Several years ago, I attended the 2000 BYU Women’s Conference. It was the first time I was privileged to go. I remember being amazed as I sat in the Marriot Center, looking at the thousands of women there. There were women from all over the country. We all wore a name tag with our names on them and where we were from. I remember feeling a kinship with everyone there. There was no way to know everyone that was there, but as we all raised our voices in song, we were united. We were all sisters.
During the next few weeks, I kept thinking about that experience, and tried to write a song that could capture the feelings I felt. I couldn’t do it. Words were so difficult for me. I kept starting and giving up. I attended the next years conference, and felt the same way. I kept feeling those nudges to write the song. Unfortunately, I still couldn’t get the words to convey the feelings that I felt. Through a series of interesting events, I was put in contact with a dear sister, Susan Noyes Anderson, who helped to write lyrics for the song which ended up being titled, “Women of God”.
I showed the song to Michael Moody, who was head of the Church’s Music department at the time. I told him that I felt like it should be performed at the coming Women’s Conference that year. He told me that the song was very good, and that he would set up the performance. Later that year, there was a misunderstanding, and the song was entered, by mistake, into the Church’s music contest. The song got lost, and never ended up being performed. I attended that next Women’s Conference, and Sheri Dew gave a wonderful talk that I will never forget entitled, “Women of God”. I cried through the entire address. This was where, I felt, my song should have been performed. Sheri Dew actually quoted almost the entire song! I couldn’t believe how well the song would have fit with her talk, but it just wasn’t meant to be.
Now, in 2008, I had the amazing opportunity to sing at Women’s Conference. I know it was meant to be. I had many miracles that made it possible. Jessica Perry and I sang the duet that I’d written for our “New Beginnings” program in January, “I Will Stay With You”. I found it another unlikely coincidance that the speakers titled their address, “Women of God”.
Singing at Women’s Conference was a wonderful experience. I was quite nervous just before we sang, but being on the stage, and performing was a lot of fun. I enjoyed listening to Margaret Lifferth and Carolyn Toronto’s remarks, especially since again, the words of my song seemed to reinforce all that they had to say. I felt so blessed to be there. I appreciated all those that came to see us perform. My mother, and my mother in law were both there, as well as many from our ward. It was wonderful to feel their support.
Other than the exciting chance to walk through the BYU Bookstore and see my CD there, I also had another neat thing happen that day. That morning I received an email from a lady who wrote,
“I am writing from sunny Trinidad and I just love your songs. They are uplifting and soothing to the spirit. I attended a nun’s ordination and heard “Women of God” and fell in love with it, so much so I will be using it with my graduating class this year. I teach music at a girls’ convent here. 11-18yrs. Keep on writing. god has blessed you with tremendous talent.”
I never know what purpose the Lord may have for the songs that I write. I can guess, but I’m usually wrong. I’m just grateful that I have been able to be His instrument. For that I will always be grateful.