A Hallelujah Miracle

I had intended to finish a different post for today, but Sacrament meeting got in the way. Now I’m not a “gushy” type person, but what I experienced today deserves to be talked about, because it was wonderful – and highly unexpected.

Today in Sacrament Meeting, our Primary kids sang the Hallelujah Chorus. Yes, that Hallelujah Chorus – the one from Handel’s Messiah. The whole thing.

What? It is true. After the third speaker, about 100 primary kids and a handful of teachers went up to the choir seats. My daughter and I both noticed that they were all smiling and energetic as they made that long walk. After a few minutes of moving and cajoling, they were ready.

And I was in full skeptic mode. I had heard they were working on it, but really? I figured it would be somewhat simplified and rather painful.

A string quintet of adults and youth began, then the kids started singing. Right on cue, and right on pitch. They sounded beautiful, and I was immediately impressed. Then…the unthinkable – they broke into parts. Seriously. They were singing all the parts! And they were nailing them. They sounded like little angels – and they were beaming like little angels as well.

There were doing great, and I was doing fine – until they reached the sweeping verse,

The kingdom of this world Is become
The kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ
And of His Christ

That’s where I completely lost it. Tears were streaming down my face as I tried to hold down the outright sobs. I was feeling plenty stupid until I glanced over and saw my daughter wiping her eyes, and my good friend Mike, up on the stand, losing it even worse than I – crying, flushed, glasses off, etc.

It was remarkable. It was gorgeous.

The sisters who conducted it – Julie Duty, and Kelli Archibald – were brilliant. The kids were absolutely focused on their leaders, and obeyed their every motion.

Have there been more perfect, more professional versions of the Hallelujah Chorus? Sure – thousands. I have been a part of those choirs scores of times myself. But I do not think I have ever heard a rendition of that song that has conveyed the testimony of the Savior with more purity and conviction than those Primary children today.

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And, as I am won’t to do, I start processing such an experience to see what more I can get out of it. Here are a few thoughts:

• We oftentimes underestimate what our children are willing and able to do. They can rise to challenges that most of us think are too far out of reach, so we don’t challenge them.

• Children are exhilarated by reaching and growing.

• When we serve in our callings, we can with take the attitude, “I just want to get this over and go home.” Or we can take the attitude that I saw today: ‘Let’s work hard and help these kids grow and achieve something wonderful.” I am grateful for such people.

• This single performance will go along ways in helping these kids be excited about vocal performance. It will also make them lifetime lovers of Handel’s Messiah. I can just hear them now, “Hey grandkids, have I told you about the time we sang the Hallelujah Chorus for Primary!”

• The purity of a child’s voice can compensate for a lot of missed notes.

• There are very few actual words in the Hallelujah Chorus – they are just repeated a lot. I hope those words will bury themselves deep in these children’s souls.

And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah!