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Words by Sherise Longhurst
Sung to the tune of Latter-day Prophets
Primary children are so much fun
When they are wild, and want to run.
They take off their shoes and then
They mark the chalkboard with ball-point pen,
Giggle and talk, and run all around,
Wrestle their friends, and roll on the ground
Beat their siblings up with scriptures their mothers made them bring.
But deep down inside I know somehow they're learning.
Their fledgling testimonies are burning.
I'll do my best to show them the way
Because they'll be leading the Church someday.
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
Hee hee! :clap: Incredibly cute, and so true!
This is right on target! Good job on these lyrics, Sherise!
Longhurst? Are you related to John Longhurst who played the organ for the Tabernacle Choir? He was in the ward I grew up in until he was called as the Mo Tab organist and moved to SLC. I was still fairly young, but old enough to realize our ward mourned losing a terrific organist!
Indeed I am–he’s my father-in-law. It was a little intimidating to be the ward organist when he and my mother-in-law would come visit us! He and Nancy are lovely people. I really lucked out in the in-law department!
Please ask them if they remember Ron and Donna Malan. They are Michelle’s parents. Whisper back if you are able to ask them.
Way to go Michelle, catching that possibility. I’ve always wanted to tell the organists thank you, but never had the chance. Their music does so much good. Please thank him for me, Marathonermom, and give him our love. I bet he really enjoys hearing you play the organ in your ward. And please tell your mother-in-law thank you for supporting him while he uses his talent to serve. Her talent is great, too. Not every woman could be married to a man with that blessing, obligation, and burden.
I’ll do that next time I see them. I love small world Church connections!
Wow! I guess I didn’t expect such a close connection, Marathoner! I imagine being ward organist would be intimidating with his talent! I lucked out in the in-law dept too. Mine are more like second parents than in-laws.
Serena, thanks but I just made the connection because he was from the ward in which I grew up. I’m trying to remember why this would be so significant to me, but I guess even though my mom wasn’t ward organist, she probably subbed a few times after the ward lost Bro Longhurst to the Tab Choir! What year was that, Sherise, do you know? How old were their kids? I only have vague memories of their young kids… It’s probably something I remember because it’s likely that my parents used it as a teaching moment – developing your talents and being willing to use them in the Church, being in the right place at the right time, being willing to sacrifice, etc. I bet John Longhurst never realized how long-term his influence in an Orem ward would be!! 🙂
Finally popping in to respond to your comments. Michelle, my in-laws do remember your parents, and my husband (Paul, their oldest) says he went to school with your brother David. John was called as Tabernacle organist in 1977, so when he retired last year he’d been serving for 30 years.
The question my husband gets asked the most by people who know who his father: “Oh, do you play the organ too?” Nope, not a note, he doesn’t play any instruments, although he’s a pretty good singer and has a good musical ear.
The second most-asked question: “Is that a full time job?” Oh my goodness golly, YES, and then some! Paul swears that every Christmas season his dad would put an arm around his shoulder and say, “Son, when you grow up, get a desk job.” Every Sunday morning (Music and the Spoken Word broadcast) and every Thursday night (choir rehearsal) without fail, plus the daily organ recital at the Tabernacle, his personal practice time, meetings with the Choir staff, scouting locations for tours, extra rehearsals when performances are coming up, recording sessions, being HEAVILY involved with the design and installation of the Conference Center organ, giving VIP tours of the Tabernacle/Conference Center when needed… you get the idea.
Yes, it has involved some sacrifice, but I think the family accepted that and dealt with it. My perception, coming into the family, was that they were all fairly blase about it–it was just Dad’s job, and those were the hours he worked. They might have different stories to tell if you were to ask them, but those are their stories, not mine!
Well, that is pretty cool that your in-laws remember my parents, and that Paul remembers my bro David. 30+ years is quite a long time to remember (by name) those in a former ward! I’m glad that Paul has memories of the 7 yr old David and not the teenage David… 😉
I can understand how the family would just accept the time constraints and view it as “just Dad’s job.” Ray used to travel with his former job, and others would ask all the time how we did it. We just did; that was the way things were!
“Son, when you grow up, get a desk job.” LOL! So did Paul take his advice?!
Yup. He’s the director of data warehousing for an online retailer. We did the travel thing, too, for four years, and people would always ask how we did it. My response was like yours–we just did! Now, though, I look back and think, “How DID I do that?!?”