Out in the audience, Carolyn waited anxiously for the music to begin. The performers
were new acquaintances of hers from the valley and the arrangement of the piece was one she
had created herself. She considered music to be a very important part of the worship service and
that it always should be done right. Like the fine carpentry work done by craftsman in the
construction of the chapel's interior, Carolyn’s arrangement also required special craftsmanship
and woodworking by the performers. In the design of this musical piece, Carolyn had worked in
a supporting role, anticipating an inspiring system of voice and instrument working together to
uplift the audience<\/span>. <\/p> <\/p>
Nevertheless, Carolyn’s mind was still unsettled as she sat with her children and
grandchildren occupying the first couple rows of the chapel. She had assumed all week that
Leanna would be sitting there beside her. And even at this late moment, she continued to hold
out hope, glancing toward the back every so often, checking the benches on both sides to see if
her friend had arrived.<\/p>
<\/p>
Without Leanna there, the performance of this special music wouldn't be the same.
Therefore, her feelings of depression now returned, as well as the earlier thoughts of failure. The <\/p>
Spirit had withdrawn from her temporarily, leaving her empty and sad. Not knowing what had
happened to Leanna, she assumed it was all her fault for not following up and confirming the
meeting time and place. She had failed as a friend, and also in her duty as a member-missionary.<\/p>
<\/p>
Lost in these sad deliberations, she only vaguely noticed the music had begun, beginning
with the violin accompaniment. Following the performance only mechanically, she wasn’t yet
listening or enjoying much of anything. But there was a beautiful slowness in the arrangement
she had made. Each note, each instrument vibration, and each chord was fully experienced—that
had been her plan. Like the delicious food she regularly prepared for her family at home in the
kitchen, these spices of music were blending together to create a quickening effect upon the
members of her ward. She couldn’t help but smile. It was really quite good! <\/p>
<\/p>
Soon the tenor and violin were both fully engaged in the piece. She started to discern the
note accuracy and flow of the music more closely. The music was true, she thought; there was no
need for her to stand up, stop the piece, and direct the performers to start all over again as she
had done numerous times in rehearsals. In fact, the music was better now than during the practice
sessions, somehow reaching a new level of quality in the performance. There was a flow of the
Spirit (the Spirit had returned to her), a Comforter-effect, creating a fuller sound for her ears to
hear and her soul to feel. The presence of the Spirit enhanced the emotion and legacy of the piece
for the audience, making use of Carolyn's arrangement along the way. The entire system of
sacred music was working—the selection of the piece, the performers, the arrangement, the
presence of the Spirit, the attentiveness of the audience following Grant’s talk. Great things were
happening! <\/p>
<\/p>
If only Leanna could be here!<\/i><\/p>
<\/p>
She looked towards the back rows of the chapel one last time, fully resigned to be
disappointed again. This time, however, she noticed something else. There were many more
empty seats on the back benches, not just the one unoccupied by Leanna. This thought had not
occurred to her before. There was actually a greater absence in the chapel. Alarmed, she looked
further, all around the chapel––sure enough, there were empty seats everywhere!<\/p>
<\/p>
Look at h<\/i>ow many <\/i>people are <\/i>missing<\/i> today<\/i>!<\/i> <\/i>Leanna<\/i> is not the only one who is not here<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>
<\/p>
A beautiful sacrament meeting program was taking place, but only half of the ward was
in attendance. There were at least one hundred, and maybe as many as two hundred members of
the ward who had not come—too many missing persons for the ward clerk to count as he made
his rounds through the aisles. It was a sobering assessment on her part. Her friend had not been
individually absent, but was part of a larger group of absentees. And to make matters worse, she
had not been joined at the foyer doors by more persons like herself, waiting for the others to
arrive. The other absentees had not been individually missed on this Sunday, being perhaps more
ordinary or systemic in their absences<\/span>. <\/p> <\/p>
As she looked towards the back of the chapel, she noticed something else: the sturdy
curtain separating the chapel from the cultural hall—it was closed. <\/p>
Why wa<\/i>s it closed this week?<\/i><\/p>
<\/p>
She recalled that, in the past, the divider curtain could be opened;<\/i> more seating could be
added back there. But no one had bothered to open up the curtain and set up additional chairs
today. Why not? Shouldn't all wards of the Church be overflowing in attendance every week,
requiring the use of the overflow space and the full capacity of the cultural halls? <\/p>
<\/p>
For surely, there were countless people in the ward, and throughout Utah County, both
inactive members and nonmembers, who would have enjoyed being present for Carolyn’s
festival of music and the Spirit. The souls of all those not in attendance were equal in value to the
souls of those who were attending, equally precious in the sight of the Lord, and excellent
candidates to fully embrace the gospel one day and receive exaltation in the kingdom of God. <\/p>
<\/p>
It wasn’t really a matter of them accepting or rejecting specific principles of the gospel.
They could come to church here on this day, still having their existing notions of God and
religion, bringing along with them their strengths, their weaknesses, and their children, too.
Coming to join in the festivities on this day, and continuing to attend in the years ahead, they
might have then had a fair chance in life to embrace the restored gospel and experience the
beautiful things of our Church—a free, trial membership without any commitment. They could
receive a few years of primary class lessons that they may have never been fortunate to have
received as children, a few years of milk before trying the meat. <\/p>
<\/p>
Carolyn pondered upon all of these things, almost unaware that the musical number had
finished, and that the closing prayer had started. As she closed her eyes and bowed her head, she
lamented the half-filled chapel.<\/p>
<\/p>
This is the<\/i> true<\/i> church<\/i> of God<\/i>. S<\/i>o<\/i>,<\/i> <\/i>where<\/i> <\/i>is everyone?<\/i><\/p>"}