OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE MASTERY SERIES

Ahhhhh!!! I don't teach seminary anymore this year! Such trauma! : )

BUT I am still committed to studying and completing my scripture mastery video helps. I started out teaching Old Testament my first year of seminary and the genesis (no pun intended...or maybe intended)  of using video to help my students happened shortly after the first few scripture mastery verses were introduced. I realized that this new generation of MTV and texting culture needed something more relevant and 'hip' to help them memorize. I don't know if this is effective in the long-run but it has provided me nearly 4 years of engagement among my students. They LOVE memorizing their scripture mastery verses this way. So.... here's the first.

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Four years ago, the then seminary president, Nathan Camp, a gifted jazz saxophone player collaborated with me on a song that I wrote to introduce the seminary theme for the year which was based on the first 2 scripture mastery verses. The making of the song is an interesting story in itself. After a few days of pondering, it suddenly occurred to me that what I needed to start writing the song was a "hook". So one morning, I had a more specific favour to ask God...I needed Him to provide me with a "hook" so I can begin writing. After a few moments on bended knees, the 'hook' came to me...it was "make us one mind and one heart". I then hurriedly went down, sat on my piano and began to write the music with the lyrics. It only took 45 minutes to write this song after a prayer with an inspired, specific plea. I had never before written anything this fast...let alone lyrics with a melody. You can hear Nathan's saxophone improvisation midway into the song. Gail Bennett-deJesus, an actress/singer who plays the role of Queen Esther in one of the CES OT videos, generously and gamely recorded the vocals for us. My daugther, Hannah, plays the piano and my son, Jordan, provided the bass line.

This video was shown during a couple of seminary breakfast/morningsides. Please enjoy!

3 Nephi 11:29

Ahora, vamos a apreder esta escritura maravillosa. Podeis memorizarla en 2 pasadas? Ole!

Original Music: ONE MIND ONE HEART

Music and Lyrics: Christie Faux
Vocals: Gail Bennett
Saxophone: Nathan Camp
Piano: Hannah Faux
Bass and Rhythm Guitars: Jordan Faux

Gail Bennett, talented actress and singer is now playing the lead role of Mary Poppins in Los Angeles. You might recognize her as the actress who plays ESTHER in the Seminary and Institute Old Testament Videos.

Nathan Camp graduated from Green Valley HS as valedictorian and is now attending BYU on "full tuition plus" academic scholarship and is an accomplished jazz saxophonist. He has a brilliant mind. He served a mission in Scotland Edinburgh.

Hannah Faux graduated from Green Valley HS as valedictorian and also attends BYU on "full tuition plus" academic scholarship and continues to study jazz piano improv. She is a history major and an 'elegant thinker'.

Jordan Faux will be graduating from George Washington University Law School in May of 2010. Recently he won "Best Overall Competitor" in Moot Court Competition and will be participating in the finals representing his school in Boston. He won 2 other prizes that same night. He is married to Rose Card, served a Spanish-speaking mission in Chicago, plays several instruments. His #1 instrument though is playing jazz guitar.

Christie Faux teaches early morning seminary. She continues to try and finish her book "Seven Primary Songs Like You've Never Heard Them Before"--a compilation of her musical arrangements of her favorite Primary songs. A writer and essayist, she is also a computer and tech geek, speaks three languages, frequently wakes up her husband in the middle of the night to discuss her ideas because she loves to overthink things.

Alma 32:21