Oratorio

 We have attended our usual line-up of meetings today.  They were all good.  In our so-called Sacrament Meeting (we partake of the Sacrament at home and then meet together on Zoom to hear inspirational messages.), our two young elders spoke.  They are so cute.  They each gave marvelous talks, with our newest elder giving "The Touch of the Master's Hand" as he closed his talk.  I love that poem and haven/t heard it for some time.  

We also had a young man who just turned 15 speak.  He is the oldest son of a family who moved in last fall from Utah.  The mother is pursuing a PhD and the father is working remotely for a large American corporation.  This young man is pretty solid, and gave a excellent talk.  It was easy to tell that he wrote it himself and thought it through thoroughly. 

We met with the missionaries for a half hour as they taught a brief Easter message to new members.  

We met with our young adult reps to plan for the next couple of weeks, and after everyone had signed off, I talked for a little while with Kristina - who told me that she and Cameron will be married on July 16.  She is so cute....and so excited.  They will be married by the equivalent of an American Justice of the Peace, and she has her dress.  As yet, they will probably have a wedding party of four.  Isn't that a far cry from a couple of years ago?  Weddings and receptions designed to put the mother of the bride in bed for several days thereafter.....such stress.

Kristina would have loved to have a nice little to-do but she is resigned and happy with what they have.  Besides, her parents are living on Isle of Mann - where she grew up, and she hasn't seen them in some time, since COVID has isolated the population there from mixing with us on the main island.  She is also under so much pressure as she is finishing up her PhD before the end of summer, and they will be moving to Coventry where her soon-to-be husband has a position at the university.

Then she shared something that she is so very excited about...she will go to the temple to receive her endowment on April 24!  I am so happy for her.  She is so solid in her testimony, and stalwart in attending everything that she is supposed to be at.  

We joined the mission on a call at 6 p,m. to watch a brief video clip of Elder Holland speaking about the Savior's atoning sacrifice for us all, and then a prayer, asking for extra help for a list of people, including the missionaries - to be able to find those who are genuinely seeking God.

At 9 p.m. we joined the senior missionaries to watch the newest theatrical release of Lamb of God.  I have loved that music ever since I found the CD on a bottom shelf at the flagship Deseret Book in Salt Lake City just across from the temple.  I think it was fairly new....it was written in 2010, and it must have been shortly thereafter that I discovered the disc.  I was intrigued because of the Carl Bloch Gethsemane painting on the cover.  I purchased it and have listened to it often ever since.  SK and I have seen it performed live at least six or seven times - or more.  



This is what Wickipedia says about Oratorio:

An oratorio (Italian pronunciation: [oraˈtɔːrjo]) is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like most operas, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias.

It is a magnificent oratorio, and speaks to my soul.  I was so very happy to know that several family members joined us.  It was wonderful to share it with them.  It was sacred and uplifting and powerful.  There were several times it brought tears.  Music, done so beautifully, combined with the power of scripture lifts me in a way nothing else does.  It think it is the most powerful production about Christ that I have ever seen.

The major differences between this one and the film from last summer with James Tissot's artwork, is that this was enlarged...with an added song for Peter, more narration and a beautiful arrangement of a hymn at the end with the credits. The closeups of the soloists and musicians brought the power of the music to my heart.  The soloists were the people they were portraying.  The whole thing seemed more accessible than I have ever seen it.

I will fall off asleep tonight thinking about that incredible oratorio.

Comments

melissa said…
I’m so glad you loved it. I can’t wait to see what the missionaries thought!
March 31, 2021 at 6:26 AM
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