Savior of the World

I auditioned for Savior of the World last week. I just felt like it was something I needed to do. It turned out to be a beautiful experience. I went to the walk-in audition at BYU on a whim. I went home from my piano class on Thursday, picked a song to audition with, made a cut in the music, got a bit dressed up, and went on my way. I was ever so slightly nervous but, I wasn't really expecting anything. If I made it, fantastic. I would spend the Christmas season performing on a stage telling the story of the life of Jesus Christ. If I didn't make it, I would have other opportunities to perform and another audition experience. I got called in with a group of about 15 people. We all sang for eachother. Some as soloists and some as families. Some sang simple hymns and others sang musical theatre pieces. Our "judge" (though I don't think it is fair to call her that because she wasn't judging anyone...simply listening and evoking emotion from the auditionees) would have most everyone sing twice and have them use the words from their song, no matter what it was, to bear testimony and think of the Savior. I have two favorite moments. First, a family of three stepped forward and sang sweetly and shyly the words "If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do, would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true? Would I follow his example? Would I live more righteously, if I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?" It was lovely. I was overwhelmed with how true those simple words are. Then a girl about my age sang "Someone like you" beautifully. Gale asked her to sing it again thinking about that "someone" being the Savior and she asked her to express that feeling seeking and finding the Lord. She began to cry while singing. It was evident that she could not contain those feelings and could barely get through the song but it was far more powerful to hear it sung that way.