I feel kinda silly right now. I’m sitting at work, and trying to find a song that conveys my feelings about you. And I’m crying. That’s right – I’m crying, because as I listen to these songs, I know that someday you’re going to grow up and leave, and it breaks my heart. I haven’t even met you yet, and I’m already sad to see you go.
I don’t want to give you away to some young punk. I don’t want you to grow up and move away, to not need me anymore. You’re my little girl, and I love you more than you know. I am beginning to understand the love parents have for their children. I can’t wait to meet you, baby girl.
The last year and a half, I’ve served in Primary of the Heatheridge 6th Ward. I’d been a substitute teacher before, but this was my first church calling serving with the children at church. I was called as the Primary pianist – technically as one of the pianists, since there seem to be fewer callings to go around in Utah wards. Too many active members of the Church – not a bad problem to have. I loved playing the piano – it was in my comfort zone, and I got to listen to all the funny things the kids say in Primary.
Well, last summer, our wonderful Primary chorister up and moved on us. We were very sad to see her go – she was so much fun, and I loved serving with her. But guess who they called as the new Primary music leaders? Kristen and me!
At first we were super-nervous about it. I’ve never directed music before, and for some reason, little kids seem imposing. Maybe it’s because you have to work to keep their attention. As Rebekah (our predecessor) told us, you always need to have some sort of a “gimmick” to keep them engaged. A game, or props, or pictures, or all three. Something.
But as we’ve had the privilege to teach music to these wonderful children for the last year, to see some of them graduate Primary and go on to young men’s and young women’s, it’s not so scary. And we’ve learned that they’ve really been teaching us all along. I think I’ve become a more humble person, a more soft-spoken person (although at the same time, you DO have to speak up sometimes in Primary), a more kind person, simply by being around these awesome kids.
And I say they’re awesome – sometimes a couple of them are punks, it’s true. But if you threaten them with coming up front to sing a solo…and then actually follow through with it…they learn that you mean business. And they also learn that singing can be fun. And you still love them and think they’re great. The best I’ve ever felt about a calling was when I heard that a little girl in Primary told her mom she wished they would do singing time for all of Primary – that it was never long enough.
I think I’ve always secretly been an “aspirer.” I never sought after it, but I always kinda wanted to have that teaching position, or that leadership position. It makes you feel good when you know the Lord has that kind of confidence in you. And I like to teach – it’s enjoyable, definitely. But nothing compares to being in the Primary. I now know why this is my mom’s favorite calling, and I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing of teaching music to his sweet children.
Here are some of our favorite moments/quotes from Primary:
Leader: “What’s General Conference?”
Kid: “He was a soldier.”
Leader: “Does the Holy Ghost have a body?”
Kids: “No!”
Bela: “He only has a head!”
Leader: “Who’s the third member of the Godhead? There’s Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and…?”
Abby: “Nephi?”
Leader: “What’s so special about your family?”
Bela: “My mommy and daddy sleep together.”
Caitlin: “I testify that the prophets are like the living God, but not, because they’re different…”
Leader (showing pictures of people and asking how we can serve them): “What can you do to help a blind person?”
Sarah: “You can say, ‘Don’t go over there! That’s a nitro glycerin plant!’”
