I KNOW THAT MY SAVIOR LOVES ME

Once again, I have been blessed with an amazing spiritual experience with the primary music.  I was asked to be in charge of the Roadshow for our ward.  If you have never been in a roadshow or do not know what one is, it is basically a 15 minute musical production - like a mini broadway show.  Depending on the director and the creativity, it can get pretty involved.  Well, if you know me, then you know it is involved.
Right in the midst of this, I got a call from Brother Gibb asking me to have the primary children sing in church....the day after roadshow.  I, of course, accepted.  I know the kids can do it.  I just didn't know what song we would sing.  I figured we could choose one they all knew, like "The Church of Jesus Christ."
Once again, guided by the spirit, the song, "I know that my Savior Loves Me" came to my mind.  We had done it with sign language a few years ago.  I knew instantly that this was the song.  Ironically enough, the song for the month is "My Heavenly Father Loves Me."  This month I have been able to testify to the children that not only does their Heavenly Father love them, but also their older brother, Jesus Christ.  The words, the music and adding the sign language have made it a complete package...a beautiful testimony that the children will bear on Sunday.
I am so grateful for these experiences that bring me closer to my Savior.  I am also grateful that I can express with my hands the words to the song when the words get caught in my throat because the spirit is so strong.  Those little voices get me every time.  They bring the spirit in and I am overwhelmed.  I am so blessed to still have this calling.  I am so blessed to have the promptings and I am grateful I followed them and have been able to learn and grow from this experience.  I know that my Savior loves  me.  I know.

Singing in the Chapel

I have had several discussions about singing in the chapel with several different people.  It is like asking for advice on parenting.  As many people as you ask, that's how many different answers you get.
Now, I am not one for a "holy roller" type singing, but children are enthusiastic and I think they can be enthusiastic when they sing.  I think if you teach them about reverence and the spirit, they can still sing, as I always tell them...."loud, but lovely."
This primary program has several different songs that are "loud, but lovely" songs.  "Choose the Right" and "The Wise Man and the Foolish Man" and "Stand for the Right" are the ones I can think of off the top of my head!
I think the bigger issue is preparing the children to sing.  If they know the words to the songs, then they can sing them.  If they are just trying to make noises, then it will become disruptive.  So many times, as the children have sung the songs and know the words, the spirit comes in the room.  Even if it is a rowdy song.
My opinion?  I'm all for singing loud!  Loud, but lovely, that is.

A Child's Prayer

Instead of practicing ONLY the songs for the primary program at nauseam, I try and add some other ones to break it up a little bit.  So, for September, I had the kids practice "A Child's Prayer." (CS12)
We have had a lot of children move out and some move in this summer, so when we sang it, it was pretty sad.  The next week, I had the substitute practice the song with them.
During this time, I was also asked to have the primary children sing in sacrament meeting.  It was going to be the last week in September. Because I have been so busy, I hadn't made time to figure out what we were going to sing.  I was thinking an easy song they all knew like "I am a Child of God."
So, the next Sunday, the primary pianist told me that the kids did a pretty good job on "A Child's Prayer" last week.  So, I decided to sing it first.
The first few words brought the spirit in so strongly that I could not contain my tears.  Those little voices singing about talking to our Heavenly Father was almost more than I could take in.  I cried the entire song.  I knew that it was the song we were supposed to sing the next week.
I had no idea what the talks were about.  I didn't even ask.  I emailed the music chairman to change the song.
I know Heavenly Father is aware of everything.  The subject given to the speakers was appropriate for the song, but each speaker spoke specifically about prayer and prayers being answered and knowing that their Heavenly Father answered them.
As the children sang, once again I was brought to tears.  How grateful I am for the spirit that I felt.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and he hears and answers my prayers.
I bore my testimony to the children after sacrament meeting.  I testified that their Heavenly Father listens to their prayers and their voices brought the spirit into the meeting.
I love my calling!  I know I say that a lot, but I really love my calling!

Choose the Right

I never cease to be amazed at the response I get from my kids in primary! This last Sunday we learned "Choose the Right" (hymns 239) and they did fabulous!

For the younger children, I made CTR shields and every time we sang "Choose the Right" they held up their shield. They loved it!

I passed out hymnbooks for the older kids and we sang from the hymnbook. I told them that every time we sang "Choose the Right" to sing it fortissimo! I was blown away with how great they sounded! I had them hold their books up like a choir so they could see me, the conductor. Then I had them stand and sing. They followed me so well! It was so amazing!

