For more than 60 years, LeRoi Stone has entertained friends and neighbors with his organ and piano playing. But it was only a year ago that he, at age 83, realized his ability came from more than just hours of practicing - it was the result of a talent.
The discovery of his talent came after the ward music director, Annette Davis, persuaded him to play the piano and organ in a ward talent night about a year ago."I didn't think I was good enough to play for the talent night, but I finally consented," said Brother Stone of the Canyon Rim 3rd Ward, Salt Lake Canyon Rim Stake. "After my performance, I turned around and saw people crying, and for the first time, I knew I had a talent. Nobody had ever told me that before.
"All through the years when people came to my home, they would ask me to play for them, but I thought they were just being kind. I never knew it was because I had talent," he added.
Realizing he had wasted a lot of time, Brother Stone approached Sister Davis to discuss ways in which he might share his ability. "I suggested he hold a recital in the chapel so the entire ward could attend," Sister Davis explained, "But after I thought about it, I decided this was like being in a play. You don't want to do all that practice for just one performance.
"We finally decided to have nine recitals in Brother Stone's home where, with only 12-14 people being able to attend at one time, the atmosphere would be more intimate and personable," she added.
The recitals were held in his home, and more than 85 people attended. The intimate atmosphere proved to be a success, according to Kristan Birkland, a member of Brother Stone's ward who attended one of the recitals. "It was just fun . . . he'd stop and we would talk between numbers. He explained things and improvised, and even took requests. We felt like we were as much a part of the program as he was."
As for Brother Stone, he said having the recitals in his home made for some special moments and a closeness among those who attended. "It was a spiritual thing for me. I've never had such a terrific experience. It gave me more to live for," he reflected.
A highlight of the recitals was the performance of a song Brother Stone and his wife wrote before she died seven years ago, said Jeanie Jex, a neighbor and close friend. "He first told the story of how the song came to be and then when he read the words and played the music, it was like his wife was there talking to him. They were a very close couple."
Brother Stone said the song he and his wife wrote has an interesting story behind it. Nine years ago he wrote a piece of music his wife liked and she asked him what the title was. Just off the top of his head he said, "Until Tomorrow."
Nothing more was said, but two or three weeks later his wife handed him a piece of paper with words she had written to the music. "I told her it was good, but I didn't jump up and down, so she didn't think I liked the words and she put them away," Brother Stone recalled. "She wouldn't let me see them again after that."
After his wife died, he was determined to find the words she had written. It took several hours but he finally found them mixed in with some genealogy papers. "I guess she thought they were safe there," he said, "She probably thought I'd never look in her genealogy."
After finding the words, he immediately published the song. He won't sell the music but he gives it away. It's just another way of sharing his talent, he said.
Each recital began with an opening prayer, followed by two Primary songs, the song he and his wife wrote, two hymns and several old popular tunes, such as "Melody of Love" and "Fascination." The program closed with the entire group singing "How Great Thou Art."
Brother Stone gives complete credit to the Lord for his talent. He said he couldn't do what he does without his Heavenly Father's help and he's making up for lost time.
"One thing about a talent, you can't take one ounce of credit for it. You know, at my age, I can play a piece and not remember what I'm playing, or even what key I'm in," he explained. "But the Lord blesses people with certain talents and this one is mine. No matter how hard I work, I just couldn't do it if I didn't have this talent. I didn't ask for the talent, I just had it and didn't know it."