I LOVE playing the piano.
I’ve played it my whole life.
I was that high schooler who could sight read anything, accompanied choirs, played the organ in sacrament meeting, completed all my piano achievement levels and prepared for a college audition.
And I remember adult after adult telling me something like:
“Oh, I wish I could still play as well as I used to be able to play! I stopped practicing and now I’m not so good anymore. You are amazing!”
Suddenly, a piano college audition didn’t turn out how I expected, and I left for BYU without a formal piano professor anymore.
I kept teaching piano lessons here and there, but I didn’t have that same advanced repertoire to work on.
But I could still play all my old songs! Not with as much perfection, but I totally could have if I tried.
And slowly, over the years, I noticed that my signature pieces were just a little more difficult to play.
A couple of months ago, I was asked to accompany a few pieces for our ward Christmas program.
I glanced at the music and thought, “Oh, this will be easy”.
And as I ran through it, I was SO FRUSTRATED.
I knew these notes. I knew these chords.
But my fingers just could not keep up.
It was the first time that I realized that my skills had significantly slipped.
And it made my heart sink.
Of course, 10 years without any sustained efforts to grow my piano talents would cause them to slip.
I know that logically.
But I also thought I was too good to let it happen to me.
I remember the first time I heard that a beloved, stalwart youth leader of mine had left the church.
There was no way!
And yet, the Lord told the early church members:
“Therefore let the church take heed and pray always, lest they fall into temptation; Yea, and even let those who are sanctified take heed also.” D&C 20:33-34
Our testimonies are never “safe”.
“Because we have a strong testimony doesn’t mean it will always remain that way.” – Barbara Thompson
We’ve never been too good, too righteous, had a big enough calling, or made too many covenants that we can’t start to fall away from God.
And so I have started to consider— what am I doing each day in order to keep my testimony safe?
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
4 Responses
Yep, this could have been my story with the piano. Growing up in West Virginia, I was known as the guy who played the piano in high school. Girls loved it, I played all the time for people, accompanied many times in high school and college, played the organ in every ward I’ve ever been in since I joined the Church. I Was a piano performance major in college before I switched to a more practical major and grad school degree. And as always, time speeds on and you lose the talent and some of your ability when you’re not keeping on top of it. I did find though, once I decided to start playing again, it didn’t take too long to come back to me. I’ll probably never be to the level I was in high school or college, but I can still play and sound really good. Thus it was also with the Gospel. For a spell, either out of anger or hurt, after I separated from my wife, I quit doing those things to keep my testimony strong. I didn’t pray, I didn’t read the Scriptures. I went to Church for purely the social aspect. And I fell into temptation. It wasn’t until I had a dream, that I knew came from God, that I got “back on the horse”. My testimony, unlike my piano playing skills, grew back sharper and stronger than ever. I know it’s important to keep your testimony safe. And it’s by doing the little things every day. Read – even for just a few minutes. Talk to Heavenly Father. Go to Church and serve in the Temple.
I love this! Thanks for sharing your experiences and testimony with me! <3
I love this reminder. I have come to realize I need to be careful what I read and listen to. Even though the video or article may be by a member…and start out fine. I am grateful for the spirit’s warnings.
I’m grateful for them too!