About Me

Hi! I’m Holly. Welcome to my blog*.

Holly & Jeff – celebrating our 24th Wedding Anniversary shopping for groceries – because we’re really romantic like that (but we DID remember to take a selfie, yay!)

Here’s the basics:

1. I’m a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The name of our church refers to the same church organized by Jesus Christ when he was on the earth, and restored to its original power and authority in the modern age (latter-days) on April 6, 1830. 

*Latter-day Soprano is the blog formerly known as “Mormon Soprano”

2. I’m a classically trained soprano (which means I ‘sing high’), with a university degree in Vocal Performance. I’ve performed Opera, operetta and musical theater semi-professionally for many decades.

mosop-far-far-away-christmas-motab
Singing in the Choir

3. I currently sing as a member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). 

You can read about my exciting audition experience here – or here and here.

4. What I love: my family! Hubby Jeff (aka “Mr. Mo”) & our 2 beautiful children – “Daughter A” & “Daughter Bee”… and our brand new “grandbebe A”. I also have wonderful parents and in-laws, plus a large happy family of siblings + Sibs-in-laws + aunts/uncles, cousins, etc… and all my ‘adopted family’ friends  & choir-mates.

mosop.family.silliness
Our Family attempting a “selfie”

I love running (5K, 10K, Half and Full Marathons), hiking, writing, blogging, photography, travel, music (both listening & singing), the University of Utah and Football (Go Utes!), old movies, eating (primarily Plant Based as of 2018), laughing until I cry, and…

…of course getting comments on my blog. … hint, hint 😉

 5. What I don’t love: long lines, sad news, swimming (I think I still have PTSD from seeing the movie JAWS as a child), traffic jams, cleaning bathrooms (yuk!), anything “math”, mosquito bites, and mean people.

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This blog was born on November 5, 2007. It’s been a labor of love and my “happy place” for over a decade to share my music, my faith, and thoughts about life – which are usually positive, hopefully interesting, often entertaining, and sometimes motivational.

Life is a gift, and it’s better when it’s shared! Come share the journey with me! ♥ – Holly

Mormon Soprano YouTube

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86 Comments

  1. Love your web site! Fun to keep up with your posts. Michelle Willis is an LDS arranger and composer and offers free video conducting tips that you may want to consider adding to your resources for visitors of your blog. Have a great day!

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  2. Spencer, thanks for your support! The site you and Michelle have created is superb. I will definitely add to the Resources link and recommend to my readers.

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  3. Hi there! Thanks for your comment on my blog, and for the link to the news story on yesterday’s inspiring make-a-wish addition to your performance yesterday. I was with a group of about 30 women musicians in the audience, and many of them were crying at that point! We all really enjoyed the show, my favorite was the Halle, Halle, Halle selection. We were honored to be a part of the show. Thanks for being a part of something so meaningful!

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  4. Thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind remarks on both my husbands blog and also my sisters blog. As you can tell, by my sister’s remarks about our father, music has always been a part of our lives, especially music sung by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. You are blessed indeed to be able to be a part of this incredible organization. I will enjoy your experiences by following your blog and it will be a sweet reminder of my childhood.

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  6. Glad that I visited..I love your blog. I am a music lover and it has ministered to my soul many many times. My faovorite hymn writer was Fanny Crosby, but not limited to that. My husband is a worship leader. I am going to enjoy coming here 🙂

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  8. Hello! Thank you so much for leaving your sweet comments for me at my Blogspot site! After three years of inactivity, I’m so excited to be going back to church. I know I am nothing without my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Christ Jesus! I have made your site a favorite and look forward to your uplifting messages!

    Much love,
    Terri

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  10. Thank you Sister Aloha for visiting, and leaving comments. The answer to your question is yes. One of the main purposes of this site is to be a safe and positive haven. I am so glad that you have felt peace here, and I hope that you will return often.

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  13. I was looking up pictures of the planet earth for a power point presentation for my third graders and accidentally stumbled upon the post about marriage and how it was so important. I really liked reading it, especially being a newlywed. Thanks for this sight! I’m glad I stumbled across it! I’ll be visiting it more often now that I know it’s here!

