Sunday Music with the Mechams "Special request"

This weeks Music with the Mecham's is a special request by Ron S.. When I looked up his request I had to smile. Several months ago we had a sacrament meeting where we had a man that had been a member most of his life, but had not been active was asked to speak. Over the past year and a half he had started coming back to church slowly, and soon was a regular attendee. In his talk he spoke about getting married, having children, going to first college and then on to Medical School. He spoke of the trials of all of these things, and admitted that during his first marriage he could not find it within himself to follow all of the teaching and be fully committed to living the Gospel wholeheartedly. As he spoke you could tell that he was extremely nervous, but wanted so badly to convey his message of his conversion. As he spoke he talked about living up to the teachings of the church only partially and he used this phrase to describe his dedication at the time. He said that during this time of his life he kind of lived the teachings, but "just did not do the whole deal".

Throughout his talk he spoke of the heartbreak of getting divorced, having difficulties with his business life and even not being as close to his children as he would have liked. He remarried to a lady that he speaks very highly of, but she had no interest in following him in his faith. Throughout the years he kind of came to church and then would fall away, because he still was "not willing to do the deal". He then relayed how he went to speak with the Bishop, he talked about his struggles and difficulties in living the Gospel, the Bishop challenged him to a few things and he committed to himself that he was going to try to live as close to exactness as possible. Over the next few month he said that a change came over his life. He said that things that he had overlooked or didn't make sense all of a sudden seemed to fall into place. Some of the struggles that he had were no longer struggles, and he found that within himself a testimony began to grow. I can't begin to describe what a great talk this was, because it was so honest, pure and from the heart. Everyone that had witnessed his return to church has seen the change and continue to see it. At the conclusion of his talk, he opened a hymn book to this song that he said was life changer for him, and read the words to "I know that my Redeemer lives." He concluded his talk with these words and sat down. Unbeknownst to the speaker, bishop or anyone else in the meeting that day there was to be a musical number. Amanda, Jeff and my niece Eva had been asked to perform a musical number.

As they began to play it was almost as if it were a choreographed speech. First the two violins, and then the piano began to play. As the notes to the song that had touched this brothers life rang out in the chapel, he struggled to hold back the tears. As the girls played the music hymn 136 the spirit was so strong that there was not even a peep from a baby. As the hymn came to a conclusion there were few dry eyes in the room.

I know that there are many of us that struggle in life to find the spiritual highs. When we see others that seem to make it, we rejoice for them, and at other times we may feel slightly envious if we have not gained some of the same experiences or opportunities. In this brothers case it had come after many frustrating years of searching, but his answer finally came when he was willing to "Do the Deal" and trust whole heartedly that his Saviour would be there to keep up his end of the bargain.

Thanks Ron S for the suggested dedication. I think it is very appropriate for a Sunday Music with the Mecham theme. I hope those that stop by enjoy.