God's Everlasting Love

Rob here. So this was an eventful weekend for me. I went on tour with BYU-Idaho's combined chorus and orchestra to perform a special Oratorio entitled, God's Everlasting Love. See, according to many of the prophets of this dispensation, the greatest of music and art has yet to be discovered. They asked why Handel's Messiah has to be the greatest oratorio ever written. So, BYU-Idaho decided to create The Sacred Music Series. The idea of it is that, Handel was employed specifically to write The Messiah. The man who hired him provided everything for him so he could focus on the music. BYU-Idaho does this as well. They hire a composer and provide for him. This has happened every other year since 1992. This year the oratorio produced was God's Everlasting Love, text written by David A. Bednar.
I guess I just got lucky with my choice to join Men's Choir this semester. Anyway, we went to Twin Falls and then to Salt Lake on our tour. We got the opportunity to record in the Tabernacle, which was really cool. Actually, when we were changing into our performance attire, we used the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's dressing room. By total coincidence the locker I changed in happened to by my father-in-law's! How crazy is that?

So it was very fun. Anyway, I think the real reason I decided to write this blog was for the experience after the concert. So we left Salt Lake City around 9:30 or so. By the time we reached Tremonton the bus needed to be refueled. As soon as we stopped the bus's generator broke down. So we began the wait... 2 hours. It was about 1:00 when we got out of there. You might not have had this experience before, but I would not ever wish it upon anyone. There were a whole load of young single girls there and when they have to sit and wait they go completely nuts. On top of that, the guy next to me was taking up a seat and a half. I was about to snap. Finally the other buses on tour with us came back to help us out. I loaded onto the other bus, put on my headphones, covered my head with my coat's hood and took a short nap of about an hour. I awoke to Deliver Us from The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack. I'm getting to something, be patient. So there was a line that said, "There's a land you promised us. Deliver us, to the promised land." I'm not going to get all sappy or anything, but I started reflecting on home. I always tell people that I'm from Yakima, Washington. But, am I? I mean really? I'm married, and my parents don't even live there anymore. Yes, I grew up there. But, now I'm not from there anymore. My Mom and Dad grew up in Royal City, WA. But, they're not from there anymore. I guess I'm kind of from Rexburg now, sadly. That's where my home is. I'm from wherever Rachel and I live. I just really wanted to go home at that moment because home is peaceful and comforting. I missed my wife.
So when I got into Rexburg, my gracious wife came and picked me up. It was close to 4 in the morning. When we got home she totally surprised me! I had been talking about how I wanted our very own Christmas tree. She got this days ago and stored it in the trunk. While I was gone, Rachel, Katie and Roger put it up. Here's a picture with our very first Christmas Tree! (We are going to finish decorating it together later.)


So in conclusion, I love my wife. She is my life. God granted Israel deliverance because he loved them. He gave them a land to live in. Their deliverance was symbolic of salvation, and the promised land is symbolic of the Celestial Kingdom. Likewise, Christ offers me salvation and I now can receive the promise of the Celestial Kingdom; but I couldn't make it without her. I guess I could say that Rachel is my deliverance, she is my salvation. I love you, Rachel.