MORMON SOPRANO

The Diva Days

Don’t change that dial…yes, this is still MormonSoprano! However, in honor of the upcoming New Year celebration, I made a few little festive changes. I also activated my “falling snow” feature, as it makes a nice double for confetti, don’t you think?

It is hard to believe that we are already ushering 2008 out the door, and 2009 is marching boldly in. I don’t know about you, but this year flew by for me!

One year ago, things were decidedly different in my life. “Happy New Year 2008″ evoked excitement and trepidation as I prepared to embark on a completely different direction. Change is like stage-fright. If it doesn’t kill you, the adrenaline rush will thrill you! In fact, I believe that over the past 5 years I have experienced enough big “CHANGE” to accumulate an amount of adrenaline equal to experiencing my debut at the Metropolitan Opera. So there you go. In some sort of circuitous “virtual” logic perhaps I have managed to “accomplish” that life-long dream of mine (without actually ever doing it). Maybe I will cross it off my bucket list.

I know that life is unpredictable, but I always find it surprising. It is hard to believe that only 18 months ago I was living an hour-by-hour existence, praying my child would live another day. Some people keep warning me that long posts are a waste of time because people don’t like to read them. However, I’m going out on a limb here to share a personal story in celebration and gratitude. (more…)

In a continuation from my last post, The New Era magazine for LDS teens is now on YouTube sharing MormonAds. I think the message of this one is very appropriate as we plan New Year’s Resolutions!

In the spirit of our modern age, and Elder Ballard’s media directive, a popular LDS publication has joined the 21st Century. The New Era Magazine, written by and for Mormon teens has launched a YouTube account this week to share their creative MormonAds! Here is their Christmas 2008 greeting.

President Thomas S. Monson

“As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always. We shall learn to forget ourselves.

If we remember, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17), we will not find ourselves in the unenviable position of Jacob Marley’s ghost. When he spoke to Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens’ immortal A Christmas Carol, he spoke sadly of opportunities lost. Said he,

Marley and Scrooge

“Not to know that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere, whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness! Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunities misused! Yet such was I! Oh! such was I!”

“Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led Wise Men to a poor abode! Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me!” (In The Best Short Stories of Charles Dickens, New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1947, p. 435.)

We can learn a treasured lesson from the pen of Dickens and from the example of Christ. As we lift our eyes heavenward and then remember to look outward into the lives of others, as we remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive, we, during this Christmas season, will come to see a bright, particular star that will guide us to our precious opportunity.

Sunday School

Such was the experience of a Sunday School class some years ago when a wise teacher placed aside the manual one Sunday morning as Christmas approached. With her class members listening in, (more…)

Mary and Child by Liz Lemon Swindle

The Hail Mary or Ave Maria (Latin) is a traditional Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The prayer incorporates two passages from Saint Luke’s Gospel: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women” (Luke 1:28) and “Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42)

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) do not worship Mary. However we love, revere and honor her. I recently wrote about how Mother Mary Went The Distance both physically and spiritually. I feel a deep reverence for Mary personally, and I have thought of her often this Christmas season. Perhaps, as a mother myself, I feel a closer bond with her. The fact that she was chosen to perform the mission of being the earthly mother of God’s Only Begotten Son, to bear and nurture him through his growing years, indicates (more…)

Listen to Kenneth Cope sing “O Holy Night” while viewing the masterpieces of Jesus Christ’s life created by artist Liz Lemon Swindle. I find this a powerful and wonderful way to reflect upon the meaning of Christmas.

Last year little 6 year old Connie Talbot, WOWed Simon Cowell and the other judges of the “Briton’s Got Talent” TV search. Connie went on to become one of the winners of the television competition. She is beloved by all who hear her sweet voice, and see her charming grin. In this video, Connie sings “Walking In The Air” set to the beautiful animated classic “The Snowman”. Connie’s new album entitled “Over the Rainbow” is available for purchase at her official website. Enjoy!

Peeps and MoSop

Nineteen years ago, on the 19th of December, “Peeps” and I got married. Our ceremony was performed by Patriarch Arthur Strong in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. It was a beautiful day. Unseasonably warm for December. Although the sky was partly overcast, most of the snow had melted. In the background of several of our photos there is actually green grass and pansies blooming, suggesting Spring.

I was studying music, and Peeps was studying accounting at a local University. We were thrilled to have nabbed a one room campus housing unit for our “first home”. We were starting our life together as poor as church mice, but blissfully encircled by that marvelous “halo of love” which makes everyone feel like royalty. Of course we had no idea what lay in store for us. No newlyweds do. That’s probably one of the big reasons (more…)

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” was created by Charles M. Schulz as a prime-time animated TV special. It was sponsored by Coca-Cola, and originally aired on CBS in 1965. This final scene has always touched my heart. Gather the family around, and enjoy.