Better Than A Standing Ovation

It goes without saying that I love music. It's the language of the soul, as people say. Or at least, it’s the language that my soul speaks. One of the reasons I love music so much is its ability to help me feel close to the Lord. And many of the songs I sing, even songs that aren't religious, help me feel closer to heaven.

So I guess you could say that I've always had the hope that perhaps people listening to these songs might also feel something similar. I would love to do some good in the world through music. But I learned something that has helped me to see that even if I don’t accomplish anything enormous in life, I believe that I will have fulfilled my purpose. 

I was performing in England before my wife Katie and I had our first baby. She and I were talking with one of the other singers backstage who was about to perform, and she said something so true. She talked about her two kids, and how since having them, she had this realization over and over again , “Oh, this is why I'm here. This is my purpose here on earth!” At the time, I thought it was so beautiful.

Since then, Katie and I have had two little boys, and I feel like I've thought that same thing over and over again too,

“Oh, this is what life is all about! This is my purpose.”  

I've realized that, as amazing as it is to receive a standing ovation and feel such a beautiful connection to the audience while performing, there's a deeper fulfillment, such a depth of completion that has come to me through family life.

It surpasses anything I've experienced.

In the April 2010 General Conference, President Packer said, “The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children might be happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood.” I really believe that it is the plan of happiness. 

When I started out in the music industry 10 years ago, I wasn't really focused on getting married or anything by music. I just thought, “I want to go for it. And I'm just going to focus on music.” Obviously, there were incredible experiences I had in the music business, but I could tell you I had a complete paradigm change when I married Katie. Marriage and having children has totally changed my view of life and fulfillment and happiness.

This year’s TOFW theme ARISE is a beautiful reminder that it's our time to stand up and accomplish the good that we wish to see in the world. I love the scripture where the Lord tells us that he has placed the power within us for us, to be able to do so much good of our own free will or just our own personal choices to do so. I believe what he is trying to say to each of us is, 'hey, you don't have to wait on me to do everything. I put that power within you. Use it.”

I believe that as we arise and use the abilities that the Lord has given to us, we can do great things and even more importantly, the things that God would have us do.

My simple understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that he invites us to follow Him. Love the way He loves. Be as He is. Because through the blessings that are attached to those eternal laws, we can feel at least a small portion of the kind of happiness that the Lord enjoys when we feel his spirit in our hearts.  It can be so easy for people to think that fame and fortune and standing ovations are worth more than family life and good values, but I believe that a happy life, a life full of purpose and fulfillment is built upon family and following eternal laws.

Ultimately, “Living unto the Lord” is an everyday choice. It doesn’t matter what we choose yesterday, we’ve got to make the same decision again today. Fame and fortune will come and go, and in seeking our personal ministry, we must remember that sometimes those things that appear to be of least value are really those things that are of greatest value.

Don't miss your opportunity to hear Nathan perform songs from his new album "Oh, Holy Night" at the Phoenix TOFW ARISE event and the Nathan Pacheco Christmas Tour coming soon to a city near you.