All is well! All is well!

I loved church today.

Bishop Wright began our sacrament meeting this morning, talking about how much he loves music and how music can uplift us and bring the spirit to a meeting. He talked about how the hymns and primary music are such important parts of our meetings, and that if we listen to the words, not just sing them, that we can learn so much. The words are a testimony that we can sing to our Heavenly Father.

During the week, he called me, and several other members of our ward, to be prepared to share with the congregation what our favorite hymn is and why, during sacrament meeting. This is something he has been wanting to do for some time & he hoped that there was enough time for everyone he asked to share. We would then sing the song and would get through as many people as we could.

So this morning, after he spoke, he called up 4 people to share their favorite hymns and then we sang each one. Ronnie Gantt, through several tears, expressed his love for the song, "May My Soul Commune with Thee". Megan Fenton loves Christmas songs, so we sang "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains" - just like her family does around the piano each year together. Bruce Walker chose "Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning - always a happy tune to wake you up! And Brenda Couch, a recent convert, shared her favorite hymn, "How Firm a Foundation", which is one her family can relate to right now.

The next 3 people to share were Brother Braithwaite, a new member of the ward, Judy Heneka, and Paul Anderson - "I Stand All Amazed", "Families Can Be Together Forever", and "Come, Come Ye Saints". The Bishop asked that I be the fourth person and my mom, the fifth -- IF we had time.

Up to this point in the meeting, no one had chosen the hymn I had. I was relieved until Paul Anderson got up. I knew, from the minute he said that he loved church history, that his favorite hymn was mine, as well. I was supposed to go right after him, but time was on my side and we ran out of it. Truthfully, I was kind of disappointed that I didn't get the chance to share why I love that song so much...until senior primary came around and our "talk" didn't show up.

When I was a little girl, I remember singing this song in sacrament meeting and listening to my mom sing the alto part. She had such a pretty voice and I couldn't wait until I was old enough to learn the alto part, too. Many years later, as a student at BYU, I got to hear this song each day as the Bell Tower played the first line of this song every hour, on the hour.

Whenever I sing, "Come, Come Ye Saints", my heart swells. I feel encouraged. I feel that I want to do a little better. I feel that I can stretch myself a little farther. It helps me remember that we are here to experience joy. It reminds me that I am not alone in my trials. It reminds me that I knew this life wouldn't be easy, but that it is through our trials that we draw closer to the Savior.

Through each verse, I think of the pioneers who sacrificed so much for what they believed in. They left everything they had because of their faith. They lost loved ones and buried them along the trail that they were traveling upon, but they kept going because they knew that was the right thing to do. The words, "All is well!", apply to us today. They really are words to live by.

Come, come, ye saints, no toil nor labor fear;
But with joy wend your way.
Though hard to you this journey may appear,
Grace shall be as your day.
Tis better far for us to strive our useless cares from us to drive;
Do this, and joy your hearts will swell -
All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward if we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell-
All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away, in the West,
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the saints, will be blessed.
We'll make the air, with music ring, Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell -
All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again to see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell-
All is well! All is well!