Words cannot even express how relieved I am that the Primary program is finally over.
Primary is an organization for children in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every year, the kids put on a program for Sacrament meeting. I was called to be in the presidency one month before the program.
For those of you who have never tried to organize a musical performance among fifty children ranging in age from 4 to 11 years, don't. Take my word for it. Don't get me wrong, it's great. They're all adorable (even if they're not so much in tune), and people love it. It's just that getting that many kids to do the same thing and sit still . . . well, it's a challenge.
It's possible that I'm a little biased. We finally called a teacher for the Sunbeams (4 year olds), but she got sick the day before the program, so I was in charge of them. I don't know where they get all that energy! I wish it rubbed off on me rather than sucking it out of me. It was all I could do to keep the boys from tackling each other, right there in front of the whole congregation. The girls kept waving to their moms. When it was their turn to speak, every one of them looked at me instead of the audience, and Collin, this adorable little redhead, just kept saying, "I jus' don' wemembuh it," even though I was prompting him with the words.
All of this, however, was nothing compared to the dream I had the night before. In that version, the Sunbeams kept leaping over the banister that surrounds the stand. There they were, dangling off the railing when they were supposed to be talking about having faith in Christ. I would pull them up, and there would just be another one attatched, holding onto a foot or something! And they just kept coming. Then the Primary president took me and my class out into the hall, right there in the middle of the program, and gave us a good tongue lashing. I think she may have fired me. Needless to say, the dream made me a little nervous for the real thing.
Despite all the hiccups, it really was a pretty great program. The kids did a really good job, and the songs were so pretty. There's one song in particular that I just love. It makes me cry almost every time the kids sing it. It's the song that the theme of the program is based on, "I'll Follow Him in Faith." You can listen to an mp3 version of the song here, but these are the lyrics:
It's so touching to hear those little kids sing those words. I only wish they could really understand what they mean. If there is one thing that I could give them, it would be knowledge of how much difference the Gospel can make in their lives. I was talking with an old friend the other day, and she said, "I wish I could go back and do things over again. If I knew then what I know now, I would just be good." Then we thought, why wait? Why do we have to go back? Just be good now.
Well, anyway. Basically, these parents are entrusting their children to me (and several other adults) every Sunday. I'm still not sure about the whole thing. Even scarier, they gave me a key to the church.
Does this mean I'm really a grown-up now? Weird.
My very own key. What are these people thinking?
