The gospel dispensation initiated by the Savior among the Nephites as well as the Restoration brought forth by Joseph Smith were the inspiration for "Bring Forth My Zion," a sacred music service commissioned for Brigham Young University-Idaho and performed by the school's Symphony Orchestra, Collegiate Singers and Men's and Women's choirs last weekend.
The work, composed by K. Newell Dayley for BYU-Idaho's biennial "Sacred Music Series," premiered at Idaho State University on March 8, followed by another performance at BYU-Idaho on March 9. The tour culminated with a concert at the Salt Lake Tabernacle on March 10, attended by thousands of audience members.
Conducted by faculty member Randall Kempton, the school's choirs joined with the orchestra, led by Brother Dayley and Nathan L. Hofheins, and accompanied baritone soloist David Olsen and tenor soloist Alex Withers, who also narrated the oratorio.
Each of the performance's three acts began with narrations from the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants or Pearl of Great Price. Act I, titled "A Dispensation of Zion," began with Brother Withers speaking as Mormon in 3 Nephi, where Mormon recorded Jesus Christ's visit to the Nephites. Act II, "The Restoration," focused on Joseph Smith's role as Prophet of the Restoration and began with his own account of entering the Sacred Grove to pray.
The final act, titled "Latter-day Zion," featured a reading from 1 Nephi 13:37, where Nephi recorded in vision the words of Christ, who said, "Blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day."
Composer K. Newell Dayley is known for writing the text of "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" and "I Feel My Savior's Love," which both appear in the Church's Hymns, as well as for penning and composing "Faith in Every Footstep," a popular LDS hymn that gives homage to Latter-day pioneers. He wrote the "Bring Forth My Zion" oratorio last fall.
"The purpose of this musical work is to help us realize and remember how to become more like those of old who were of one heart and one mind and lived together in righteousness and happiness," Brother Dayley said in a BYU-Idaho news release. "There were no poor among them. There was no contention. There was no bondage. They were all made free and partakers of heaven's gifts."
A departure from traditional oratorios, which feature orchestras and choirs accompanying soloist singer-narrators, "Bring Forth My Zion" also added audience interaction. Audience members were encouraged to participate by joining in the singing at specific parts of the oratorio, all of which was printed in the program. One of those moments came when the choir sang "Faith in Every Footstep," where the audience combined with those on stage to sing the hymn's chorus as the Tabernacle lights were temporarily brightened.
Brother Kempton said he enjoyed the interactivity of the event because it helped the audience members express their own testimonies.
"As a university, we hope it is a spiritual experience for all who come, whether or not they are members of the Church," he said.
The concert tour was part of the school's continuing commitment to the creation of gospel-centered works.
The next "Sacred Music Series" tour is planned for spring 2014.
