Singing in the Relief Society building

January 11th, just 3 days after our "New Beginnings" program, Sister Dibb called me on the phone. Of course the chaos at my house was the usual intensity, and I had to lock myself in my bedroom so I could even hear. She thanked me for the beautiful job that we had done the other night, and wanted to know if Jessica Perry and I would consider singing the song for a committee meeting that the General Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary boards were holding the next Thursday. We would need to come to the Relief Society building in Salt Lake City. She asked if I would also come teach them the song, "One Virtue at a Time", which I supposed our Young Women's president had told her about.

I told her I would check with Jessica and call her right back. I can't even tell you all the thoughts that I had running through my mind, but I knew that I had to do it. What an amazing opportunity! I was also very excited that she wanted to hear the "One Virtue at a Time" song. I have felt ever since I wrote that song, that I was just God's instrument in writing it. I guessed that now the song would be able to serve an even greater purpose.

I called Jessica, and she told me that she was supposed to be at a work conference right during that time. She didn't know if her boss would let her come. Her boss is LDS though, so she told me that she would call her and explain the situation. She called me back a moment later, and enthusiastically told me that a miracle had happened, and that she would be able to come.

Jessica and I met in a parking lot at Albertsons near where the Relief Society building is. My husband had taken me out to dinner the night before, and drove me around the area so I'd be able to find it easily. We said a quick prayer in the parking lot, and warmed up our voices on the way over.

We were supposed to park under the parking lot at the Church Office Building. Sister Dibb said that she had secured a parking pass for us, but gave us a number we could call in case we had any problems. It was a good thing that she did, because our name was NOT on the list! A few minutes later, Sister Dibb came running out to talk to the parking attendant. She got the required approval, and jumped in the back seat of our car as we went driving around the parking lot looking for a parking. This was actually quite a bit of fun. We were unsuccessful looking for a spot, and finally Sister Dibb told us that we could park in one of the "reserved" parking spaces.

We arrived a little late, but before we could go into the meeting, we still needed to make copies of the song. Finally ready, we entered the main hall of the Relief Society room. I remember as we walked in, seeing the presidencies all on the front row facing forward. Portraits of all the past General Relief Society presidents were hung on the wall, including Emma Smith down to Mary Ellen Smoot. There was a wonderful spirit in the room. As Sister Beck, who was conducting the meeting, saw us entering the room, she invited us to sit on the stand... (with all of them!), I hope it wasn't rude, but I hardly felt worthy to sit there with them, and just took a spot on the back row.

We sang a hymn together, and after some initial announcements, we were up. I had brought my ipod speaker/player with me, as our accompaniment, and I stood in front of these women. I had confessed to Sister Dibb, that I was a little nervous to do all this, but I loved her response. She said, 'Don't be nervous. The sisters just represent a group of "best friends in the gospel." They really are.' As I stood in front of them, I remembered her words, and thought of them as my sisters. I shared with them briefly the story about writing this song ("One Virtue at a Time"), and then Jessica and I sang the song for them. After we sang, we divided up the room in half, and Jessica and I led the different sides of the room in singing the song. What a wonderful experience!

Following this song, Jessica and I sang, "I Will Stay With You". We returned to our seats in the back of the room, and were privileged to hear from the presidents of the General auxiliaries, as they bore their testimonies. Following this, the ladies were excused to go in different groups (based on where their birthday months fell!) and continue with their meetings.

What followed for Jessica and I though, was an outpouring of love. So many of the sisters, afterwards came up to us, with thanks, and hugs. Sister Beck came right up to us and gave us a personal hug, as did Sister Tanner, and many others. I shed tears as I even think of that time. What a privelege and a blessing. I hope I never forget that experience!

Once most of the sisters had left for their classes, one of the sisters asked if we could do an encore performance of "I Will Stay With You". A few of the sisters, had arrived a little late and were unable to hear the song. Jessica and I had the privelege of singing the song again for this intimate performance of about 5-6 people. One of the sisters there was Margaret Lifferth, first counselor in the Primary Presidency. After we had sung, and we were about to leave, she asked for our contact information. Sister Dibb told her that she had all the information and could give it to her.

