Experience of brother Eugene F. Amormino, Michigan-Ontario District
On the afternoon of March 10, 1980, I received the following experience:
Upon arriving home from work, I saw in my mind the face of Sister Arlene Buffington. A voice within me said, “Call Sister Arlene.” I shrugged it off as mere impulse, and attempted to continue my daily routine. However, this event repeated itself, and I could not remove Sister Arlene’s face from my mind. After the third time I saw her face, the Spirit spoke and said, “Call her now.”
Finally I yielded to the Spirit’s direction, phoned her, and explained the circumstances prompting my call. Sister Arlene then related how some of the brothers and sisters had gathered in her home the previous evening (March 9, 1980). A prayer was offered in her behalf that God would choose and send “someone” to help Sister Arlene with the music she had received.
We both felt the Spirit of God while speaking on the telephone. Now I realized that the Holy Spirit had brought her to my remembrance, and she knew that the prayer of the previous evening had been answered.
Soon after this, I visited Sister Arlene in her home. I did not know how I could help her arrange The Songs of Zion on paper for our brothers and sisters to enjoy. I could not deny what had already transpired. I made the decision to prove the work of God and step out in faith. If this truly was the work of the Lord, then He would supply what I needed to perform the task before me. The expectancy of being used in His service thrilled my soul, trusting in God to bring all things together for His honor and glory.
After kneeling in prayer for direction, Sister Arlene and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit fall on us like a mantle from heaven. As she related the experiences surrounding each song. I requested her to sing the song as she received it. After a short time, I could conceive the total structure and form of each composition, transcribe the music onto paper, play the harmony on the piano, and sing each composition back to Sister Arlene.
In all of my musical experience in the world and in the Church, I have never encountered a situation like this. Having studied music professionally, I know how many beautiful songs, with talent, skill, and inspiration have been authentically written. However, Sister Arlene has no musical background, except for a few piano lessons. To my knowledge and observation she displays no innate musical talent or ability. She has no literary skill to write poetry or verse. Were you to ask her to write a song with words about a certain topic, she would be unable to do so. She does not preconceive the music or words with any forethought or planning.
What Sister Arlene has received is a gift. The Spirit of God has given her the melody, the rhythm, and the words. She remembers every song that she has received; the words and music are written in her heart and mind. On various occasions, I have purposely tested her by playing notes and rhythms incorrectly. She could discern the errors and would reply, “Brother Eugene, that is not what I heard.” I would then play it correctly and she would answer, “Now that is what I heard.” Sister Arlene is simply singing back to me a song that was given to her by the Spirit of God. She is not a musician, but she can recall the words and music of these songs without hesitation.
I realized that many brothers and sisters would ask my opinion of her music. I had to be sure in my own heart and soul that The Songs of Zion were truly inspired and given of God. We read in God’s word that he is no respecter of persons, that His ways are not our ways. He gives good gifts to His children, because He is a loving Father. According to the scriptures, we can test a gift by its fruit. Since my family and I have been acquainted with The Songs of Zion, we have experienced joy and happiness to a greater degree. The blessings, our spiritual fruit, have become more abundant, and the blessed hope of Jesus Christ, more profound.