Small Miracles from Sacrament Meeting (2012)

In 2012, I witnessed a small miracle at my LDS ward sacrament meeting. My calling at the time was Ward Music Chairman, so I got to lead the music in my local ward. Usually, we coordinate the music with the talks that are to be given on that day, but this week neither of us found the time to coordinate anything, so I just chose hymns based on inspiration. As the meeting went along, I was amazed that the music lined up perfectly with the talks!

The opening hymn was “I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly,” which is about Moroni coming to share the gospel as an angel flying through heaven. Then a returned missionary spoke about missionary work, particularly in the Book of Mormon, and how we should emulate the examples of the Book of Mormon prophets. He then shared a number of missionary experiences he had on his mission, including two conversion stories. (It was interesting that this missionary also served in the same mission I served in, in Brazil, and in the same small town where I served, called Nanuque!)

Then we had a special musical number by two young women in our ward. I didn’t even know the message of this musical number beforehand—they called that same week and asked to do one, and I agreed, even though I didn’t know either the title or the tune. When the program was announced, the title of the musical number was “To Be a Witness.” To my surprise, the musical number was about the Book of Mormon! It was an old seminary song from the ’80s, and the chorus goes: “Heed Moroni’s promise, pray and search it through, and the spirit will bear witness, that the Book of Mormon’s true.” I was astonished that with no planning or preparation, the music and the speakers were in complete harmony!

Then the concluding speaker spoke—his name was Michael Tew, one of our high councilors. Michael spoke about, guess what, the Book of Mormon. He expounded on how we need to learn to love the Book of Mormon, and how re-reading it can bring to light new passages and new teachings we didn’t realize before, and that we can stay close to the Spirit by loving the Book of Mormon.

The closing hymn was “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” a popular song sung by missionaries as they leave their missions and return home. It brought back memories of my own mission in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. How true the words of the song are: “till we meet at Jesus’ feet.” I know that in this life I will not see many of the people that I taught and associated with on my mission, but at some future time, when we stand before our Maker and we are accepted into His kingdom, I will meet many of those wonderful people again.

This was one sacrament meeting which I will never forget. It was powerful to my soul. With no coordination between music and speakers, the meeting was beautifully orchestrated by the Spirit, and the hearers received a beautifully coordinated heavenly message!