Even the primary presidency was impressed! I got some thumbs up from them! I give all the credit to the kids!!!!

As a Child of God

Over the past year there have been some events that have happened in my life that have caused me to spend a lot of time in either preparation, recovery or the actual "living through" the event. It has been stressful and, yet, at the same time, good to grow and learn this year.

I have become a better person and that is what this life is all about.

Becoming a better person.

I have felt the power of my Heavenly Father's love through the whole thing and I know He loves me.

Many times I have wanted to post on this blog. I even promised that I would last year, but sometimes life takes over and children and husbands and friends need my time more than I have and so something has to give. And it ends up being the blog.

As a Child of God,

I receive special light:

The Holy ghost helps me to know what is right.

As a Child of God by Janice Kapp Perry

How many times have I felt that special light? It was my quest last year to teach the children how to recognize when the spirit was in the room. It was my goal to bear my testimony to them every Sunday and let them know that I KNOW. It was not my intention to cry as much as I did, but the spirit was so strong in the primary room so many times and my heart was so full. Those primary children make the spirit come in with their sweet little voices and I cry. I cry because I know that I am a Child of God. I cry because I have made good choices and felt the spirit in my life. I cry because the children know when the spirit is in the room.

And I am grateful I am the chorister for primary.

Because I have the best job in the church.

As I teach this song on Sunday, I am going to bring several different types of light. I am going to show them different lights and ask them if this is the special light the song is talking about. Then I will remind them about how we have talked about the Holy Ghost and how it feels to have the Holy Ghost in our lives. This is the special light. You can't see it, it doesn't have a shape, it doesn't need to be plugged in. It is the Holy Ghost and the feeling you get from making right choices.

Some of the events of the last year in my life have been resolved. Some are ongoing. Some still puzzle me and I am working through them. I am grateful for a song like this one to remind me that I am going to make it. That it is going to be ok and that I always have the gift of the Holy ghost to rely on in my life.

I came to earth with power to choose.

Good choices bless me and my family too.

As a child of God, I receive special light:

The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.

I feel so safe and happy because

Such feelings of peace come from family love.

As a child of God, I receive special light:

The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.

In my own home I'll happily serve.

Ill strengthen my family by my good works.

As a child of God, I receive special light:

The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.

As a Child of God

Words and music by Janice Kapp Perry

Primary Program Planning.....

Yesterday I was at a party and the member of the primary presidency in charge of the program came up to me and asked about writing the primary program. We started talking and another friend joined us. She was surprised we were already talking about writing it.

I think about the primary program every Sunday, if not every day! I am always "writing" the primary program in my mind or with the songs.

Having written many primary programs in my life, I assured my friend she would be ok and that I would help her. (She is really nervous - this is her first time doing this!) I told her the most important thing to remember is that it is not you writing the program. The children are bearing their testimonies of the things they have learned and know throughout the year and you are just organizing their thoughts. Heavenly Father will let you know what the ward needs to hear from the primary children.

I have had many experiences where I have started writing the program and been overwhelmed by how strong the spirit is and how much Heavenly Father loves these children and also the members of the ward.

The music is icing on the cake for the primary program. Bearing your testimony through music is so amazing. It can bring the spirit into the room. The children LOVE to sing and they do a great job! And my job as the chorister is made easy by those wonderful little voices singing praises to their Heavenly Father!

So, now it is primary program writing mode! I can't wait to see what amazing things the children come up with this year!

Some thoughts.......

"The music leader is the gospel doctrine teacher for Primary."

Gordon B. Hinkley

Some things I have learned being the primary chorister for almost four years.....

• Never underestimate the power of a child's musical ability.
• It's always good to have a wiggle song.
• Even the eleven year old boys like to sing.
• The sunbeams may just stare at you during singing time, but they know the songs by heart.
• Expect more out of them and they will rise to the occasion.
• Crying when you feel the spirit is good for them to see.
• Always let them know when you are feeling the spirit so they learn to recognize how it feels.
• Always bear your testimony to them.
• Singing a song "opera style" is the best way to sing fortissimo.
• The nursery children learn songs faster than we give them credit.
• You can achieve "rock star" status if you do your job right.
• Never take credit for a great performance...it's all about their voices.
• Never ask them if they want to sing the song "one more time."
• Loving your calling is what it is all about!!!