Converted Unto the Lord • Winter 2024
Creative Team
Rachel Ellingson
Rachel Ellingson
Rachel Ellingson
Director, Composer, Pianist
Rebecca Miess
Rachel Ellingson
Rachel Ellingson
Conductor
Sarah Dalley
Rachel Ellingson
Blake Sharette
Stage Manager, Audio Engineer
Blake Sharette
Rachel Ellingson
Blake Sharette
Audio Engineer
Peggy Reeder
Morgan Chidester
Morgan Chidester
Social Media Manager
Morgan Chidester
Morgan Chidester
Morgan Chidester
Catering
Kylee Murdock
Morgan Chidester
Cristian Torres
President
Cristian Torres
Morgan Chidester
Cristian Torres
Production Manager
Director's Note
I should never have been able to write an oratorio like this, or even an oratorio at all! Especially at the pace that it was written. I did not study music in college, and I have never written anything for an orchestra in my life. All my previous projects were small scale endeavors compared to this. When I first got the prompting to write this oratorio in 2018, I was very excited and a little nervous. I envisioned it just being a work for soloists and piano. As I began working on the pieces, it truly felt like the music would flow out of me. I would study the scriptures and think about the individual who would be singing, then I would sit at the piano and turn on my voice memo app, and play and sing whatever came out. Several of the oratorio’s main themes and songs were recorded as audio files during this time.
As the year went on, I got busy, as most of us do, and distracted with other projects. I produced a few original albums of church hymns and youth music style songs, and then felt inspired to audition to be a Nauvoo performing missionary. I had the incredible privilege of serving as a performing missionary in 2021, followed by two summers as the pianist for the Nauvoo Pageant Core Cast and Family Cast. These experiences enriched my life and strengthened my testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel, and in addition, God also used them as a way for me to connect with individuals with the same goal as I had: to “sing redeeming love” or to use their musical talents and abilities to bring people to Christ.
In November of 2022, I had a distinct prompting to start a musical fireside group to utilize the talents of the returned Nauvoo missionaries and pageant performers. Incredibly, I found out that two of my friends, Cristian Torres and Kylee Murdock, had received the same prompting. We banded together and started this non-profit organization, Heart+Voice. From the beginning, I knew that God had opened the way for me to fulfill this prompting from way back in 2019. Cris and Kylee were very supportive. We produced our first show last spring, our second show last fall, and finally, now Converted Unto the Lord.
In order to have time to write the show, I quit my full time job last October and got to writing full time. I cannot help but testify that God’s hand has been in this, directing me, giving me the melodies, the lyrics, the ideas, the creativity and the strength to push forward. At times I got hit with depression, and still, He carried me to the finish line. He found ways to teach me the musical themes and lyrics in my everyday life experiences, such as a rhythm from a bird I heard while on a walk, or a time signature from a song at a middle school choir concert. Revelation came while folding laundry or raking leaves, and ESPECIALLY while serving in the temple. So many of these songs sound nothing like the melodies I typically write. God made it flow out of me, and I cannot take the credit for it.
I have often felt like Joseph Smith, an inexperienced, uneducated, young girl who God used to bring forth His word. Just as Joseph did not write the Book of Mormon, I did not write this oratorio. It was translated from heaven by the gift and power of God. I truly feel that the individuals we are portraying today influenced much of the work I did from beyond the veil.
I have also felt like Nephi, who was taught by God how to build a ship and how to make the tools to do so. I can truly say with Nephi, that “If God had commanded me to do all things, I could do them.” It has strengthened my testimony immensely. With Ammon, I testify that “in His strength, I can do all things.”
President Nelson recently shared, “What would you do if you had more faith? Think about it. Write about it. Then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.” What is it that you feel prompted to do? What is God calling you to do with your abilities, resources, and time? Think about it, write about it, and do it! Just as Nephi asked his brothers, I ask you, “If the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct [you]?” (1 Nephi 17: 51) I testify with the angel Gabriel that “with God, nothing shall be impossible.”
