Pres and Sister Bennion have planned for Senior Missionary couples to have Family Home Evenings once a month to create an "esprit de corps" among these missionaries--and it's working very well! So this past Monday was also that FHE and this one had a program called "A Night of Hymns". It was organized by Bro Paul and Sister Mindie Rogers, who are the Activity Planners at this time among our Missionary Group (and do a fantastic job!). Eight from our Group were contacted and asked to take 5 or so minutes and share a favorite hymn and some insight as to why it is special to them. Each one was so interesting and most were accompanied by a personal experience to illustrate the reason it has become a "favorite". Then following each presentation there was either a video clip of that hymn or our group joined in singing the hymn. Here is the list of participants and their hymns:
These are those that participated. It was very interesting and touching!
Now I will post some pictures of their songs/scriptures and pictures that made up the Hand-out Program each couple received
Pres Bennion's selection--he knows Crawford Gates personally. He is 94 years 'young' and Pres Bennion called him the day of the program/gathering to talk about this Hymn--and told us that he (Crawford Gates) is still quite sharp and remembers the time he spent at Rick's College as part of the Faculty while Pres Bennion was President of the College (circa'91-'97). The Adminstration decided there should be a Sacred Hymn and Secular Music class/symposium and asked Bro Gates to be a part of it. He agreed and this song was a part of that and it was a very special time for Pres Bennion and the Music Dept. Crawford Gates was/is an extremely talented music composer and friend.
This was Sister Melba (Akagi) Grimley's choice. She talked of all the people who have "touched"
her life--her Grandmother that lived with her family and friends in school who really helped her find
strength in the Gospel. Many of those friends have either passed away or fallen away from the
Church--which makes her so sad. But she's ever grateful for what they did for her.
Pres Roberts' choice. He remembered very well Jesse Evans Smith--the 2nd wife of Pres Joseph Fielding Smith and her being a member of the Tab Choir and the fact that this song was pretty much "her song" and shared a recording of her singing this Hymn.
A favorite of Bro David Colton--helping him in many dark hours as he faced trials in his life. It was quite interesting to note that this very Hymn was the one that the 6 Sister Missionaries serving at the Priesthood Restoration site sang for our Group to begin our Tour at that site on May 16, 2016. They
were like a little band of "angelic voices"-- oh so beautiful!! The Colton's were not with us that day--so he had no idea until we shared it with him after this Night of Hymns.
This was a favorite of Sister Dorothy Bench, Assistant Matron of the Manhattan Temple, as her
husband, Pres Mark Bench is a Counselor to Pres Bennion and will become the new New York Mamhattan Temple this coming Nov, 2016. The chorus of this Hymn lifts it to an "angelic realm" . She accompanied us on the piano as we majestically.sang this Hymn together.
Sister Shellie Harris shared her reasons for this Hymn becoming one of her favorites. She told of a time when she was caring for her aging parents and faced with many hard decisions about that care
and time.their care was taking. She said that the words in the 1st verse "keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see, the distant scene--one step enough for me." Was just what she said she needed to "hear" and she knew that the Lord was guiding the things that needed to be done in her family. Beautiful message!!
This was Bro Mumford's choice.--"For the Strength of the Hills". Here is an excerpt of what he wrote to some of you in regard to this Hymn.
" I came across the original text that indicates our own Italian Waldensians protected by the Piedmont, were viewed as the the forerunners of the Pioneers . . . protected by the Rockies.
The author of the text of Hymn 35 is Felicia Dorothea Hemans. She is British but her maternal grandfather was a wine importer named Wagner whose roots were in Venice. (I wonder if her
GGGrandfather's last name might be Cardone, Toronto, Cella, or Camberlango or Faverro--some Italian "faithful" that I am blessed to know.)
GGGrandfather's last name might be Cardone, Toronto, Cella, or Camberlango or Faverro--some Italian "faithful" that I am blessed to know.)
It is also meaningful to consider the words in the original text and Hymn 35 in the context that the real Strength of the hills is the Lord, or the Strength of the hills, as His Hill or His House, in relation to other hills or buildings - consistent with Psalms 95 and referenced in Hymn 35. "
He also shared how this Hymn was sung at the Mission Report of Gaylin and Edna Fuller--who also served as Temple Missionaries in the New York Manhattan Mission--and whom many present at this Night of Hymns would still remember very well. Upon returning home from their meeting that day back in Dec of 2015, Ron looked up the word "Manhattan" and found it was an Indian name meaning "island of many hills". Indeed, Central Park does have "many hills of Granite" evident throughout the many acres (433) that make up this wonderful green space in the heart of this bustling megalopolis. We were both especially moved by the words of the 4th verses, but before sharing those words, he asked those there to consider these thoughts:
1. "The strength of the hills" comes from the Psalms 95--"the strength of the hills is His (the Lord's") and how he (Ron) had pondered if it was an inspired teaching about "Hills" referring to Temples--the Houses of the Lord.
2. Light is an all important Symbol of every temple.
3. Each temple is a place of quiet or even 'silence'--especially noted in our Manhattan Temple--in
the Dedicatory Prayer: "may this Temple be a place of quiet refuge in the midst of this great and busy metropolis."
4. Temples lift eyes to the sky--toward Heaven.
5. Courage in the Lord--brings Full-time Missionaries to serve here. And a loving Temple Presidency, to leave comforts and family for eternal reasons. It is also a virtue in the Patrons who
sacrifice on Saturdays, or who leave profitable desks/areas of employment to "Savior" on Mt. Zion.
