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Maxine's Story
Meeting "Brigham" Young
She was a socialite from the beginning, this little girl, our last born—and Church time was the perfect place to employ her skills. She entered the Chapel each week happily looking for familiar faces----”MY FRIEND DONNA”--MY FRIEND EVA” or “MY FRIEND FRANCES”. With great joy she toddled off to sit with these dear women who in fact were MY friends but who made her feel loved and welcome! This was our routine---until one spring Sunday when our Beaverton Stake held a very special conference--one that included a visitor from Salt Lake, a General Authority whose name we all knew---S. Dilworth Young!
In preparation for this big event we were asked to prepare special music---and I joined the choir. We practiced our songs until we knew them well. One particular piece was new and difficult----repeated phrases with long 'rests'.---his took careful attention.
Our Director was a concert pianist and a perfectionist. We so respected her and tried to fulfill her expectations. It was going to be beautiful! We held the last practice an hour before the morning session began. At 9:40 we were given ten minutes to run out and get a drink of water---or bathroom visit---whatever----then get back to our assigned seats. My family was there---Hank---serving as a parking lot attendant and our two older children in charge of the two younger ones.
In the middle of the foyer I was accosted by a sobbing three year old---Susan was unglued. She threw her arms around my leg and hung on! I tried everything! No sibling in sight and certainly no hope of the parking attendant either---I named all the beloved friends----NO----she wanted her Mother. Now I had a seat waiting in that choir—and a mandate to sit there in about five minutes. In desperation I looked up and right into the face of President S. Dilworth Young. Pulling myself together I introduced ourselves and said to Susan, “this is President Young”. She did seem to be interested and stopped sobbing---but kept her iron grip on my leg. He asked if there was a problem. I briefly explained the situation while assuring him that this was a very happy and secure little girl who was having an unlikely and very unexpected meltdown. He said “take her with you” and I said “I have a reserved seat in the choir and there are no empty ones” (big choir), and he said “take her with you”. I said “I can't do that...there is no room” and he said “take her with you” and I said “I CAN'T” and he said “SISTER!!!! TAKE HER WITH YOU---TAKE HER TO THE CHOIR---TAKE HER TO CHOIR PRACTICE---TAKE HER TO THE MARKET---TAKE HER TO THE HAIR DRESSER---TAKE HER WHEREVER YOU GO!!!”
Well. There is an experience I hope never to have again.
How I hated to tell that choir director that she now had to include a three year old in her big performance---She was an Angel if ever there was one on earth---She simply said, “If President Young wants Susan in the choir then it must be”---and she quickly made the arrangement.....
The meeting began and I whispered to Susan that she must be very quiet and NOT SING---We began with our special song.....It didn't take her long to figure out the words and she joined right in, somehow managing every rest! Happy Happy little girl. The other songs were pretty easy and she sang them with enthusiasm! Several times she beamed up at me and said “Oh aren't you glad I got to sing in the Choir!”
I thought this meeting would never end but somehow it did. We sat there and watched the speakers leave the stage and disappear into the crowd. She looked up at me with that sweet innocent face puzzled and said, “Where did Brigham Young go?”
A phony! That is what she was! On Monday it began. “Come, we are going shopping-----NO----Well we will go someplace----NO----Any place----NO----Choir practice-----certainly not”. The fact is that was the one and only choir she has ever sung with. She had and still has interests of her own. Independent and secure she has lived her life 'doing it her way'. Friends galore----and no memory of that fateful day when she sang in the Choir for Brigham Young...
As for me, it was an experience I will always remember. Being shouted at by a General Authority is one you do not forget.
Since that time I have had the privilage of meeting and having personal conversations with others from Salt Lake. President Joseph Fielding Smith, Mark E Peterson, Richard Wirthlin and Dallin Oaks....Precious moments with sweet and inspiring words---Do I remember them? Not really---and if there were any messages, they are gone too. But S. Dilworth Young's words are seared in my head. This is what I learned---Obedience, Obedience and oh yes, Obedience.
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