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Mormon Tabernacle Choir
By Steven Fales | July 23, 2010
On the Eve of Pioneer Day (Utah’s biggest holiday!) I feel inspired to talk about the very best of my people. Unquestionably, the very finest the Mormon Church has to offer is simply the finest choir in the world. That is why it is impossible to call the Mormon church pure two-dimensional evil. Because there is goodness. And there is beauty.
“I often take my children to see live performances of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square. The choir represents the very best of my people. I want my children to know where they come from. My children are the hope of the Mormon Church–if they choose to play a part. I don’t believe in “church” anymore, but I will never give up on my people. Though I’m not longer a Latter-day Saint, something about me will always be Mormon.” (Afterward of the book Confessions of a Mormon Boy.)
I couldn’t stomach church after my excommunication, but I wanted to teach my children goodness and spirit. So we would go to “church” at the Tabernacle. Oh, the tears my children have seen me shed listening to the choir. And then we would go to brunch at the Market Street Grill all dressed up in Sunday clothes that daddy bought (sometimes from Bloomingdale’s!).
When I hear the Grammy Award-winning Mo-Tab Choir, as in this simple, serene, calm, haunting hymn, I am feel like I’m Frankenstein compelled to follow, arms up and staggering, toward the sweet music of a beckoning violin. “You can take the kid out of the tabernacle, but you can’t take the tabernacle out of the kid.” Well, that’s what the Village Voice said about me!
Topics: Steven Fales | 3 Comments »
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:38 pm
I agree. Also, might I add that one of the most accepting, loving, open and honest LDS members I know is a singer in the MoTab Choir.
He and his wife accept me as I am…gay, apostate and all.
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I think one of two regrets is that I will never sing in this choir or play the organ in the temple when I’m old. The other is that I wanted three kids. But I’m grateful for the two I have. What a gift and blessing.
July 24th, 2010 at 3:42 am
People of all these religions and other groups that so many are rejected from need to recognize that when they excommunicate you, they refuse to talk to you. This should in no way stop you from communicating with them. And I do not mean fawning over nor begging them for their acceptance. I mean judging them. ‘Judge not that ye be not judged…’ They judge now you can judge them back. I mean they must be perfect, right? As for me when I find the imperfections for these religious hypocrites I gladly and mercilessly let them hear and feel my full wrath. When you stop behaving yourselves you’ll get your self-respect. Don’t even look for their respect. Why do you want their respect? Why do you/we continue to respect them. They need to EARN respect. If you let your respect be bullied, that makes you a coward. This also puts you at their mercy and they have proven to be merciless. Also don’t make excuses for them. Let them make their own excuses. Save your compassion for the victims of the religious SOB’s. I am talking about almost ALL the “western” religions.