‘Goosebumps Upon Goosebumps’: The Massive Reaction to a Children’s Choir’s Song of Jesus Christ
The powerful performance of a choir of children ages 8 to 13 — angels, according to many on social media — drew a massive public reaction on Saturday both during and after the afternoon session of the 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
By nightfall, the Instagram post of one of their songs — “Gethsemane” — had nearly 60,000 likes.
“They brought literal heaven into homes across the world today,” Brooke Delahunty wrote in the comments.
The song about the Atonement of Jesus Christ was written in 2007 by Melanie and Roger Hoffman. It was added to the church’s new hymnbook in May.
The crescendo of the arrangement sung on Saturday that got the most attention came in the middle of a verse about Christ’s suffering. The children, who wore white shirts and white dresses, sang:
“The hardest thing that ever was done, the greatest pain that ever was known, the biggest battle that ever was won—
And then the organ stopped, and after a pause, the children continued a cappella for the next two lines:
“This was done by Jesus! The fight was won by Jesus!”
When the organ returned the children sang reverently, “Gethsemane. Jesus loves me, So He gave His gift to me in Gethsemane.”
“Goosebumps upon goosebumps upon goosebumps. Absolutely stellar,” one commenter said.
“Little angels with angelic voices!” added Mckenna Flory Hooker.
“Voices of angels singing Gethsemane! When the organ stopped, ‘the fight was won by Jesus’ was unbelievably powerful. I had tears running down my face! Thank you!!” wrote Lesley Hunt.
“We were there, the whole place was crying happy tears!!!” Brianne Tennant wrote.
“Exactly! My 2-year-old daughter looked over and said, ‘Mommy crying!’ wrote Caitlin Wilson.
President Susan H. Porter, general president of the Primary, which serves millions of children around the world, said earlier this year that the song shows the depth of understanding children have of Jesus Christ.
“We often think that children can only understand at a very simple level,” she said, “but someone has written a hymn talking about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross in a way that (children) can understand that what happened in Gethsemane, even though it involved great suffering, was done out of love.
“You can hear 4- and 5-year olds sing ... ‘Gethsemane, Jesus loves me.’ That’s the message ... The song is ‘Jesus loves me,’ and that’s what I get from Gethsemane.”
The choir was made up of children from northern Utah who auditioned this summer. The director was Leslie Walker.
Head to Logan for funky fall fun with the fam. Two giant corn mazes, colorful leaves, hiking, perfect temps and Goldfish crackers.
Explore Logan for endless funky fall fun: two giant corn mazes, the colorful and creative North Logan Pumpkin Walk Oct. 10-15 with hundreds of carved pumpkins plus dozens of displays; a giant rock and gem show Oct. 11-12 and the American West Heritage Center’s Fall Harvest Festival Oct. 18-19. Visit Explorelogan.com/fall
See the three galleries of conference photos taken by our award-winning Deseret News photographers, one gallery for each session, here.
Conferencegoers line up before the evening session of the 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Brice Tucker, Deseret News)
President Russell M. Nelson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, waves to the crowd as he joins his counselors, President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, and President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency, at the afternoon session of the 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
Conferencegoers rest their heads on each other as they listen to Elder Neil L. Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, speak during the morning session of the 194th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Isaac Hale, Deseret News)
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