Oh, be my friend, and teach me to be thine!
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
We’ve started a choir in St. Louis, Missouri. We call it “One Voice.” It is organized by Latter-day Saints and friends from surrounding stakes who want to sing gospel or praise music not typically sung in sacrament meeting. Through their performances, the choir also hopes to reach out to members and the community and share their testimony of the restored gospel.
People of all backgrounds sing in the choir including African Americans who have a tradition of playing and singing by ear. Our choir’s leadership didn’t know how to bridge the learning style gap between those who read music and those who don’t. We knew we needed help and prayed that someone might cross our path. Our prayers were immediately answered when Marcus visited our choir this last Sunday. Janet, a sister in the choir, introduced us to Marcus, an accomplished musician and singer who has led several choirs around the world in his military service and is a music director for a church choir in St. Louis.
Marcus taught us how to include those who don’t read music. He also shared his testimony of the Savior and with some emotion encouraged the mission of our choir. The spirit was strong, and we felt lifted by his counsel.
At the end of the evening I noticed Marcus wiping tears from his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I am just overcome by the welcome and spirit here.” I could hardly hold back my own tears as I knew Marcus was an answer to our prayer that we might find someone to teach us.
If we had limited our search only to LDS members, would we have met Marcus?
Do we consider that friends not of our faith can help us do the work of the Church?
I am grateful for Marcus and his willingness to share his talents with us. I love him and it is a joyous and wonderful thing to call him a “friend.” A friend who shares tears of joy.
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