In church today, we stood and sang “America, The Beautiful” as the rest hymn. Many of these images came to my mind as we sang. I recommend letting this play as you read the words- O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! …
Oh, beautiful madness! Bordering on heresy. Lives in ruins. Insanity on all sides. Virtually together. Internally apart. Obviousness unperceived. Not for lack of trying.
I am writing this article for my children. They are big Alex Boye’ fans. They got that from their old man. When I first heard him sing, I just popped. He was at Brigham Young University at a Mormon Arts Festival. We talked for hours, and I told him then and there he had a …
THE BOOK OF PSALMS PSALM 40 A Messianic Psalm of David—The Messiah shall come and preach righteousness—He shall declare salvation—The righteous shall say: The Lord be magnified. TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID. 1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me …
I suppose that “I am a Mormon who happens to be a media mogul” has better alliteration, but I the term Latter-day Saint has a deeper meaning for me. In the early years of my life my parents bought a farm in Maine and so probably by age 5 I was fully engaged in meaningful …
Oh, beautiful madness! Bordering on heresy. Lives in ruins. Insanity on all sides. Virtually together. Internally apart. Obviousness unperceived. Not for lack of trying.
They are big Alex Boye’ fans. They got that from their old man. When I first heard him sing, I just popped. He was at Brigham Young University at a Mormon Arts Festival.
We talked for hours, and I told him then and there he had a mighty work to do through the healing power of his talents.
Alex is a very gracious and kind person, and has always been kind to my kids.
Besides, he is an amazing songwriter and singer. And a great Latter-day Saint.
Let me show you what I am talking about.
Listen as one of my heroes talks about one of my friends, who is also my hero…
I believe it is critical, when you are a “Mormon,” that you be a Latter-day Saint first, and anything else second. Be a good and great Latter-day Saint first and everything else will fall into the proper place.
I want my children to understand that God is Great and that He has a plan for each of us. We just need to figure out what that plan is. It will always be in harmony with the principles of Faith, Hope, and Charity. It will always be an invitation from The Lord through His Spirit to use our talents and gifts to DO something. When that Spirit whispers in our ears to do something, we must do it right then and there. Don’t hesitate. The cool thing is, that when it is God’s will, it happens.
And money and fame may have absolutely nothing to do with the true measure of success.
Alex once told me “Being an artist is something that helps me to use my talents wisely, but the most important thing for me is filling the measure of my creation.” In that interview, he also talked about wanting to write and sing songs that people can use to be lifted and inspired. Sort of like Glenn was talking about as he wrote his speeches. You see how beautifully the principle works? Alex sought to do the Lord’s will which led him to be in a place where Glenn needed inspiration and focus to write the two most important speeches of his career. Glenn of course, was willing to follow the Lords plan for him as well. That specificity isn’t something you can generally set as a goal. But the Lord knows the specifics of the plan. And He said to Alex, “Go” and Alex went. The Lord said “Say, by singing, and Alex sang, and when He said “Be,” Alex was.
Whatever the size of the audience, if you are doing God’s will, you are successful. Some of my most meaningful exchanges have been one on one. I suppose that generally, in this life we won’t know the effect of what we do when the audience is large and unseen by us. But the Spirit knows, and can do His work if we are willing to do our work.
In our family we have been blessed beyond measure. The story of “A Brighter Day” is one of another miracle that a human being cannot plan to accomplish. The Lord has to be the Co-Producer. I believe He invites that collaboration. It is not a prideful thing, but it can be a real thing.
“A Brighter Day” Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial, Sharon, Windsor County, Vermont. Un-retouched photo, a Co-Production of The Great Creator and John Patrick Starrs. (Read about it here.)
It is vital that people of Faith join together, get past their differences, love each other and share that love with all the world.
We all must be willing to accept the challenges ahead, and overcome them. We don’t have to look far to see that racism, bigotry, hatred, greed, force, and selfishness are embroiled in a war to destroy freedom, brotherhood, love, selflessness and charity. We must act.
And we must paint. And we must write, and sculpt, and produce, and dance, sing, direct and create in such a way as to be excellent, and through that excellence, glorify the Great Creator.
The world needs what you can give them. The youth of the world need what you can give them, and in a way that they can be accepting of the messages. You have the power to lift people, inspire them, and to change their hearts.
Our voices must be raised in a triumphal shout in praise and rejoicing to God. Our weapons will not be guns nor knives nor fists, but always, always Faith, Hope, Charity and Service to others.
President Spencer W. Kimball invited us to “Lengthen our Stride” and to “Expand our Vision.” He also explained that when God directs, we must “do it now”.
Our talents are God-given and a guide to understanding his plan for us.