A few minutes later, she came back and said, "I'm not going to wait, I just want to ask you now..." She wanted us to sing for the upcoming BYU's Women's Conference in May. She had been asked to speak, and thought the song would go well with her speaking assignment.

My heart, overflowing from all the experiences we'd just had, I had a hard time even thinking. I told her we would love to.

As quickly as Jessica and I could get in the car and close the door, I said a prayer of gratitude, and tears just fell. Wow. What an amazing miracle. As much as I was excited about the opportunity to sing at Women's Conference, the experience I'd just had with those wonderful women, was amazing. I am so grateful for that experience and opportunity. Truly these women were just great women. There was such a neat spirit there, and more than anything, I had felt their love, personally.

New Beginnings

Someone the other day mentioned that this was all a "New Beginning" for me. I think that was a very significant comment, considering that this all started as I prepared for our Young Women's "New Beginning's" Program.

The month of December was crazy. I decided for some unknown reason that I was going to "make" all my kids personalized Christmas presents this year. The kids all did the same. The month of December had us all making hats, clothes, dresses, pillows, blankets, and other personalized typed gifts. It was a neat Christmas. One that I will probably always remember, but I don't know if I will ever try to do it again! The week after Christmas, it was probably no wonder that we were all sick. We had Influenza Type A. It was NOT fun, but as far as having the whole family sick, it wasn't a bad week to have it happen.

The first week of January was a brand new beginning for me. I set my New Years Resolutions, and I wrote a song. A song called, "I'll Stay With You".

The words came from several different sources. My mom had asked me if I would sing and speak for their wards Visiting Teaching Conference in January. I have a lot of songs about Visiting Teaching, but she wanted the sisters to leave feeling inspired both as teachers, and as those struggling, as they bless each others lives. She also wanted the women to feel uplifted in sharing their testimonies.

I serve right now as the Young Women's music leader in our ward. A ward is a small geographical area of Latter Day Saint church members. We were preparing for our New Beginnings program, and I was assigned to come up with a song to sing, either myself, or for a small group. We had a special guest speaker who would be speaking to us- a Sister Dibb from the General Young Women's board. She also is President Monson's daughter, and we were excited to hear the things she would be sharing with us about her mother, and the example that she had been in their family.

Last year, I wrote a song called "One Virtue at a Time" for our "New Beginnings" program. It was an experience I treasure, because it was one of those songs that I wrote, where I just can't hardly take any credit for writing it. The music and words just "came". Because of that experience, I wanted to write another song. I was hoping for a similar experience. Because of Christmas, and our family being sick, I hadn't even begun thinking about the song I wanted to write. The program wasn't scheduled until the 22nd, but Sister Dibb needed to change the date to the 8th. I only had 1 week to write the song.

My husband has been a great resource for ideas, and critique on my songs. In this crunch time, I asked him what I should do. What kind of song could I write for a solo or duet, that could maybe work for both purposes- a song to sing at the Visiting Teaching conference, and for our New Beginnings Program. He thought for only a moment, and suggested a scripture story that came to his mind. The story of Ruth and Naomi from the scriptures. He pulled out his scriptures and began telling me about these two women. I knew this was what I should write the song about.

Only a couple days before the program, I asked my good friend, Jessica Perry (a young women's advisor) and asked if she wouldn't mind learning this song to sing. Jessica is an amazing lady. She is a professional actress, and has a gorgeous voice. I knew she would be perfect to sing with. She learned the song and we found it very fun to sing together. I didn't have enough time to try and get an accompanist, so I recorded the piano onto a CD.

The night of our New Beginnings program, I gave a brief synopsis of the book of Ruth in the scriptures. I was way more nervous to talk than I was to sing, but I was also quite nervous to sing. I don't usually get that nervous, but I was. If I'd had any idea what was about to happen to my life after I sang that song, I wonder if I would have been so nervous. But that night, after Jessica and I sang the song, I was just so glad it was over!

Our New Beginnings program was a success. Sister Dibb's talk was excellent and I was just so grateful that the song had worked, and hopefully had served it's purpose.