Over a Thousand People Came Together To Break a Record-The Largest Nativity

David Archuleta in Bordeaux, France - Christmas Conference

Excerpt from  Soeur Bolaños :

We are so blessed! :)

The France Lyon Mission is truly so blessed everyday!  This week has been a miraculous one, a memorable one!  

On Friday, we got up at 5 am to travel to Bordeaux for our Christmas conference!  The moment  every single one of us was anxiously waiting for!  The ride there was long but so worth it!  When we got there, were were assigned to sit in the chapel and spiritually prepare by reading our scriptures, pondering upon the meaning of Christmas, and so on.  Then, President came in with his wife Sister Rooney, and so did David Archuleta, his beautiful pianist, his manager, and the assistant director to the tabernacle choir!  They all had made the effort to come all the way from Utah to visit us and share something very special with us!  The feeling of joy I had is inexplicable!  Later president allowed each and everyone of us to individually to go up to them and shake their hand and tell them where we were from!  It was truly a blessing.  Then David shared some beautiful hymns such as "Oh Holy Night" and "Glorious," and even sang "Le Divine enfant" in french for us, which he hadn't practiced at all, but wanted to give it a try just for the France Lyon Mission.  How blessed!  I mention "Oh Holy Night" and "Glorious" because both are songs that really touch me.  First, "Glorious," is from the movie "Meet the Mormons" which is a movie I haven't seen yet, but I hear is so great and is helping missionary work in the church go forward!  You should all go see it! :)  Before he sang, he explained to us how on his mission he got a call from his mission president weeks before going home.  His mission president explained to him how the Church wanted him to record this song for this special movie "Meet the Mormons."  He was so confused and did not know what decision to make since he wanted to be 100 percent obedient as a missionary.  His mission president told him it would be a great opportunity for the church and that he needed to decide yes or no right at that moment.  Yikes!  Can you imagine being in David's position?  Well, he was obedient, and he went and recorded this beautiful song :)  

"Oh Holy Night" really touched me because it brings back great memories of when I had the chance to sing it with Orosco, our Toms River branch opera singer, for the Stake Christmas Devotional one year.  Not only is it delightful to sing, but also as we listen to the words and ponder upon them.  My favorite part is when it says "Fall on your knees, oh hear the angels' voices".  Yes, we should all fall on our knees, humble ourselves before the Lord by telling him our weaknesses, our difficulties, our joys, because we trust Him, we love Him, and we truly seek for His help.  Because it is through Him that we can overcome it all; through Him and His Son Jesus Christ. 

Excerpt from Soeur Larsen:  First things first. David Archuleta Christmas Conference. MIND BLOWING. It was FULL of the spirit and the love of Christ. Not only did David Archuleta sing, which was inspiring, but he shared his testimony of the Saviour, which was truly powerful. It was incredible to hear someone who is so well known in the world simply bear his testimony and share stories from his mission. He told us that he was asked to record 'Glorious' while he was still on his mission so when you hear it, you're hearing it straight from 'a missionary with his nametag on.' So cool! President and Sister Roney also inspired us with their words (as per usual) and helped me to understand the magic of music and Christmas and how it all ties into the love of the Saviour. The stake president of Lyon spoke and said something I'll never forget, 'Give something away and see how long it takes the Lord to give it back to you tenfold.'

Not only did he sing flawlessly but he is a great example to us as missionaries and he definitely taught us what the most important things are. Namely serving our Heavenly Father. He even sang us a song completely in French that he had just learned like the day before. And I have never heard a better rendition of "We Three Kings."

David in Bordeaux, France

An excerpt from Elder Peterson:

"Friday was the big day!!!!

We all went to one of the chapel’s in Bordeaux.  It was with half of the mission. Everyone got aprons with the mission logo and we all signed one anothers. Then we put everything away and started reading our scriptures while we waited……… then came walking in with President………….. David Archuleta! It was so cool! The other guests were awesome too! There was women who is named Kendra, who is a pianist that works with David and the Vice President of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was also there which was really cool and then David’s Manager. We all go to go shake their hands and talk to them for a couple of seconds and then take a picture of them afterward. (Sadly we didn’t have enough time to take pictures with them).