Elder M. Russell Ballard has taught- “We call upon all members, those in the arts and those seeking to appreciate the message of good art, to expand their vision of what can be done. If we are going to fill the world with goodness and truth, then we must be worthy to receive inspiration so we can bless the lives of our Heavenly Father’s children. Never in the history of the world have truth and technology been so available and so prepared to help “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). But our power and ability to be successful will be in direct proportion to our faithful adherence to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ as we seek to convey those teachings to others in ways that are edifying and inspiring to them.” (M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, July 1996)
That means you put God first, and then let Him steer you as you work. Then you will be a better woman, man, mother, father, singer, painter, electrician, doctor or whatever He needs.
As Glenn Beck says, “When you are obedient, when you just say, ‘Ok, look, I don’t know how this is supposed to work, I don’t know. I know this sounds crazy, but I’m supposed to get on a plane, because I know what I know.’ And you’re willing to go home without doing it, you put yourself in a position to serve…
“When you let go, and you don’t care who gets the credit, and you’re not so arrogant that you think ‘It’s my way! No! I’ve got it!’ Miracles Happen. Absolute miracles happen.
“And let them hear you say that!”
If you are willing to Go Where He Wants You To Go, Say What He Wants You To Say and Be What He Wants You To Be, then you will be happy.
THE BOOK OF PSALMS
PSALM 40 A Messianic Psalm of David—The Messiah shall come and preach righteousness—He shall declare salvation—The righteous shall say: The Lord be magnified.
TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, A PSALM OF DAVID.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.
14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.
16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.
17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
__________________________
In the early 80′s, I first heard a song by U2 called “40.”
It was a different sort of rock song than I had ever heard.
This was no anthem to zombies, sex, drugs nor even rock n’ roll. It was simply a prayer of faith, thanksgiving, hope and love.
The lyric is taken from Psalm 40, but then the poet asks the Lord and us, “How long to sing this song?”
I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He brought me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long
How long, how long to sing this song?
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
I will sing, sing a new song
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long
How long, how long to sing this song?
I suppose what happened in my teenage heart and soul was a realization that one could stand up for your beliefs, do it in a meaningful yet cool way, change hearts, teach, preach, expound, exhort and make people better than they might have been. I wanted to learn about the New Song. Surely this was the road to become a watchmen and warrior poet.
U2 used “40″ to close their concerts for many years. Often, the crowd would leave the venue chanting “How long?” over and over. It was a great example of coming together as one with others, united in faith.
“I will sing, sing a new song. How long to sing this song?”
How long?
As long as it takes…
Here is the original album recording-
U2′s “40″ from the War tour, Live at Red Rocks. Listen to how Bono leads the audience back to the message…
I suppose that “I am a Mormon who happens to be a media mogul” has better alliteration, but I the term Latter-day Saint has a deeper meaning for me.
In the early years of my life my parents bought a farm in Maine and so probably by age 5 I was fully engaged in meaningful chores. Of course there was lots to explore and imagine and create while living on a farm in rural mid-coast Maine. After all Edna St. Vincent Millay had lived down the road a piece, Steven King was doing his bit a couple of counties over and Walden Pond was always close by, so to speak.
I probably became a serious “Electrician’s Helper” to my Dad by age 10. I always thought it was a strange term, certainly befitting a 10 year old, but eventually realizing that it is an actual title that includes grown men in the trade who are starting out.
By age 14 I had convinced Mom and Dad to let me take all the money I had saved from farming and electrical pursuits to “invest” in a sound system and records to become a disc-jockey and provide entertainment for local school and church dances.
Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five’s influences had not yet hit Appleton, Knox County, Maine, otherwise I would I have dubbed myself MC Starrman and my life may have taken a decidely different course.
I remember one of the arguing points for emptying my college and mission fund of it’s precious thousand dollars was that I could assuredly repay the investment within 2 years. I grossly misunderestimated my earning potential as the fund was replaced in 6 months and I truly had launched myself into the world of Media Mogulity.
As for why being a Mormon or Latter-day Saint is first and foremost in my mind, well, a few years ago I would hear people say “I am a Mormon who happens to be an artist.”
That never really sat well with me. It just didn’t feel right. Then I heard Elder Jeffrey R. Holland say “We should be Latter-day Saints first, and good artists second. We should be good Latter-day Saints first and good anything else second.”
I like that. It feels right. It is unapologetic. It sets the correct pattern. If we are good Latter-day Saints first, that means we put the Lord Jesus Christ first. One of my favorite missionary companions, Pete Watkins put it this way- “If we put the Lord first, everything falls into place. If we don’t put the Lord first, everything just sort of falls all over the place.
Putting the Lord Jesus Christ first in our lives lets us be successful at whatever else we do, because we are doing what He wants us to do. That doesn’t remove our freedom of choice, it doesn’t mean blind obedience. True faith means intelligent choice. I’ll borrow a musical term and say “in concert” with the Spirit.
A media mogul might say “A Co-Production” of the Lord and me.
Then, no matter what I choose to do or become, I will be successful, because He has helped me get there. Being a father, husband, electrician, farmer, DJ, MC or media mogul will be rewarding and a benefit to myself and those around me because that is what I have chosen and He has blessed me to do.
America! America!
