For Such a Time as This

Nov? 2022

 Today I learned how much more we can accomplish with God's help than on our own.  I few weeks ago, someone asked me to organize a group of women to sing a song written about Esther called "For Such a Time as This" for an upcoming meeting for the women at church.  The speakers were preparing talks about women of the Old Testaments so the song went right along with that theme.  I was a little surprised that she asked me because I don't really have any choir directing experience but then when you belong to a church with a lay ministry, we're always asked to do things that we're "not qualified" for.  

I do love music, so I was actually quite excited about the opportunity.  We've lived here almost 19 years and I know so many women who sing well so I had sort of flood of people come to mind whom I could ask to sing in the group.  But then I realized I really needed to pray about this.  So I asked my Father in Heaven to really help me know not only who I should ask to sing this, but how I should do it.  When I listened to a recording of the song, I felt strongly that it needed younger voices.  So I texted an young woman in our ward who is a talented singer and invited her to sing and asked her for names of other young women whom I should ask.  I was delighted when she happily agreed and also told me the names of 2 other young women that I knew would be a great addition to the group.  I also felt like I should ask my daughter Eliana and some of her young adult friends to sing too.  This gave me a great group of six.  Another piece of inspiration that came to me when I listened to the song was that the last part of the song would be really powerful to have a group of sisters missionaries sing with the others.  I just imagined as they would sing "And so we'll rise to say, . . " that they could literally rise from their seats behind the other singers to add their voices to the choir.  I really felt the power in the way there testimonies would add to the song.  I was a little hesitant to share the idea, though, because it's a little unconventional. 

Because of COVID and busy schedules, it was impossible for us to meet all together until just before the meeting.  So I distributed audio files of the song recording, as well as the piano accompaniment with each part dubbed over.  Then I told everyone to practice singing along to the recordings over and over until they knew them by  heart.  It was a short song, so I knew it wouldn't be too hard.   We had one practice with three of the young women at my house and the rest listening in via a zoom meeting.  It wasn't ideal because they could hear the voices of those in my house, but we couldn't hear any of them.  But I trusted that it would be okay.  Then I also had the sister missionaries come to my house to go over their part (two days before the meeting).

We met 30 minutes before the meeting started to sing through all together.  At first, it seemed like they were struggling a little to find their parts but after a few times through, it came together quite nicely and I knew it was going to be fine.   I told them not to worry about it being "perfect" because it wasn't about perfection but about sharing the power of their testimonies through the music.  I knew I was going to make some mistakes while accompanying them on the piano so they shouldn't worry about making mistakes - just sing with confidence and faith.

The result just blew me away.  I was overcome with the powerful spirit that I felt through their singing and I noticed I wasn't the only one.  The sister who had to speak after them was in tears and said she is usually not so moved by music but that was different.  Their testimonies shone through their singing and it was AMAZING!  I'm really thankful for the opportunity I had to trust in God's power to help me know how to make this happen.  These young women are truly incredible examples of faith and goodness.  I wish the whole world could have heard what I heard tonight!