Dear Jackie,

I just can't thank you enough for the wonderful musical and spiritual experiences you have helped create for us in the Augusta Georgia Stake over the past 19 years.  I've been sitting here trying to come up with the right words that express what the Stake Choir and musical performances under your direction have meant to me and it's hard because the memories just keep flooding in.  There are so many: your unique blend of humor and serious direction that kept us men focused on the music (most of the time); the friendships we gained as we got to know people in the Stake we wouldn't have met otherwise; all the times I had to fight back tears during our performances because the Spirit was so strong; how our combined choir performance of "Faith in Every Footstep" at a regional conference was described as rivaling that of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; the light-hearted program of "Broadway" music where I learned that I could almost sing 2nd tenor; the Easter program that touched the hearts of one of my non-member co-workers; the somber performance after 9/11, where we were able to lift our spirits with music we didn't realize we had practiced for just that occasion; and, of course, our performance at the cornerstone ceremony for the Columbia South Carolina Temple.  As part of my gratitude for your marvelous direction over the years, I thought I'd share what I wrote about our experience at the Temple:


"On Saturday, 16 October 1999, my wife, Fawn, and I arrived at 6:30 am to participate in the Cornerstone Choir (also known as the ‘outside choir’). The cornerstone ceremony was to take place about 8:00 am.  It was a beautiful morning, even though Hurricane Irene was threatening to bring rain the next day.  We practiced for about 45 minutes while the sound equipment was being set up, and had a devotional for the choir in a wonderful little courtyard on the east side of the Temple. 

"After the devotional, we began gathering to our assigned place near the cornerstone.  At about that time, we heard that President Hinckley was in the Temple with Elder Oaks and Elder Ballard.  I was pretty nervous about the service but knew the Lord would bless us to perform well--we had been practicing hard for several weeks.  (The hardest part for some was memorizing the music.)  While we were waiting for the service to begin, the sun was just coming up and beginning to shine on the statue of Moroni.  We all thought how appropriate it was for our first song, “The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee.”  (The arrangement we sang was written for the Oakland Temple Dedication.)

"At about 8:10, we were given the sign to start singing.  Shortly after we began, Pres. Hinckley and the others emerged from the Temple.  We had a great view of the Temple entrance from where we were standing, but we were all concentrating on the choir director, so the most we could tell was there was a large group gathering near the cornerstone and some of the group were dressed completely in white.  The song went very well--everyone was pleased with our performance.  President Hinckley thanked us for the song and then welcomed everyone to the ceremony.  He was full of energy and in fine form.  The first thing he said after the welcome was, “I wonder what the neighbors think?”  (I’m sure we could be heard a good distance away--the sound system had some good-sized speakers.)  He then made a few remarks and said something like, “I guess it’s time to see if we can put some mud on this cornerstone.”

"President Hinckley took the trowel first, and added some mortar in the crack around the cornerstone.  Not all of the mortar made it into the crack, so he said, “I guess we should have had a cloth to clean this off.”  Elder Ballard happened to have a tissue, so he wiped off the excess mortar.  Then Elder Oaks was given the trowel.  After he finished, Elder Ballard asked if he should wipe off the excess again, and Pres. Hinckley quipped, “Yes, you’d better clean up Elder Oaks’ mess.”  Elder Ballard took his turn and while he was carefully applying the mortar, Pres. Hinckley remarked, “It’s a good thing we didn’t have Elder Ballard build this Temple.  At this rate, it wouldn’t be complete until 2007.”  After Elder Ballard was finished, Pres. Hinckley asked Sis. Hinckley and the other wives to take a turn.  As Sis. Hinckley made her attempt, not getting much mortar in the proper place, Pres. Hinckley reminded her that “It’s a trowel, Dear, not a spoon.”   After the sisters and the members of the Temple Presidency had their turn, Pres. Hinckley asked a young boy and girl from the audience to come up and help.  He asked if they were brother and sister, and when they said “Yes”, he asked the girl if she got along with her brother.  I think she said yes.  At any rate, President Hinckley remarked that “He’s probably a good boy, especially when he’s asleep.”  The boy and the girl had fun putting on the mortar, and Pres. Hinckley then asked anyone else to come up who wanted to try their hand at it.  As they did, he asked the choir to sing our second number, “Redeemer of Israel.”  It’s a great arrangement of the hymn, with a six part a Capella section for the men.  When we finished, President Hinckley thanked us several times.   I believe he was quite touched by our rendition.  He then said, “Well, we’re going back into the Temple now.”  And, almost as an afterthought, he said, “I’m not sure where you’re going...”  With that, the group departed the cornerstone area and reentered the Temple to participate in the first dedicatory session.

"Needless to say, we were all amazed at the energy and wit of our wonderful Prophet.  We felt it was a great privilege to sing for him and for the Lord.  Pres. Hinckley is a marvelous example of a man who can hold a position of great responsibility without becoming stuffy and serious all the time.  I suppose that helps to emphasize even more the times when he is serious."

Thank you so much for leading us on an amazing musical journey.  We love you and hope that the upcoming years are just as happy and fulfilling as they can be.

With my love and appreciation,

David Carlsen