When a song's lyrics take on new meaning. #visionoflove
Okay, so it isn't part of the Vision of Love pageant coming in August. Information for the pageant including dates, auditions and when tickets will be available is on the page below.
familiesareeternal.org
For those that missed the trailer to Vision of Love, I am sorry that you did. While it certainly was not the polished full work it will become, it made up for that in spirit. The Holy Ghost bore witness of the truthfulness of Our Father's Plan of Happiness for us. Especially during the last song, when the audience sang with the choir.
But that isn't what I am writing about.
On Saturday night, at the Visitor's center, we had a performance that sang of the Savior, of temples, and yes, the Vision of Love. You can't go wrong opening with Redeemer of Israel. Can you?
It was the testimony that I was asked to bear, not for the first time. An uncomfortable one, to be sure. A testimony of a young man checking all the boxes as a youth, including a mission and being sealed in the temple, but somewhere, sometime, letting go of the rod. For a long time, I guess I could say that I truly was "less active" as I held callings in scouts, but didn't attend on Sundays, yeah, work was an excuse, at first seniority prevented having the day off, but it became comfortable, and then...
You realize that things are out of control, that you are walking in darkness, or maybe in the semi light of pre-dawn. You know where the rod is, but are afraid to go and grab it. And of course, when I say you, I mean me. But it might be you also. Well, they say that it is always darkest before the dawn, and that seemed to hold true for me as well.
The symbol of a temple closed for the night, was powerful to me, because it was closed to me at the time, day or night. I knew that had to change. But more importantly I wanted to change.
The first change was a phone call I received. Did I want a shift with weekends off? Yes! It only lasted a year, but it was to be the precursor of change for everything for me. It was the Lord showing me the way.
Speaking to the Bishop, especially during that very difficult time was crucial, working through the issues to be resolved. Years later, during the production of Walking in the Light, Alice asked for people to share their testimonies of the temple. This was in conjunction with the dedication of the Kansas City Missouri Temple in 2012. I sent a note, and it made the cut.
The written word cannot begin to express the feelings.
Then there was the song. Walking in the Light of God, text by Alice Beebe, music by Larry Beebe.
Walking in the Light of God,
We'll feel his guiding hand in ours,
And we'll know the path that we must follow
Filled with peace and happiness
Walking in the Light of God
We'll worship in his holy house
And we'll freely give our hearts to Him
While walking in the Light of God
Now is the time for us to realize
The fullness of the gospel plan
Now's the time to work out our Salvation
And do the work of Exaltation
Come and worship at the feet
Of Him who gave his life that we might live
Come kneel at the holy altar,
Giving all our hearts to Him
While feeling completely inadequate, I want to accurately express how I felt singing this song, at the feet of the Christus statue in the Visitor's Center. To paraphrase:
Never did any song come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine.
Yes, I recognize that is a bold statement.
The power of the words, which I have sung numerous times, had never hit me like this time. This song could easily have been written to me back in 2002, calling me to Walk in His Light. It fit every feeling that I had, perfectly, which is why it caused such overwhelming joy Saturday night, (and probably will from now on)
All can walk in the Light, it burns within all men. Turn to the light and it will burn brighter. As you follow the commandments of God, brighter still.
Walk in the Light of God, it is where you want to be, but more importantly, it is where you need to be. Time is short. #VisionofLove
hymns.com as always, the link to Larice music, for solos, instrumentals, choir and other.
familiesareeternal.org
For those that missed the trailer to Vision of Love, I am sorry that you did. While it certainly was not the polished full work it will become, it made up for that in spirit. The Holy Ghost bore witness of the truthfulness of Our Father's Plan of Happiness for us. Especially during the last song, when the audience sang with the choir.
But that isn't what I am writing about.
On Saturday night, at the Visitor's center, we had a performance that sang of the Savior, of temples, and yes, the Vision of Love. You can't go wrong opening with Redeemer of Israel. Can you?
It was the testimony that I was asked to bear, not for the first time. An uncomfortable one, to be sure. A testimony of a young man checking all the boxes as a youth, including a mission and being sealed in the temple, but somewhere, sometime, letting go of the rod. For a long time, I guess I could say that I truly was "less active" as I held callings in scouts, but didn't attend on Sundays, yeah, work was an excuse, at first seniority prevented having the day off, but it became comfortable, and then...
You realize that things are out of control, that you are walking in darkness, or maybe in the semi light of pre-dawn. You know where the rod is, but are afraid to go and grab it. And of course, when I say you, I mean me. But it might be you also. Well, they say that it is always darkest before the dawn, and that seemed to hold true for me as well.
The symbol of a temple closed for the night, was powerful to me, because it was closed to me at the time, day or night. I knew that had to change. But more importantly I wanted to change.
The first change was a phone call I received. Did I want a shift with weekends off? Yes! It only lasted a year, but it was to be the precursor of change for everything for me. It was the Lord showing me the way.
Speaking to the Bishop, especially during that very difficult time was crucial, working through the issues to be resolved. Years later, during the production of Walking in the Light, Alice asked for people to share their testimonies of the temple. This was in conjunction with the dedication of the Kansas City Missouri Temple in 2012. I sent a note, and it made the cut.
The written word cannot begin to express the feelings.
Then there was the song. Walking in the Light of God, text by Alice Beebe, music by Larry Beebe.
Walking in the Light of God,
We'll feel his guiding hand in ours,
And we'll know the path that we must follow
Filled with peace and happiness
Walking in the Light of God
We'll worship in his holy house
And we'll freely give our hearts to Him
While walking in the Light of God
Now is the time for us to realize
The fullness of the gospel plan
Now's the time to work out our Salvation
And do the work of Exaltation
Come and worship at the feet
Of Him who gave his life that we might live
Come kneel at the holy altar,
Giving all our hearts to Him
While feeling completely inadequate, I want to accurately express how I felt singing this song, at the feet of the Christus statue in the Visitor's Center. To paraphrase:
Never did any song come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine.
Yes, I recognize that is a bold statement.
The power of the words, which I have sung numerous times, had never hit me like this time. This song could easily have been written to me back in 2002, calling me to Walk in His Light. It fit every feeling that I had, perfectly, which is why it caused such overwhelming joy Saturday night, (and probably will from now on)
All can walk in the Light, it burns within all men. Turn to the light and it will burn brighter. As you follow the commandments of God, brighter still.
Walk in the Light of God, it is where you want to be, but more importantly, it is where you need to be. Time is short. #VisionofLove
hymns.com as always, the link to Larice music, for solos, instrumentals, choir and other.
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