Ashely Harris, a LDS singer, was asked by her Stake President to put the words offered by President Hinckely in a special prayer for the youth to music.  She gladly accepted and recorded it the day before he died earlier this year.

O God, our Eternal Father, as Thy servant I bow before Thee in prayer in behalf of these young people scattered over the earth who are gathered tonight in assemblies everywhere.  Please smile with favor upon them.  Please listen to them as they lift their voices in prayer unto Thee.  Please lead them gently by the hand in the direction they should follow.

Please help them to walk in paths of truth and righteousness and keep them from the evils of the world.  Bless them that they shall be happy at times and serious at times, that they may enjoy life and drink of its fulness.  Bless them that they may walk acceptably before Thee as Thy cherished sons and daughters.  Each is Thy child with the capacity to do great and noble things.  Keep them on the high road that leads to achievement.  Save them from the mistakes that could destroy them.  If they have erred, forgive their trespasses and lead them back to ways of peace and progress.  For these blessings I humbly pray with gratitude for them and invoke Thy blessings upon them with love and affection, in the name of Him who carries the burdens of our sins, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

President Gordon B. Hinckely, 12 November 2000

You can download the music here!

I just read a GREAT commencement talk by Hugh Nibley given in 1983 at BYU.  This is his opening to the talk:

He goes on to talk about the difference between a leader and a manager.  The conclusion is awesome (remember this is to a class of graduating students from BYU!):

“Most of you are here today only because you believe that this charade will help you get ahead in the world. But in the last few years things have got out of hand; “the economy,” once the most important thing in our materialistic lives, has become the only thing. We have been swept up in a total dedication to “the economy,” which like the massive mud slides of our Wasatch Front, is rapidly engulfing and suffocating everything. If President Kimball is “frightened and appalled” by what he sees, I can do no better than to conclude with his words: “We must leave off the worship of modern-day idols and a reliance on the `arm of flesh,’ for the Lord has said to all the world in our day, `I will not spare any that remain in Babylon’” (”The False Gods We Worship,” Ensign, June 1976, p. 6). And Babylon is where we are.

In a forgotten time, before the Spirit was exchanged for the office and inspired leadership for ambitious management, these robes were designed to represent withdrawal from the things of this world–as the temple robes still do. That we may become more fully aware of the real significance of both is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Anyone else read this talk?  If not, I recommend it.  Great stuff!

I received this in an e-mail that was going around. It is a great compilation of people remembering President Hinckley, as well some sound bits from him. Enjoy!

So I have a great friend from the mission, BJ, who married this awesome girl, Celeste who likes to sing.   His wife just got back from a trip to Africa with the Jenny Phillips Choir.  Honestly, I have never heard the choir (although I hope to one day), but she shared this experience with us today.  I felt the spirit as read about the wonderful work they did there, so I asked her if I could pass it along.  She agreed.  Enjoy.  :) 

We spent a day at an orphanage and that was an incredible day I will never forget.  We had put so much work into this day and I had been waiting for it like it was Christmas or something.  We had a huge yard sale and raised money to build them a schoolroom a few months back.  We were supposed to paint it when we got there but it wasn’t quite ready for that yet so we left the paint for when it is ready.  We had a blanket and stuffed animal for each child and also a bag with crayons, paper, pencils, scissors and stuff like that.  The children 12 and older got a walkman with Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD, 3 of Jenny’s CD’s and a Hillary Weeks CD.  We wanted them to have some inspiring music to listen to.  We gave them lots of batteries to hopefully last them a year or so.  The kids were beaming from ear to ear.  We took tons of books for their schoolroom and some educational toys so we read to them and played games.  We took a polaroid camera and took each of their pictures so they would have something when they grow up of when they were young.  I think it will be difficult to keep track of them though with all those kids.  We made frames that said “I am a Child of God” and put their picture in it.  The thing the children wanted most was the physical contact.  They just wanted you to love and squeeze and hug them.  They were adorable and just melted our hearts.  I so wish I had the money, means and sanity to adopt 2 of them.  I just don’t think I could handle that right now.  I think I would want 2 instead of just one so they would always have that someone to really relate to.  Maybe one day.  Jenny is looking into the process and will probably adopt a little girl she fell in love with there.  Anyway, at the end of the day we sang them some songs and then they sang some to us.  They sang us a song about “Jesus, we love you very much”  it was angelic!  Oh, by the way, there are 66 children and only about 5 caretakers.  

