It’s been six years since I first performed the music on my album “Daughters in His Kingdom” and released the accompanying CD. I created a presentation with quotes, words from the book that inspired the songs (Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society), and my own experiences in an effort to share these glorious messages with as many as would listen! From 2014-2016 I was blessed to travel throughout Utah, Idaho, and even to Arizona where I presented this program along with the stakes and wards that invited me into their midst.
And then my husband finished grad school, and we moved with our kiddos to the upper Midwest.
I wasn’t sure what to do with any of this after that, so it all sat dormant for a while. After living here for about a year I finally worked up the courage to share the idea of presenting this music to the women within my own stake. It was a beautiful experience very much like those that I’d had with stakes and wards out West, but it didn’t bring about any more opportunities to share.
As you know, it’s now 2020, and for months I’ve felt driven to somehow share this music “afresh” with the women of the world. Recently the thought came to me that I should post the story behind each one of the songs on my album, Daughters in His Kingdom. It seems like such an obvious idea, but it honestly hadn’t crossed my mind before now!
So here I am, opening up what I’ve held inside and laying out many of the quotes and experiences that inspired the writing of these lovely works.
I hope that no one takes offense when I speak so positively about this music and its message. Please know that I don’t have ANY desire to tout what little ability I have. I, of myself, am weak. I am simply striving to share and not devalue the talents I’ve been given by the Father and the beauty that has come through me from heaven above. This is God’s message to His beautiful daughters, and I’ve been allowed to be an instrument in His masterfully creative hands.
This song is the “opener” to the entire presentation I put together. And yet, I wrote it last. I felt pretty strongly about two things in particular; first, that the choir needed to open the program instead of a single speaker or singer, and second, that we needed to invite the Holy Spirit to be our guide.
So that’s what you’ll see here. The first thing the audience hears are these words from a beautiful choir:
Timeless truth through lessons from the past, Bright examples light the narrow path, Humble trav'lers with testimony sure, Let me see myself in those who've gone before. Who were they, and who am I today? Let their courage help me in my way, Through each story please lead me now to see Heav'nly answers to who I'm meant to be. As a Child of God and Daughter of a King, Let me feel what these true titles mean, Through Thy Spirit write upon my heart, Lift my eyes To see where I can start.
I know that we have the words, testimonies, and experiences of the strong women who’ve come before us so that we can learn from them and absorb their wisdom and knowledge. Each of us will have a unique path, but that’s why stories are so wonderful! They are like parables and allow us to see the truths that we need in personally applicable ways.
How will these stories apply to you? There’s only one way to find out. You must START. Start by learning about these women and studying their stories. Start by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you in this process. And start by asking your Heavenly Father how He feels about YOU. He WILL answer. You must simply START.