Then he started by singing Oh Come All Ye Faithful and it was amazing! He is so good at singing, It was incredible… I have never heard a better singer, live,  in my life.  Then he sang a song called Glorious from the new movie Meet the Mormonsand it was amazing! It also used to be my favorite EFY song.

After he sang a bit we heard from Sister Roney. She gave a beautiful talk about Christmas and how we can invite the world to learn about Christmas and what saying Merry Christmas really means;

Then David sang more! He sang We Three Kings and it was the most beautiful rendition I have ever heard. Then we were able to hear from President Roney and he gave one of the most inspiring talks I have ever heard. It was about the 2 most important things in life which he learned from his Mother on her deathbed, The Savior and Love. It was a beautiful talk and I am so thankful for our mission president who is truly a great man of God.  

Finally to close, David Archuleta bore his Testimony,  it was amazing and powerful.  He is just a normal guy and he made the decision to serve a mission. His mission was not easy,  however, he learned so much. His big message was about weakness and how the closer we are to Christ the more we see our weaknesses and become humbled so that we may cause those weaknesses to become strengths. He ended in the most amazing way!  Because he did 2 conferences in France (one in Lyon and one in Bordeaux) he wanted to learn a French Christmas song and he sane “Il est Né” and it was so amazing!  In the past 3 weeks it has become one of my favorites and it was really cool to have him sing it for us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha0xVgv9ovw

(via: muret)

GOODNESS

I was thinking today how wherever David goes, people tend to

swarm around him. David has that "specialness" about him.

He's a person who is just kind and good and endearing and, as
handsome and charming as his looks may be, (a lot of people
are handsome, but there's not that need to have to be near them,
so to speak)....I really feel it's what's underneath: his spirit,
his nature that people just want to be around him...it's like his goodness
is a magnet that people want to feel and want to be in close range of.
I felt that the very first time I met him and each time after that...it's like
you just want to be close enough, you are drawn to him...because his spirit
emanates all that is good, kind, trusting, faithful and loving, and people
are in need of that today. He has a genuine and caring soul that people want to
to be near, to feel and remember.

He brings love, peace, joy and happiness wherever he goes.

An Understanding

 

 

it was an understanding that found its way to her.
she understood now.
it had sunk in.
good wasn't always going to win.
she understood all too well.
but that's not why you keep trying.
you keep trying because you have to.
you keep trying because
if you don't,
the dark really will always win.
and that isn't an option.
you keep trying because your heart can't live
any other way. you keep trying because that is your
way of living.
you keep trying because ultimately,
you believe in light.
because ultimately you believe.
© Terri St. Cloud

There is a time for everything

There is a time for everything.
A season for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to rebuild.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time of war and a time for peace.

~~Ecclesiastes 3:1~8

Shoulder - Amy Guess (Lyrics)

Shoulder

(Lyrics and Music by Amy Guess, Jennifer Marks and Darren Sher)

I was run down and tired
Broken and crying
I’ve always admired
Your strength and fight in you
As I watch you collide with all the same pain
I’m amazed with how you remain

Nothing hurts you
Nothing Breaks you
Nothing ever makes you walk away
I can trust you to be there
Even though the earth beneath me shakes
Your my shoulder through whatever
Your my shoulder forever, my shoulder

When a day is a battle
Our journey is worth the crusade
Power that won’t shatter
Devotion that won't ever fade
Where I see your courage that goes far beyond
All the years you’ve been here by me standing strong

Nothing hurts you
Nothing Breaks you
Nothing ever makes you walk away
I can trust you to be there
Even though the earth beneath me shakes
Your my shoulder through whatever
Your my shoulder forever, my shoulder

Sometimes, I wonder how you
Make it through, You make it through
And oh if you need to let go
I hope you know
You’re not alone

Nothing hurts you
Nothing Breaks you
Nothing ever makes you walk away
I can trust you to be there
Through whatever, forever, my shoulder.

https://vimeo.com/musicstore/track/178546/shoulder-by-amy-guess

Colors of My World

The colors of my world
are more beautiful
because you are in it.

Your voice
Your music
changes skies of grey
to seas of blue

Your voice
touches the depths of one's soul
and brings them to a place
of love, understanding, peace
and acceptance

Your music adds joy
adds beauty
adds life

No sorrow
no pain
left unsaid
cannot be touched
by your music

What I've Learned Through Loss

Losing Bella and my Mom so close together

was the hardest loss I've ever encountered.