The fireside that was my favorite was in a town called Hazyview.  We held it at some Christian church and it was amazing how we got this set up.  As Jenny was researching places to stay she felt strongly she should stay at this hotel.  When she booked it, a link came up that said they do day tours of Swaziland from this hotel.  She had wanted to get into Swaziland to do a fireside but couldn’t find a way into the country because they are very strict about tourists.  They wouldn’t just let us drive in ourselves.  So that was the first blessing from this hotel.  Then Jenny felt inspired to send the owner a CD so she did.  The lady emailed her back and said she completely fell in love with it.  She claimed it made her feel so good inside.  She took it to her pastor and let him borrow it and he fell in love with it also.  They decided it wouldn’t hurt to ask Jenny if our group could possible perform for them since she knew we were in the country to perform.  Of course she said yes, we would perform.  So we were able to perform at a non-LDS church in front of a crowd with no LDS people there.  The spirit there was one of the strongest times I have ever felt it in my life.  There were so many amazing and wonderful people there and they loved our program.  We didn’t really change it at all.  It’s about the apostle Peter so we didn’t feel the need to change things because being a Christian church, they were already familiar with his story.  We gave out free CD’s to everyone after the program and hopefully they will all go to  Jenny’s website and find the link to Mormon.org and find out more about our church.  Anyway, it was incredible. 

I have always been very involved in music.  I sang in choir in high school and played in bands through college.  It comes as no surprise that many parts of my testimony first started by feeling the power of good spiritual music in my life.

This morning my 7-month old son was up during my study time again, and it is my duty to take care of him till 6:00 so my wife can sleep.  That means I can’t really study, so I turned to trusty ol’ BYU TV for a little spiritual uplifting.

BYU TV online deserves a post by itself.  It has some great features that allow you to watch online, anywhere, and pretty much anything they have.  So I browsed around till I found this awesome program: “America’s Choir: The Story of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.“  I highly recommend it.  It really shows how the choir has evolved and the wonderful work they have done.

On a sidenote, they have ALWAYS been on the front of adoption of technology and now stand as the longest running radio program in the nation.

If you don’t have time to watch the whole thing, watch start watching at around 49 minutes and watch through 54 minutes.¹  Here is some of the words from that part of the show…

It is a tremendously beautiful performing organization and is recognized as such and valued as such.” (President Hinckley)

This band of teachers, engineers, doctors, accountants, mothers and dads, have sung from coast to coast, country to country, at music festivals, in great halls, stadiums, and parades, and in outdoor settings reminiscent of their desert beginnings.

In these days of political, personal and economic disintegration.  Music is not a luxury, it is a necessity.  It is the persistent focus of our intelligence, aspiration, and good will. (Robert Shawl)

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has touched and lifted audiences and individuals.  360 voices strong, they sing as one, of sacred yearnings, of their deepest convictions, when they offer “here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it” they mean it.

The choir then ends by singing the most beautiful rendition of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” I have ever heard.

1. Note to the tech folks there if they read this… it wouldn’t let me link directly to this spot on the e-mail option… it kept sending me to the wrong day… oh, and it would be nice to just put a time in the start/end time to share instead of having to click the button…[↩]

So yesterday my sweet companion and I watched a little BYU TV for our companionship study. We decided that since it was Christmas we would watch some Motab and their wonderful singing… well… it was well worth it.

We had the awesome privilege of hearing the story “A Christmas Bell for Anya” accompanied by music and song. It was fantastic. Now I don’t cry much, but I cried yesterday. Not just misty eyed either… tears rolling down the cheeks cried.

I highly recommend it.

Artist: Michael McLean
Album: Safe Harbors
Song Title: Ninety and Nine

I am one of the ninety and nine¹
I’m not perfect,² but basically I’m doing fine
I have not lost my way
I have not gone astray
I’m just one of the ninety and nine

I am here in the heart of the fold³
I’m not mindless, but I try do as I’m told
I’m not tempted to run
and become the lost one
I am here in the heart of the fold

So why is my Shepherd comin’ this way toward me
He’s holding his arms out
And he’s callin’ my name⁴
Yes he’s callin’ my name
But how, how can this be?

I’m just one of the ninety and nine
I have stumbled and fallen
but I’ve kept in line
I’m not one he must seek
I’m not all that unique
I’m just one of the ninety and nine.

