Crescendo

When I was nine years old my mom strongly encouraged me to take piano lessons. I lasted one year. The highlight was watching Gilligan's Island and Hogan's Heroes while I waited for my three sisters to finish their lessons.

In eighth grade I worked a deal with a relative to complete my music theory homework because I was so horrible with rythym and music theory.

When I was 21 I again took piano lessons and voice lessons for a little over a year.

One of the few things I've retained from my limited musical training is the crescendo concept.

Crescendo comes through Italian from Latin and means to increase in loudness or intensity. It's the opposite of diminuendo, to decrease in intensity.

Joseph Smith was said to have lived his life in crescendo. He started poor, uneducated and confused, but ended as a martyred Prophet of God having "left a fame and name that could never be slain."

A great life is more than a beginning and a magnificent final lap. It's about knowing the destination and then getting better and giving more day by day.

Don't live a life of diminuendo. Choose crescendo.