Nine-year-old Bo Burtenshaw from Syracuse, Utah, was one of thousands of children who auditioned for the children’s choir for the October 2024 general conference. Although he wasn’t selected for the final group, a special experience helped him realize that God loves him no matter what.
In a recent post for the Friend magazine, Bo shared he wanted to join the choir so he could have the chance to see the prophet and apostles in person. “This thought got me really excited, so I started practicing right away and my mom helped me submit my audition song when I was ready,” he explained.
But his hope deflated when he learned he had not been chosen to sing. “I was confused and sad,” he wrote. “I had tried my best to do something good but didn’t get the blessing that I thought I should.”
The night before general conference, Bo attended a football game with his friend Garrett Rawlins. Garrett’s mom noticed that Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also happened to be in the crowd and pointed him out to the boys. After Bo asked her for permission to meet him, he says he “zoomed up” and asked Elder Stevenson if he was really an Apostle, to which Elder Stevenson responded, “I am.”
Bo had a great experience speaking with him, writing, “We talked, and I even got to hug him! Football games are my favorite, but meeting Elder Stevenson was something I will never forget.”
Later, Bo’s mom talked with him about the encounter and helped him realize the Lord’s hand in this tender mercy. He wrote:
“The next day I was talking to Mom about conference and Elder Stevenson. She had tears in her eyes when she asked if I thought meeting Elder Stevenson the night before the choir was singing at conference was a coincidence or if I felt like it was Heavenly Father’s special way of helping me know that he loves me no matter if I was chosen to sing in the Primary choir or not.
“I know I am a child of God, but that doesn’t mean things will always go my way. Sometimes things don’t work out the way I want, but Heavenly Father loves and helps me when I am feeling sad or upset, like Dad teaching me about gratitude prayers and Mom helping me notice Heavenly Father’s love for me. I believe meeting Elder Stevenson was a special blessing just for me from Heavenly Father to remind me as I watched the awesome Primary choir that He loves me too.”
People of all ages have appreciated Bo’s sincere testimony, with one commenter on Facebook writing: “I love this so much!!! It is such a great reminder that God is in the details of our lives and He sends us tender mercies and little miracles every day, We just need to slow down, take the time to be still and recognize them each day.”
Another person on Instagram wrote: “How beautiful! We really have so much to learn from these wonderful Primary children. His message encouraged my heart.”
Read Bo’s full post below.
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