Angels in the Choir: How One Woman
Connected With Her Mother During Conference, a Decade After Her Passing
For many, the typical associations made with general conference
include live music performed by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. However,
as President Russell M. Nelson promised at the close of the October 2019
general conference, the April 2020 general conference would be anything but
typical.
The bicentennial celebration held memorable changes and events
including, for the first time in decades, the lack of a live choir. Like many
Church members, Megan Limburg watched this April’s general conference with
anticipation and excitement— knowing that it would be “memorable and
unforgettable.” Because of global health concerns, Limburg knew there would be
adjustments to the live music and that recordings were to be used. But while
watching Saturday’s sessions, Limburg noticed that the music recordings dated
not only in recent years but some as far back as a decade. As she watched the
choir, Limburg wondered if she might see a familiar face—her deceased mother.
A Memorable and Unforgettable Conference
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, attendance at conference was
limited to strictly those participating and even then, it was clear that those present
practiced social distancing. Although the recognizable presence of the
Tabernacle Choir was not in attendance, prerecorded hymns were broadcasted.
The Deseret News reported that President
Nelson recognized nearly two months ago that the coronavirus outbreak might
disrupt the upcoming conference. He requested that the choir begin to record
the hymns planned for April’s conference in advance. The recordings were done a
few at a time, until Utah’s state and local governments issued restrictions on
assembling in groups. Thus, the music for the April 2020 general conference was
a combination of recordings made before restrictions and some recordings from
years past.
For many choir members, current or former, it was the chance to
spot themselves and friends and relive special memories. But for Megan Limburg
it was more than just a recognition—it was a gift from Heaven.
An Angelic Choir
It wasn’t until the Sunday morning session that Limburg’s mother,
a former member of the Tabernacle Choir, made an appearance. Limburg was
watching the beginning of the session with her family when a 2009 recording of
the song, “This is My Beloved Son,” was used.
“As soon as the song came on, my oldest son said, ‘Mom [the
recording] is back from when Grandma was in the choir.’ Then, she popped up
right at the very beginning and we just felt an overwhelming sense of
love—there were tears,” Limburg said.
When asked what this experience meant for her, Limburg replied, “I
was expecting conference to be memorable but I wasn’t expecting that angels
would be singing with the choir...it was a testimony to us that angels were a
part of this historic conference.”
Limburg explained that this was something her mom believed in even
while she was on earth. While growing up, Limburg remembers her mom sharing her
feeling that there were extra voices singing with the Tabernacle Choir—voices
from heaven.
Sharing a “Treasured Gift”
Limburg’s mother, a member of the Tabernacle Choir for 16 years,
prided herself on being a musical missionary and sharing the gospel all over
the world. It was the opportunity to share her testimony through music. She
says her mom felt it was “a beautiful gift that she was given.”
Limburg said that singing in the Tabernacle Choir was everything
for her mother. Limburg also spoke about some of the health challenges her
mother faced. “She actually battled cancer multiple times and she had a tumor
that wrapped around her vocal chords. Her biggest fear would be that should be
alive and not be able to sing again,” she recalls.
Yet, Limburg’s mother continued to share her “treasured gift” with
the world until the time of her passing a decade ago—almost to the day.
In a recent Facebook post, Limburg wrote about her experience:
“How fitting that just a week away from 10 years after her passing she gets to
sing again in a special general conference to share her unwavering testimony of
Jesus Christ with her grand babies and many of you as well.”
Limburg concluded her post with the hashtag “#familiesareforever.”
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