So why is my Shepherd treating me like a lost lamb
He’s searching to find me
And he’s holding me now
Yes, he’s holding me now
And teaching me who I am

So why am I feelin’ like I’m the only one here⁵
It’s like I’m his favorite
And he takes me aside
And he sweetly confides
These remarkable words in my ear

You are one of the ninety and nine
Have you any idea how brightly you shine?
You are safe in his fold
and it’s time you were told
That I know where you’ve been so I know where you’ll be
Because all of your life you’ve been following me
You are more than just one of the sands of the sea
Or just one of the ninety and nine

You are mine⁶
You are mine
You are mine
You are mine

I am one of the ninety and nine

1. Matthew 18:12-13; Luke 15:4-6; Ezekiel 34:11-12, 16[↩]
2. Matthew 5:48[↩]
3. Mosiah 18:8-10[↩]
4. JS-H 1:17, 33, 49[↩]
5. 3 Nephi 11:14-15 Isn’t it amazing how the lord care’s about each and every person. Despite the large number of people EACH person was able to come forward and feel the prints of the nails in his hands and his feet and learn for themselves![↩]
6. D&C 50:41[↩]

Album: EFY 1997 - Living the Legacy
Song Title: Knockin’ on the Door

His journal¹ on his back and the shoes on his feet
Not a penny to his name, not a single thing to eat²
But the bread of life³ in his right hand is all he’ll ever need
‘Cause he get’s his fill, working the will, feeding sheep⁴

Standin’ in the middle of the endless field of wheat⁵
Lookin’ down he finds a sickle on the ground beneath his feet
Wraps his hands around the handle well used and worn
While wisdom is wispering ‘You gotta beat the storm!’⁶

CHORUS:
Keep knockin’ on the door
Like thousands who have been there before
Come labor in the vineyard
Come Fish in the sea
Come join in the harvest
Come set them free
Even though your hands are worn
Keep knockin’ on the door

Nets filled with nothin’ to show for the day
Out from the shoreline you can hear someone say
Cast your net to the other side, try once again⁷
A catching of a vision, fishers of men.

Chorus

Keep knockin’, knockin’ knockin on the door
Keep knockin’, knockin’ knockin on the door
Keep knockin’, knockin’ knockin on the door
Keep knockin’, knockin’ knockin on the door
Keep knockin’, knockin’ knockin on the door
Keep knockin’, knockin’ knockin on the door⁸
…

1. I’m not sure about this word… anyone have another idea?[↩]
2. D&C 84:86[↩]
3. John 6:33, 35, 48, 51[↩]
4. John 21:15-17[↩]
5. D&C 4:4 On a side note, my whole life I always thought that ‘already to harvest’ was ‘ALL READY to harvest.’ It doesn’t make a big difference, but was a great revelation this past Sunday when I realized my mistake.[↩]
6. D&C 33:3, 7, Jacob 5:61-62[↩]
7. John 21:6[↩]
8. I think that sometimes we really just need to keep inviting people. Yesterday we had several lessons about missionary work and somebody, sometime said something to the effect of “Just because somebody has rejected your invitations in the past doesn’t mean that in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years from now something in their life won’t have changed. We just need to keep inviting. That is our job. We leave the rest up to the Lord and preparing the people to accept those invitations. If we try to do more than that we are following Satan’s plan. [↩]

Artist: Michael McLean
Album: Arise and Shine Forth
Song Title: Arise and Shine Forth (Pop)

He did not come in glory when He first came to earth
And most the world ignored His humble birth.
But the heavens were singing in celestial harmonies,
And a star guided some souls to their knees;
Those with ears to hear and eyes to see.

And the miracles followed, but the skeptics believed
They were lies spread by those who’d been deceived.
With their appetite for power, they mocked every word He said,
While the ones truly hungering He fed;
Those who hungered after righteousness were fed.

And the light that He gave was to lift and to save
And the burdens that He came to bear are the ones we can’t carry and need to share

I give thanks for His sweetness; I have faith in His power,
And I know He’ll strive with me every hour.
For He suffered in darkness, kneeling in Gethsemane,
So the light of His love could shine on me;
So the light of His love could shine through me.

Arise! Sisters, arise!

Arise and shine forth, let us add to the flame
That burns brightly in hearts that bear His name.
And the torch that’s a standard for the nations all to see
Is the light of the world shining through me.

We are standing for something, prayerful in all things, comforting those that mourn.
We are gathering Zion, we can rely on this refuge from the storm
We are strengthened on every side in the light we cannot hide
Sisters united, spirits ignited, feeling the fire inside.

Arise and shine forth, and we’ll add to the flame
That burns brightly in hearts that bear His name.
And this torch that’s a standard for the nations all to see
Is the light of the world that shines through you and me;
It’s the light of the world shining through me!