I was full of good intentions to sit right down and share the whole Oakland, San Jose experience....but I had to turn around, the very next day, and travel to Utah to the foundry where I have my work cast. I could let those of you who don't know about the complex process of the art of the lost wax casting method of creating a bronze, but then that would postpone sharing with you the incredible experiences I had in California!
We'll talk bronze later.....
Of all the presentations, performances and firesides I've given in my life, these two were extremely unique. Actually there were not only two presentations, but five. Two of them were public, but the others were with smaller groups.
Those who had organized the firesides had done an exceptional job organizing all the details. The scheduling and publicity was incredible. I knew I had the choice of two responses to the excitement that was building around my visit. I could feel completely overwhelmed or come alive to the realization that people were responding to the spirit of The Healing Power of Jesus Christ Exhibit, which filled me with joy.
It is an enormous responsibility to stand in front of people and say something profound, or at least what might be determined as profound by the vast majority of those attending. When it comes to being a sculptor depicting the life of Jesus Christ, the pressure is even greater. I think it's greater because you really have to be prepared to be a vessel through which His spirit and message can flow. I could right an entire book on the process of doing that.
Just a few insights from where I stand. You must be prepared to give, straight from the heart, no holding back. In order to share from the heart, there must not only be something of depth in your heart but then you have to be able to access it and share it with others, two different skills.
It is Jesus Christ and His Gospel that has filled my heart my entire life. It is from that well of living water that I draw from.
There is risk involved, as there always is when people share. Giving means risk, but it also means growth.
I am personally devoted to the growth process. One of my lifetime favorite sayings is, "What you are to be, you are now becoming." It is one of the most sacred responsibilities of someone who is invited to present, is to help others believe in their own ability to change, to progress. The way I feel that is accomplished is to help them see the power of creativity and empower them to search for their own soul treasures.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ empowers souls to create.
Jesus Christ was constantly teaching parables of talents, gifts and giving. His Gospel is permeated with the vibrancy of life and light.
No one soul is greater than another. God is no respecter of persons.
Many times the unspoken, or maybe spoken message is that those called upon to present must somehow be more special. That is simply not true. Presentations must never carrying with them a condescending air of one individual bestowing light and wisdom upon another soul. All light and wisdom comes from God and without Him we would all be miserable, blind unenlightened souls.
Jesus Christ taught by His example that humility, love and serving others are the qualities that define greatness.
So take all of what I just said, and picture me standing backstage wearing my maroon Indian sari while Elder Pedersen, the Director of the Oakland Visitors' Center introduces me. When I come out on stage, I see that the lower level of the Inter Stake Center is almost completely full, somewhere around 1,000 people. I felt such a strong spirit of love for them and a desire that during the time we spent together, our lives would be better for it.
I'm not going to give all the details of the presentation, but I want to let you know how I started things off. It's no secret that I grew up on a dairy farm in Montana. There are plenty of stories about that. But I thought, what can I give these people from the Oakland and surrounding areas that would be unique and just from me? So I decided to sing to the a rousing rendition of the Montana state song. Yes, I know, you wish you could have been there to hear it!
I had Rojohn Rietta, the awesome tenor I was going to sing "The Prayer" accompany me. He came to the piano, sounded the prearranged note and then returned to his seat. I have not sung that song in at least fifteen to twenty years. While I sang it I showed a few slides from my home in Montana, you know cows and tractors and things like that.
And so the evening began. I stood on the left of the stage so as not to be in the way of the screen, with a spotlight on me, for almost an hour sharing my message, testifying of the healing power of our Savior. A PowerPoint presentation featured each one of the sculptures, which most of the people had seen. I closed my presentation singing Amazing Grace and The Temple Hill Choir sang so beautifully This Is The Christ.
As I stood to greet people afterwords I was amazed by the outpouring of love. I loved to look into the eyes of those who came up to talk to me and so moved by the expressions of gratitude that were given.
As has happened with every performance, I walked out of the hall with my husband, I was a better person for having sharing my life and love of Christ. I carry in my heart the hope that those who were there were strengthened with a greater comprehension of the love God has for all of us. That entire night I felt such a profound outpouring of the love of God. I was sustained as though on the wings of His love.
