Soooooo Sunday was the Pioneer Days Devotional. And can I just say that it was INCREDIBLE! :) Ah! An experience to be remembered for SURE :)

Why was in incredible, you may ask, Well. I will tell you. :)

So, because I was singing. I wasn't able to go to my singles ward. :) I was super excited about this because I had to get someone to teach relief society for me. :) And the lessons was on Eternal Marriage. :) WOOO!!! I dodged that bullet! hahaha. WOO! So I went to my parents ward with them. It was actually a really good Sunday. It made me miss my home ward... a lot. But... well.. that's a story in and of itself. :) Which.... I'm sure will be covered later on in my blog. :) So after church, I had time to take a nap, which was much needed. :) Then I went off to meet the Chorale at the Dee Events Center. After lining up and such, we were seated up in the stands. Then we began practicing. Singing in places like that totally suck.

1. Because they are huge, so it takes forever for the sound to echo!

2. Because they aren't made for the sound to echo! hahaha. It's made to have lots of noise.

3: hearing yourself is impossible!

So after we had sung all of the songs in practice,

{p.s. this is where all of the good stuff begins to happen}

Brother Saunders {Who is in charge/the director} asked us which song we as a choir thought was our strongest piece? A couple of people spoke up. And the funny thing was that they all said something different. I think that we all kinda had a look on our face that none of them were our best. That we didn't really think we did good at any of them. I think that someone must have admitted to that. Because then Brother Saunders began to say that we needed to give ourselves more credit! Because we deserved way more than we were accepting. And then he said this,

"You are Sons and Daughters of God, that alone must mean you're pretty amazing."

Wow. That hit me. Hard.

Most of us look at our accomplishments to decide what we think of ourselves. But I think that we all would think a little differently of ourselves, if we would just try to see us as our Heavenly Father would. :) man. What a great lesson to have there, and the devotional hadn't even started!!!! Wow.

Okay, so after a little more practice people started to come in, so everyone was allowed to leave and go to the bathroom and such. :) Ah! Then when everyone was back, Jeffery R. Holland came. I think that my favorite part of basically every fireside that I've gone to live, is how reverent we are when someone of that authority comes in. We all have such respect for them. :) AH! okay. So as a prelude song, we sand Faith in Every Footstep. I don't know if you've ever heard it. but here are the lyrics.

Faith In Every Footstep

A marvelous work has begun to come for among all the children of men. O ye that embark in the service of God, give heart, mind, and strength unto him, For prophets have spoken and angels have come to life the world from sin, That Christ may reign over all the earth and bless is gathered kin. With Faith in every footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord, And filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord.

Those marvelous Saints who embraced this great work and shared it in lands far and near, Who gave all their heart, mind, and strength to the Lord with wisdom and vision so clear, Now stand as examples of virtue and faith, of souls prepared to hear, Of knowledge sure, born of humble heart, and love that banished fear. With faith in every footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord, and filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord.

If we now desire to assist in this work and thrust in our sickle with might, if we will embark in the service of God and harvest in fields that are white, Our souls may receive the salvation of God-the fullness of his light, that we may stand, free of sing and blame, God's glory in our sight. With faith in every footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord, and filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord. :)

Awesome lyrics, huh?

So then they introduced all of these people that were at the devotional. There were presidency members from the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, plus all of the rodeo queens in bedazzled outfits. :) Then they introduced Elder Holland before we sang two songs back to back. :)

The first was

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all. Each little flow'r that opens, Each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colors He made their tiny wings: The Purple Headed mountain, the river running by, The sunset and the morning that brighten up the sky: The cold wind in the winter, the Pleasant summer sun, The ripe fruits in the Garden, He Made them every one: The tall trees in the green-wood, The meadows where we play, The rushes by the water We gather ev'ry day:All Things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise as wonderful, The Lord God made them all. :) I love this one. it got stuck in my head. ALL THE TIME!

The second was

Our Saviors Love

Our Saviors love Shines like the sun with perfect light, As from above It breaks thru clouds of strife. Lighting our way, It leads us back into his sight, Where we may stay To share eternal life.

The Spirit voice Of goodness, whispers to our hearts A better choice Than evil's anguished cries. Loud may the sound Of hope ring till all doubt departs, And we are bound To him by loving ties.

Our Father, God Of all creation, hear us pray In rev'rence, awed By thy Son's sacrifice. Praises we sing. We love thy law; we will obey. Our heav'nly King, In thee our hearts rejoice. :) I honestly Love this song! I have for a really long time!

Then Elder Holland spoke. I feel bad admitting this, but it was hard to pay attention. Brother Saunders was right. There are about 4,000 distractions at any given time at a place like this. And it was hard to hear. But was I did hear from what he prepared was amazing! :) this is one quote that i LOVED!

"With the complex issues facing our families and our friends, our citizens, our state, our neighbors, our nation, the world may we remember pioneers of an earlier day who persevered against injustice, misunderstanding, some intolerance, occasional bigotry, occasional racism, against differences of custom and traditions and faith, who labored against all of that to carve out for us, their descendants, the wonderful day and marvelous miraculous time in which we live. We owe the same pioneering, persevering legacy to our children and our children's children."

I honestly agree. I owe my children something to look up to. Just like I do the pioneers!

Then We ended off by singing

Come, Come Ye Saints

Come, come ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day. Tis better far for us to strive Our useless cares from us to drive; Do this, and joy your hearts will swell-All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right. Why should we think to earn a great reward If we now shun the fight? Girl up your loins; fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake; And soon we'll have this talk to tell-All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West, Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; There the Saints will be blesses. We'll make the air with music ring, Shout praises to our God and King; Above the rest these words we'll tell-All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! All is well! We then are free from toil and sorrow, too; With the just we shall dwell! But if our lives are spared again To see the Saints their rest obtain, Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell-All is well! All is well! {Our version ended with} Praise the Lord, All Is well!

Isn't that song so true??? All is well!

I'm so grateful for this opportunity! :)

Until next time folks!

Peace & Blessings! :)