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  14. Hi, thanks for your posts!!! Coincidently I am lawyer, a soprano too, mormon, have two daughters and a lovely husband.!!! great to know we are not alone in our journey!!

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  16. I just watched a video that might be a great one to use on beauty and talent. I don’t know if you can use it but it is about Susan Boyle on the British show Britians got talent. watch it at least you will finding it very surprizing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY it has had millions of hits, was on fox news today. Thanks love this site. Frank Durham

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  17. Sister,

    Thanks for your love through the Gospel…..and for all you do “for us”
    My name is Edinalva Rasmussen, from Brazil, living in California.
    I am a Visiting Teaching Coordinator in Vacaville 4th Ward, California.
    I’m following your blog and I love it. Because that, I’m asking permission to use your picture about “women praying” for the message of June 2009.
    Again, thanks for your free love
    Didi

    Like

  18. Hello, mormonsoprano!

    While I was searching for an image of Jesus to put in a blog post I was writing (inspired, funnily enough by an atheist– it’s funny how people who refute the truth often give us the drive to help it forward), I saw an image under “mormonsoprano.com,” and I simply had to bookmark your site and add it to my RSS feed. This is a wonderful website!

    As a side note, I find it wonderful that you value music so very much. I was in my high school’s madrigal group, and I had developed a love of music since middle school, but I felt the Spirit more and learned to appreciate how beautiful and uplifting positive music can be more through my year in Madrigals than ever before, and I’m so very grateful for that. I feel to share our music with you– I highly suggest listening to There Will Be Rest, In Rememberance, Water Night, and Lullabye, though there are also many other wonderful songs that were sung in Concert Choir (such as Cross Cry, Take Ten, and the Fifth Period Solo Class. You can listen to all of our music at http://ipfsquared.wordpress.com/music/#mads (that link takes you to the Madrigals section, though you can scroll up and down to find others). I suggest not listening to my solos, though. The two in the 5th Period Solo Class section I sang live while I was sick, and the other wasn’t using the proper recording equipment, so I feel very put out about them all.

    What I’ve read of your writing brings to mind an idea that’s been floating around in my mind for some time now. I’m not 100% sure how I’m going to implement it or get the correct authors for it, but I know that will come to me in due time, especially if I pray about it (I find it very appropriate to pray for knowledge on such a thing). If you didn’t already notice in a post I made on the Latter Day Saint Group at National Blog Posting Month, I’m starting up a website soon that will be comprised of a group of authors writing on a myriad of topics. Because I don’t want the chance for some of our authors (some won’t be LDS) to publish false doctrine or atheist material, I’m going to limit religious posts on the website to general beliefs and praises to God and not allow posts promoting a specific religion, though authors will be encouraged to say “Merry Christmas” and speak of God and Christ matter-of-factly. I want to also create a subdomain (such as lds.websitename.com) that will concentrate on writing for an LDS audience (or those wanting to learn more about Latter Day Saints). I wondered if you would want to volunteer to write for this website? I don’t know when I’ll be able to launch the LDS part, though I’m working vigorously to at least launch the initial website and gain a community before I head out on my mission in… goodness– it’s about five months (estimated– I haven’t received my call yet).

    Anyway, I am sorry for my monstrous post, but I just had so much to say, tell you, and then ask you. Thank you for the beautiful website! I’m definitely subscribing via RSS.

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    1. Hi Jordan,
      Thank you for your (long) comment, and for subscribing to my RSS! I am sorry that this didn’t post sooner, but I found it in hiding in my Spam box. 🙂 I am very grateful for your support. I love your boundless enthusiasm to spread the good news of the gospel message online. No doubt you will make a wonderful missionary. I will respond to you by email on all the writing options. – Best wishes, MoSop

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  19. Hello MoSop,

    I thought you might like a link to a recent short article on Angela in Meridian Magazine
    with a link to a new video of Angela’s sculptures in Nauvoo. We will be in
    Nauvoo on Sept 20 and Angela will give a fireside at 7pm in the Visitors’ Center. Please come in you happen to be there.

    http://www.ldsmag.com/youtube/090909sculptures.html

    May you be blessed for the good work you do.

