Paradigm Swap

In this program, we discuss:

Why this program?

Nowadays, you can learn anything

The basic science of overtones

The cycles, patterns, and motion that inspire the musical piece called, The Dance

I think I’ve discovered the solution to the struggling American economy. Two words: Tax Trees. You’ve got to admit, it “trumps” many of the other ideas being set forth.

 

President David O. McKay said, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother”

(quoted from Theodore Hesburgh, Reader’s Digest, Jan. 1963, 25; in Richard Evans’ Quote Book [1971], 11).

“Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness.”

-Bible Dictionary, “Temple”

“Arthur Gordon shared this story in a national magazine:”

“When I was around thirteen and my brother ten, Father had promised to take us to the circus. But at lunchtime there was a phone call; some urgent business required his attention downtown. We braced ourselves for disappointment. Then we heard him say [into the phone], ‘No, I won’t be down. It’ll have to wait.’

“When he came back to the table, Mother smiled. ‘The circus keeps coming back, you know.’

“ ‘I know,’ said Father. ‘But childhood doesn’t.’ ”

—Arthur Gordon, A Touch of Wonder (1974), 77–78

I would love to have a shirt that says, “Sorry, I can’t come. My kids are growing up that day, and I don’t want to miss it.”

A happy, loving home life involves living each day to the fullest. This is an account related by Thomas S. Monson:

“Elder Monte J. Brough, formerly of the Seventy, tells of a summer at his childhood home in Randolph, Utah, when he and his younger brother, Max, decided to build a tree house in a large tree in the backyard. They made plans for the most wonderful creation of their lives. They gathered building materials from all over the neighborhood and carried them up to a part of the tree where two branches provided an ideal location for the house. It was difficult, and they were anxious to complete their work. The vision of the finished tree house provided tremendous motivation for them to complete the project.

“They worked all summer, and finally in the fall just before school began, their house was completed. Elder Brough said he will never forget the feelings of joy and satisfaction which were theirs when they finally were able to enjoy the fruit of their work. They sat in the tree house, looked around for a few minutes, climbed down from the tree—and never returned. The completed project, as wonderful as it was, could not hold their interest for even one day. In other words, the process of planning, gathering, building, and working—not the completed project—provided the enduring satisfaction and pleasure they had experienced.

“Let us relish life as we live it and, as did Elder Brough and his brother, Max, find joy in the journey.”

Thomas S. Monson, “Treasure of Eternal Value,” Liahona, Apr 2008, 2–7

The sheet music for this piece is available on my website.

Can you imagine the celebration we must have had?

After centuries of watching, waiting, anticipating, sometimes with an almost agonizing hope, and other times with pain and sorrow as we watched our older Brother suffer in preparation for the event—to see Him willingly give His life must have been agonizing, but just like a mother’s joy when her baby arrives, we must have forgotten all the hurt, all the anxiety, and all the pain as He took on His new perfected life.

Can you imagine the party that must have taken place? We’re humans, we like to celebrate. Can you imagine the celebration Father must have had with us?

The beautiful thing about this celebration is that it continues. We mourn at the loss of every loved one. But the Savior’s resurrection opened an eternal gate, guaranteeing every person ever to be born the gift of immortality. The celebration of the resurrection is the celebration of every person we have ever loved, because thanks to Jesus Christ, we will all return to life.

(Here’s the orchestrated version)

The sheet music for the piano solo version of this piece can be found on my website.

God hears your prayers—every one of them. Just because you don’t always feel it doesn’t mean He’s not listening. He’s always listening. 

Usually the struggle comes with recognizing His answers. Sometimes He answers with thoughts or ideas, sometimes through dreams or direct communication. Occasionally He uses coincidences, and often He uses other people. But if you persist, the answers will come. Sometimes it may take an entire “hour of prayer,” but the hour will be sweet, and if you receive an answer, it’s worth it.

If you don’t have faith in your ability to hear and recognize answers to prayer, at least have faith in God’s ability to reach you anyway.

