On Topic

Photo Reference: "Panorama of LaVell Edwards Stadium at Twilight" by David Daniels - dav.d photography

In July of 1997, not long after I arrived as a new missionary at the Provo Missionary Training Center, I learned that all the missionaries who were at the MTC would have a unique and special opportunity to participate in the Utah Pioneer Sesquicentennial Celebration at BYU's Cougar Stadium. This would be a spectacular cultural program celebrating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. Our appearance in the program was to be a surprise so we could tell only our parents and had to swear them to secrecy!

As evening settled on July 24th, all the missionaries at the MTC quietly walked several blocks to the stadium. We gathered in four large groups at each of the corners of the stadium out of view of the audience. At the appointed time, nearly 3,000 missionaries marched into the stadium singing “Called to Serve” at the top of their lungs. With a capacity crowd at Cougar Stadium made up of people who honk and holler when they see TWO missionaries on their bikes, you can imagine the reaction as several thousand missionaries streamed onto the field. After singing "Called to Serve" we joined with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in singing the anthem written for this special occasion, “Faith in Every Footstep.” These songs reinforced the themes of the celebration: faith, hope, and courage to move the work of the Lord forward.

I’m sure many of you have experienced powerful moments when music has reinforced a gospel principle or message in your own heart. With proper planning and preparation we have the opportunity to create these moments for members of our wards.

"Members who serve in ward music callings work together to select appropriate music for worship services. When feasible, the bishop and his counselors choose meeting topics well in advance. This allows the music chairman, music director, and choir director to plan hymns, special selections, and choir performances that complement and reinforce the meeting topics" (Handbook 2: Administering the Church 14.4.1).