I still miss them both tremendously.

Bella, gave me so much friendship and companionship.

I lost both of them six months into David's mission.

I was missing David too.

What I am just now beginning to realize is they all

gave me joy and fulfillment in my life.

But what happens when the things or people that

bring you joy are gone? You are left with yourself.

Now I realize that no matter how much someone or

something adds fulfillment to your life, they cannot be

the ONLY fulfillment in your life.

In the end, you still need to find fulfillment and joy

within yourself living on a daily basis. What brings

you happiness is not always permanent.

So you must always seek to find and do things that bring

you happiness. You must constantly look at each day

and find the beauty in it. Find the little joys in life.

Life may never feel the same for me again

but I still try to appreciate what is there.

I have to.

David is back and I'm happy for him that he is trying

to live his life the best way he can so he will always

be happy too.

 

Lessons

Suffering and grief can be a great teacher and nature can soothe the soul. Do not run away from grief.  Respect grief as much as you respect happiness....for in sorrow there is an inner angel who will guide you to peel the deeper layers of your true self...to see the strength and beauty within you.

Patience

I feel like I have been through a lot these past two years, that have required "patience".  When something requires you to be patient, it requires you to wait, to anticipate, with uncertainty.  By practicing patience, it builds other character traits, like trusting, letting go, not knowing the outcome, having more faith and hope. Patience is the hardest virtue, but along the way it strengthens you in other areas.

LOVE and RESPECT

I really hope people will respect David when he gets back.

Respect, for me, means listening to what a person is saying
and what makes them feel comfortable or uncomfortable.

David is clearly uncomfortable with the way some older fans...
treat him when they meet him.

It's a shame people cannot see when they are overstepping
their boundaries.

His responses make me sad. The interviewer even asks him,
does it happen a lot? His response: "unfortunately".

"He reveals his discomfort when over passionate fans get too
close and that includes grandmas."

His response: "A lot of grandmas, they want to kiss me, and they don't even ask."

"wait, wait, hold on."
"I'm not a kissy person, so that's always kinda strange."

He always says things like, it's kinda weird, it's kinda awkward.

In essence, he wishes they didn't do it.

The interviewer even "gets it and understands". She says at .50:
"but once they get touchy with you, it's weird". She even
seems concerned like why would they do this? Knowing you don't like this?

He's such a nice person and doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

At 1:10-1:18 he even puts his hands behind his back to show he
doesn't like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StwGCp9y05Q

I hope people will give David the respect he so politely asks for.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, DAVID ♥

Heart and Soul

I may love David Archuleta for different reasons than others.

I think everyone has a unique story in the way in which David came into
their lives and how he touched them.

I not only love his voice and music, but I love him as a person.
His personality and mostly, his great and humble character has taught me a lot.
He is a very thoughtful, giving, caring person.
Each day he makes me want to be a better person.

Each day he makes me look at myself...my flaws and what I need to work on.

He has helped me grow more in my faith and depend on it even more.

I respect him immensely for who he is and how grounded he is.

If I thought anything would upset him or disrespect him or make him feel uncomfortable,
I wouldn't do it.  I care too much about him as a person.

I've watched and listened to his many interviews online, seen him in concert on stage,
and met him in person several times. I love how he feels the music and the song and interprets lyrics enough to know what an absolutely beautiful human being he is.

He is the most non-judgmental person I have ever encountered, and he treats each and
every person with respect.  That is why I feel he deserves the most respect in return.

The songs and lyrics he chooses to sing and the ones he's written are always
uplifting and inspiring to me.

I don't like putting him on a pedestal because I feel he is very much human and goes through the same ups and downs we all do.  I feel he has insecurities, happy moments, sad moments, and goes through hard times in life, just like we all do.  But I do know that he instills in me the art of acceptance, no regrets, trials, pushing ahead, putting one foot in front of the other, and learning from my mistakes.

I cannot share my personal story online of what he's really done for me.  Perhaps it's too personal or too sacred to me.  I've written him.  He knows how I feel, and that is enough for me.  His songs have helped me through some of my darkest days.

I will always be a fan of him and his music.  I love his heart and soul and character and
personality just as much as his music.