    Kenneth (Angela’s husband)

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  20. Feel free to delete this comment – I just couldn’t find any other way to contact you.
    I really enjoy your blog.
    I thought you’d be interested so I wanted to tell you about a new game I created, called The Book of Mormon Game (http://bookofmormongame.com).
    Its a new, completely free, online audio scripture chase game that has *just* launched. It’s a fun and competitive game which reads the Book of Mormon to you from a random place and you have to find where its reading from and race against a timer. Your scores will show along with ward/stake members. This game can help you become more familiar with the Book of Mormon and is a fun way to get in your daily scripture “reading”.

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  22. I passed through this space of yours on New Years Day. I was skimming through the wordpress.com support page. It was the picture of Angel Moroni that I chose to click.

    Right away it had felt right. I think there might have one word, maybe two (I don’t want to sound like I’m exaggerating or alarm you by saying EVERY SINGLE ONE)

    Every letter you arranged brought me comfort the other day. I wanted to return and thank you for being you.

    It was inspiring reading here. I will never again delete something I have written cause I thought about what i may have done different if some of your words that I read the other day were not there.

    I thought “thank God she didn’t delete her posts!!!”

    so are you going to tell me? (how to show the big teeth smiling emoticon)

    =) dirtclustit

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  23. Pingback: A message of hope to the despairing « The Arrow Has Flown

  24. Back in the 70s there was a lovely book of choral music for teens put out through the LDS church…I don’t know the name of it, but I would love to find it. Do you know what I’m talking about? Anyone? One of the songs was a very funny Baroque version of an anti-smoking song called “The Weed.” Another was about the rain….”Rain falls, soft rain at my window…”

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    2. Yes, I was trying to google this very same song from school choir. ….”Rain falls, soft rain at my window…” every butter fly has ……every honey bee has called it a day and the callumbine are bending their heads in the rain.
      When the rain is a falling there’s a quiteness about the world, when the thunder is calling there’s a quite hush about the world…a time to remember the beautiful things, to look for tomorrow and your fondest dreams. My teacher was Bro Rasmussen who now sings in the Mormon Tab choir…I wonder if he could help…? Thanks for the wonderful memories of so long ago…In fact, it is raining very softly here in Chantilly, VA 🙂 Bro Steve Bringhurst

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    4. Ah! ah! ah! I came to this page on my computer just now trying to find the same song. Deja vu! … “and the skater-bug fleet finds the whole world a treat, rain falls soft rain at my window”. The ending is really quiet, I believe, “…rain falls, soft rain”. Please, please, please help. It’s not a sacrament service song but we sang it for a church activity.

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      1. Alan, the song is called “Soft Rain” written by Janet & Douglas Cox and arranged by Jay Welch. It was performed by The Mormon Youth Symphony and Chorus very often back when I was a member. If you do a search for it on YouTube there is a clip of a High School choir performing it. I’ve always loved that one! Its too bad it isn’t performed very often anymore.

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  25. I enjoy seeing your blog. I had a 20 year music mission that I still miss. We are currently doing a full-time mission as a couple. That keeps us very busy. Music is still my life and always will be. Good work!

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  26. Loved your words in Honoring All Women For Mother’s Day
    It was just what I was thinking.
    I used it in my newsletter
    Made sure I added your link

    Like

  28. Pingback: “Do You Have Room (for the Savior)?” – Shawna Belt Edwards « Seth Adam Smith
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  31. Mo,

    Is that you singing I Know My Redeemer Lives? in the YouTube video, above? If so, you have such an incredible voice and a wonderfully heartfelt interpretation of the song. It really made my morning to stumble across you blog.

    Keep it up, and may the Lord bless you in your efforts.

    Eddie Carr

    Like

    1. Hi Eddie – no, this one is performed by Suzanne Sitthichai and can be found on the “Missionary Hymn Project“. I agree with you, her voice is lovely, and she is singing with conviction. I appreciate your comment and support. Keep having a great day- MoSop

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  32. Hey MoSop! I was googling “pictures of pioneer children” today for my son’s school project and up came your blog!! “Sweet!” I thought…”I know her!!!”

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  33. MoSop, love your blog. The links and entries are like a collection of jewels–the best of the Web for pure and uplifting sights and sounds.

