Official Bendanian History

Among the duties of my calling as the Ward Music Director, I have the responsibility to recommend and conduct “the congregational hymns for sacrament meetings.” Until now, as per an understanding between myself and the Ward Music Chairman, I have not recommended any particular hymns for her consideration. That is about to change. After an extensive data-gathering period and a bit of analysis, I am now prepared to make some recommendations.

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Last week my daughters (ages 7 and almost-5) and I set up to play a game of Lord of the Rings Risk. The 7-year-old rarely shares events of the day without any prodding, but as we were finally playing Risk on Sunday evening, she turned to me and said, “Today in class I accidentally called the Terrestrial Kingdom ‘Middle-Earth.’ My teacher said ‘Congratulations, that’s from Lord of the Rings!’ and gave me a high five.”

The tone was set by a young woman not yet a member of the Church. Her mother was baptized last December, and it’s clear that this young lady will follow in due time. She talked about a recent life lesson that had hit her hard: if you never try, you will never be able to do it. A tender spirit with shades of innocence filled the chapel.

Next was a brother who was recently called as a ward missionary. He said that we cannot just sit in church ourselves, for it our duty to bring others and each other here. “There is much I have to answer for,” he said, mentioning 20 years wasted chasing worldly goals, “but I will never have to answer for not spreading the gospel.” The spirit was one of rebirth through the gospel and covenantal duty to one another.

The bishop’s Executive Secretary testified of the reality and goodness of each member of the Godhead.

A young father spoke of God’s love for us, allowing me to once again taste of that love.

As we discussed the other day, Isaiah invites us messianically thus: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isaiah 55:1-2)

How satisfying to be so well fed at testimony meeting!

“I Heard Him Come”

Ben Pratt on viola, Jenifer Yule (now Fugal) on piano.  Recorded 14 April 1997.

Updated: see comment below for a bit of context.