6. The reference to "rod"-- surely refers to God's word changing us--as we heed it.
7. At the end, this verse references not only our God to whom our hearts are turned, but to our fathers whose hearts are likewise turned.
The words to this 4th verse:
"We are watchers of a beacon Whose light must never die; We are Guardians of an altar 'Midst the silence of the sky. Here the rocks yield founts of courage, Struck forth as by thy rod; For the strength of the hills we bless thee, Our God, our fathers' God."
Such a moving message for us as we serve daily in this beautiful House of the Lord!!
He also shared how this Hymn was sung at the Mission Report of Gaylin and Edna Fuller--who also served as Temple Missionaries in the New York Manhattan Mission--and whom many present at this Night of Hymns would still remember very well. Upon returning home from their meeting that day back in Dec of 2015, Ron looked up the word "Manhattan" and found it was an Indian name meaning "island of many hills". Indeed, Central Park does have "many hills of Granite" evident throughout the many acres (433) that make up this wonderful green space in the heart of this bustling megalopolis. We were both especially moved by the words of the 4th verses, but before sharing those words, he asked those there to consider these thoughts:
1. "The strength of the hills" comes from the Psalms 95--"the strength of the hills is His (the Lord's") and how he (Ron) had pondered if it was an inspired teaching about "Hills" referring to Temples--the Houses of the Lord.
2. Light is an all important Symbol of every temple.
3. Each temple is a place of quiet or even 'silence'--especially noted in our Manhattan Temple--in
the Dedicatory Prayer: "may this Temple be a place of quiet refuge in the midst of this great and busy metropolis."
4. Temples lift eyes to the sky--toward Heaven.
5. Courage in the Lord--brings Full-time Missionaries to serve here. And a loving Temple Presidency, to leave comforts and family for eternal reasons. It is also a virtue in the Patrons who
sacrifice on Saturdays, or who leave profitable desks/areas of employment to "Savior" on Mt. Zion.
6. The reference to "rod"-- surely refers to God's word changing us--as we heed it.
7. At the end, this verse references not only our God to whom our hearts are turned, but to our fathers whose hearts are likewise turned.
The words to this 4th verse:
"We are watchers of a beacon Whose light must never die; We are Guardians of an altar 'Midst the silence of the sky. Here the rocks yield founts of courage, Struck forth as by thy rod; For the strength of the hills we bless thee, Our God, our fathers' God."
Such a moving message for us as we serve daily in this beautiful House of the Lord!!
This Hymn was a favorite of Sister Kathy Thompson. She is a single Senior Missionary serving here , a widow of about 10 years. She has shared with me (Carol) how it has taken a lot of courage to leave "her comfort zone" and come by herself to serve this Mission. I am in awe at those who do "come alone" as I know how much I rely and depend on Elder Mumford for so many things--each and every day!!
Her choice of this Hymn "I Believe in Christ" was in part due to her experience with the counsel and words she received (indirectly--but directly for her) from Elder Bruce R McConkie. She had experienced 2 miscarriages--both quite far into her pregnancies--and was told she could never have another child (she did not share the exact reasons). She did have other children--but was very distraught that her "especial desire in her whole life was to be a Mother". She said she could not be consoled--though many tried--some being sympathetic, others being "harsh and critical". It was a man in her Ward who finally got in to see Elder Mc Conkie because of his great concern for Sister Thompson and brought her words of comfort and solace in her extreme time of need. She said they "snapped me out of my mood" and back into life. She loves both the message of this song and its author very much. Her words were followed by a "recording" of Elder McConkie's last "testimony" given in April Conference 1985--just days before he passed away. That will always be such a powerful reminder of the man we were blessed to have as a Prophet, Seer, Revelatory and servant of the Lord in this Dispensation of time.
Our many thanks to those who planned this night and who helped in preparing and sharing such wonderful Hymns and thoughts.
Here are a few more pics of the night:
Our wonderful group
From l-r (front) Pres & Sis Bennion, Pres & Sis Roberts, Sis Janean Call, Bro Steve Call, Sis Bench & Pres Bench
(back) the Buchanans, Sis Harris,(Bro Harris was ill) the Coltons, the Mumfords, the Hansens, the Rogers, the Adams (new FH Missionaries), the Martinezs, the Lewis', Sis Wilson, Sis Thompson, the Dransfields , the Grimley's (Bro Grimley always has a 'spot' on the end as he sets up the camera on a timer and 'slips in' for the pic)
These were the "participants" on the Program
Front row l-r-- Ron Mumford, Melba Grimley, Kathy Thompson, Pres Bennion,
Back row--l-r--David Colton, Sis Dorothy Bench, Shellie Harris, Pres Roberts
Truly an "Evening" to be remembered for a long time. Proof of the importance of good and righteous music in our lives and its power to elevate and help us.
D & C 25:12
"For my soul delights th in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads"
At the end of the Program we sang two "departing" songs for Bro and Sis Call-- "Go in Peace" ( kind of becoming the 'signature song' for this Missionary group-- and a real "tear jerker") and then the Hymn "God Be With You 'Til we Meet Again" . We will truly miss Elder and Sister Call. The couple replacing them comes in on June 17th or so--Elder and Sister Holloway. We'll be anxious to Welcome them into Service!!
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