Abish
Abish surely must have been a woman of great courage. Though she was just a servant girl, she had faith and acted upon that faith. We learn that she “ran forth from house to house” (Alma 19:17), inviting people to come and see for themselves. We also know that she had been a convert for many years, but had never made it known to others. It is my belief that her example of love and kindness and light prepared King Lamoni and his wife to the point that they would be receptive to Ammon’s message. The following comes from Book of Mormon Central scholars:
“Abish was remarkable for many reasons. First, she is one of only six named women in the Book of Mormon. The name Abish most likely derives from the Hebrew elements ab (“father”) and ish (“man”), and straightforwardly means “father (is a) man.” But more than just that, there appears to be a deliberate pun on her name in this passage that highlights an important doctrinal teaching. Right after Mormon wrote the name Abish (“father is a man”), he immediately follows with the detail that she had “been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father” (Alma 19:16, emphasis added).
“This could be understood as saying that Abish was converted by a vision that her earthly father had previously had, or that she had seen a vision of her earthly father perhaps after his death. Alternatively, and possibly most likely, it may signal that she herself had a vision of her Heavenly Father, or of Jesus Christ, the “Eternal Father” of heaven and earth, as He is called by Abinadi (Mosiah 15:1–4).
“Only Abish understood what was truly happening, when others were puzzled and conflicted. Because this woman was not deterred by her fears, many people heard the queen’s testimony firsthand, as she bore witness that the Redeemer of the world would be born of a woman. Abish was specifically mentioned as having played a crucial role as a spiritual midwife at the turning point of this commencement of this first Nephite missionary success among the Lamanites.”
Read more about Abish here:
https://knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-was-abish-mentioned-by-name
King Lamoni's Wife
King Lamoni’s wife is declared by Ammon to have more faith than he had ever seen among the Nephites. It appears that she may have been well prepared and influenced by her converted servant Abish, or perhaps her goodness drew her to appoint Abish, as “virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light” (D&C 88:40). King Lamoni’s wife had an important spiritual gift—believing the testimony of others—and through this gift, she worked in unity with her husband to convert the rest of her people. I love King Lamoni’s wife’s fervent testimony, proclaimed as Abish raises her up from an unconscious state: “Blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell!” This is a woman who knew the Savior and understood how to draw upon His power. Her testimony was the first one to be heard by the multitude which gathered. She is very likely someone who strongly influenced the mothers of the stripling warriors to model unshakeable faith in God.
King Lamoni’s Father’s Wife
King Lamoni’s Father’s Wife
King Lamoni’s father’s wife is portrayed in the Book of Mormon to have walked right in on the scene which she thought was the death of her husband. Her reactions of anger and fear are completely understandable, especially with the understanding that anger is a common part of the grieving process. We learn that King Lamoni’s father’s wife had a strong personality and a powerful ability to influence others, as the scriptures report, “Now when Aaron saw the determination of the queen … he put forth his hand and raised the king from the earth” (Alma 22:22). We also know that she was included in the “whole household” who “were converted unto the Lord” by her husband’s ministering (Alma 22:23). With her gift of determination, she must have been a powerful force for good for her people after her conversion.
Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah
My love for and understanding of these men has grown exponentially as I have written this oratorio. Back in 2018 when I first started writing the music, the sons of Mosiah had a different theme song at the point in the show when they were deciding to serve missions and also a different theme song for when they were in prison. However, I did not feel right about keeping either in the oratorio. As I prayed and reviewed scripture, I was struck by the frequency of the word “perhaps” in Mosiah 28:2: “That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred towards the Nephites.” I love the word “perhaps,” how it presents a sense of hope and uncertainty—which is what I believe faith is. I also noticed for the first time the following phrase “they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever. And it came to pass that they did plead with their father many days that they might go” (Mosiah 28:4-5).
It finally clicked for me that the reasons they may have felt so strongly about going to the Lamanites were: (1) They still felt afraid for their own salvation, and wanted to do more for God’s work, and (2) They knew that if God could change them, “the very vilest of sinners” then God could also change their enemies, the murderous Lamanites (Mosiah 28:4). I doubt that other righteous men at that time would have had that realization and motivation. I would guess that God had been preparing them specifically for these missions, and was able to use their bad choices and experiences to bless others. I believe He can do the same in our lives.
Another fascinating thing I learned is that Alma the Elder was in fact 72 years old when the angel appeared to his son, meaning that Alma and the sons of Mosiah may not have been as young as we may usually assume. In that respect, their conversion is even more miraculous, as they had changed their ways so much later in life. These men inspire me with their testimonies of Christ, humility, and their tireless efforts to preach the word of God throughout their lives. In this year’s Come Follow Me, I hope you will enjoy reading about them as much as I have!