Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Editor's note: The LDS Genesis Group Gospel Choir originally stated The Genesis Group was under the direction of Elder Stephen B. Allen, a member of the fifth Quorum of the Seventy. That has now been corrected to Elder David T. Warner, also a member of the fifth Quorum of the Seventy. SALT LAKE CITY — A choir within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints beautifully demonstrates the spirit of praise as they perform gospel music.
The LDS Genesis Group Gospel Choir performs at monthly firesides at 6710 S. 1300 East in Cottonwood Heights, where they open up the meeting with music, sing with the congregation and teach the congregation a traditional gospel hymn, according to Choir Director Ellie Mae.
The choir sings some slower songs, but some are more upbeat than typical LDS congregational music.
"...we definitely stomp, we clap, we sway ... we do the whole show," Mae said. "It's a lot of fun, and we definitely praise the Lord."
Mae said there are a couple of types of the Spirit — the spirit of reverence and the spirit of praise.
"People come up to us all the time, and they're so grateful for the opportunity to sit and to praise the Lord with us," Mae said. "I mean, it says in the Bible that they used to sing and dance and clap and that they would shout 'hallelujah' 'thank you, Jesus.' They were so grateful that their bodies couldn't sit still."
Audience participation is welcomed during the choir's performances. Mae said people can shout "amen" if they feel so inclined and sing along or dance.
Membership in the LDS Church is not required to attend. In fact, the choir is a missionary effort, and many people come from other religions to hear the songs they were raised with.
"Most people that attend Genesis will say that the spirit that is found there is unmatched by any other service they've ever attended," Mae said. "It is truly phenomenal and definitely something worth checking out."
The choir will perform at a fireside Oct. 4, starting at 6:40 p.m. Darius Gray, who was in the first Genesis Group presidency, will be the keynote speaker.
Contributing: Paul Nelson