    Allow me to post a link to http://www.VHProject.org and http://www.facebook.com/VillageHistoriesProject. My wife and I launched it to provide a source of family history (genealogy) information for those who aren’t served well by Ancestry.com or even (yet) by http://www.FamilySearch.org. We are gathering information about people in Burma, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Congo, and other similar places and adding it to our database.

    The idea is one I always had as a genealogist and Ward and Stake Family HIstory Consultant. Finally, when we were assigned to Cambodia in the US diplomatic service, we discovered the urgency of the need both to serve such nations and to provide work to some people there. We also found that the biggest obstacle, the cost, was overcome by the low, low wages the good people earn there.

    We invite all who want to help, to contact us. We will surely find something they can do!

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  37. Hi, Holly. Loved the broadcast this morning! It was quite a surprise and thrill to watch Drs. Ottley and Jessop direct the choir and orchestra — I had only heard their work over the radio but had never actually seen them in front of the choir. Were the members excited to have them back (probably not many who remember Dr. Ottley!)? What did the maestros mention to the group about returning to the MTC podium (I bet they had some good stories!)? And was any consideration given to having Spence Kinard deliver today’s spoken word? (Now I’m really giving away my “experience”!) Wishing the choir and orchestra another 85+ years of inspirational broadcasts!

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    1. Hi Richard, I’m glad you got to see the 85th Anniversary Broadcast! It was an awesome experience. I feel very blessed to be able to say that I have now officially sung in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir under the batons of Brother’s Ottley, Jessop, Wilberg and Murphy. 🙂 Together, those 4 men’s years of service represent more than half of the 85 years of the Choir. Spencer Kinard was present for the event. He is an official host for the Choir and regularly greets the audience and gives announcements prior to going LIVE each Sunday morning.

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  39. Oh, so that’s what you look (and sound) like! You have a beautiful voice–I would not have expected less. It helps to actually look at your about page, eh?

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    1. Thanks for checking me out Marianne. 😀 he he Yep, that is what I look like. But, it’s not actually me singing in “Jesus Love Is Like A River”. That’s a friend who is a member of the great group “Mountain Blue”. One of my many musical video projects from my YouTube. I’m still working on getting my own recordings up (yes…they’re coming soon!) Thanks for your friendship and support.

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    2. Not sure if I got this comment reply because of what I said or if I came from someone else… please doublecheck…
      I’m LDS as well and sing at the bottom of the scale.

      Regards,
      Bro Steven Bringhurst

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  40. Sister MoSo, I love the Gethsemane song, with its suggetion in 4 of the slow walk that He took to Calvary after that night, and the lilting, joyful waltz-like background in 3 that suggests the impact of those terrible events and their subsequent victory in our fortunate lives. Classic Hoffman. I’ve loved Roger and Melanie since they were first dating. And your voice suggests a crystal bell, with all its clarity, light, and undiluted beauty.

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      2. It’s kind of stupid the fears we hold onto, isn’t it? Perhaps it is time for me to stare this one down. 40 years is a ridiculous amount of time to carry a fear. Hmmmm… interesting thought to ponder.

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  44. Hey MoSop, I’m Indonesian. And I like to see and hear MTC at the LDS annual conference. Peaceful way discover our religion. Nice blog…

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  45. Anxiously wait your next edition! I love forwarding you to friends and relatives! Adjusted my TV this am and was able to see 4 broadcasts (reruns and today) before Church! Happy you all arrived safely home! xo

    Liked by 1 person

  46. Regarding your question: What is ‘heaven shaking’ exactly? And, what ‘good’ things do you suppose could come from it? I’ve been searching, and so far I haven’t found a definitive answer.”

    Perhaps the following could help. While reading from Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration, by Ivan J. Barrett, I discovered an entry from Orson F. Whitney, author of Life of Heber C. Kimball: “Their faith shook the heavens, and in dreams and visions many were shown the very men whom he Lord was about to send into their midst. Heber C. Kimball, especially, on his arrival to Preston was recognized by persons who had never until then beheld him in the flesh.” (Orson F. Whitney, author of Life of Heber C. Kimball, 345-346). It is probably a figure of speech meaning “to astound”, but would not such an event shake you?

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