As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe that the United States of America “is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ” (Ether 2:12). Because of this belief, Sister Jessica Valdez and Brother Dale Bohman felt inspired to honor our great nation with a special Patriotic Concert held on June 29, 2024 at the Saint Cloud Florida Stake Center located on Old Canoe Creek Road.
As the Saint Cloud Florida Stake Music Director, Sister Valdez has a wonderful and unique perspective on how music can bless our congregations as well as those not of our faith. She shares, “I have always thought that music is such an important part of the Church. I know how music makes people feel the Spirit. Music communicates straight to the heart of the listener.” A chapel full of around 150 people at the Patriotic Concert can attest to her words. With a special emphasis on veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the Saint Cloud Stake Choir honored those brave men and women through moving renditions of our National Anthem, Your a Grand Old Flag, the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and more! The choir currently consists of twenty-four men and women, and Sister Valdez is hoping to expand those numbers. She would love to “recruit more choir members, both from our church and the community. My vision is to train a choir to come together and perform high-quality concerts for the community that would open the doors to our church and welcome many people that would normally not know who the Latter-day Saints are and what we believe in.”
Sister Valdez’s vision is definitely becoming a reality! Members of the community who attended were touched by the Spirit the Saint Cloud Stake Choir brought. Helen “Dottie” Adams, Founder and President of Connecting the Dots for Veterans, shared: “The Patriotic choir concert was an amazing experience. I could not stop smiling as the different songs were sung. As a veteran, I was deeply honored and will do everything [I can] to showcase this amazing program throughout the community.” Other community members in the audience communicated that they felt so peaceful in our church building and how impressed they were with the entire concert.
The Saint Cloud Stake Choir and Sister Jessica Valdez are truly bringing “forth out of obscurity and out of darkness” (D&C 1:30) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Osceola County. Our stake has been so richly blessed with such an amazing missionary tool. Let us do our part to continue to share the Light of our Savior Jesus Christ with the community by sharing the events hosted by this choir.
St. Cloud Florida Stake Blog 