The sheet music for this piece is available at my website.

When discouragement, fear, and frustration overtake us; when we turn our hearts away from the truth; when we cover our ears to silence the heavenly whisper; when we pollute our lives with one bad choice after another; at some point we come to realize the hopelessness of our circumstance. At that moment of crisis, when it seems no light can be seen from any horizon, if we call upon God in the desperate hope He’s listening, we discover that the Lord is always, always, closer than we think.

Sheet music for this piece is available at my website.

If you’re ever struggling spiritually, take a walk. Look around at the beauty of the world. Notice the grass, flowers, trees, and mountains. Notice the people, birds, and wildlife. Notice the ground and sky. Notice the colors, and the finer, quieter details.

Then say a prayer, as you walk. Thank your Heavenly Father for the beauty surrounding you. Get specific. Thank him for the fragrance of damp flowers, for gentle breezes, and the ever changing canvas that is the painting in the sky.

Then thank Him for your family, home, job, car, talents, gifts, and opportunities. Again, be specific. Walk as long as you can, and spend the entire time thanking Him for things, large and small.

I can promise you that not only will you find more beauty in the world around you, but you’ll find your heart longing to be closer to God. You’ll find your motivation to do what’s right strengthening and expanding.

Then thank the Lord for that.

In doing so, not only will your life get better, but you’ll find others thanking you for the beauty you provide in their lives. In short, you will become more. You will make the world more beautiful.

The sheet music for this piece is available at my website. 

I used to get annoyed by our national anthem. Seriously? The United States’ #1 chief patriotic theme is about bombs going off, and ends (after all, we only ever sing the first verse, right?) with the question of whether our flag even survived the chaos of battle fire. Just by hearing the song, one wouldn’t know. The question isn’t answered. In essence, the song says, “Last night, at twilight, I could see by the explosions that the flag still stood, but now it’s almost morning.” The end of the final cadence sings, “Does that star-spangled banner yet wave over land of the free and the home of the brave?” Basically, “Did we win? Are we still a free country?”

Done. End of song. Play ball.

Maybe that’s why I had such a hard time coming up with an appropriate arrangement of the piece.

I toyed with the idea of staying true to the bold, triumphant style that is traditional for this song, and which fits the second and third verses well. But I couldn’t do it.

I decided to be fair to the lyrics of the first verse, the one portion of the text that we all know and sing, to that question of, “When the morning comes, will we still be a free country?” So I tried something a little different.

Picture a soldier on assignment, watching the fight from his station, and seeing during the evening battle the periodic flashes of bombs illuminating the flag, but when the lights and explosions stop, the night darkens, leaving the question of victory or loss in the air. Then imagine the insufferable night of worry, of questioning, of insecurity, of fear. What about my land? What about my family? What will happen if we lose? The hours passing in darkness, the fear of even lighting a candle lest it spark more chaos. Did we win? Are we safe now? Does the flag still stand?

That’s what this arrangement is about.

Oh, and just for the record, I really like our national anthem now.

I tried to portray my feelings about the Savior while writing this arrangement.

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know Jesus was real, but I’ve had a number of experiences that have confirmed that knowledge, again and again.

I think the big discovery for me was that His atonement was for me. It took some soul searching, praying, studying, and conversing with God to convince me that Jesus loved me that much. Others, sure, but me? 

Now I can’t get over how incredibly loving, caring, and understanding He is. Seriously, me???

And it’s no fairy tail. All that stuff about Him suffering for my sins, rising from the dead, and being God’s literal son, it’s all real. So real, in fact, that He continues to change lives every day. So real that He continues to change my life–every day. I love Him. Oh, how I love Him!

It’s no wonder He asks much of us. He sees more in us than we can comprehend.

He lives.

He really does.

And because He lives, now you can, too.

The sheet music for this piece is now available on my website.

The art on the cover is called, “In the Green Summer Meadow,” by Ria Spencer. You should check out her other stuff.

You can also Download the free MP3.

Enjoy the music!