On 30 August 2015 internationally acclaimed pianist Paul Cardall shared his heartfelt music as well as his testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ during a recent Sunday evening devotional at the Hyde Park Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London. His appearance followed a similar event the evening before at the London Temple Visitors’ Centre in Surrey, and was a prelude to a concert tour of other venues in Europe.
- Paul Cardall at a recent devotional at the Hyde Park Chapel in London
- Paul Cardall at a recent devotional at the Hyde Park Chapel in London
- Paul Cardall at a recent devotional at the Hyde Park Chapel in London
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Capacity audiences at both UK venues heard Cardall perform original songs as well as his moving arrangements of some of Mormonism’s most meaningful and sacred hymns. For his song “Redeemer” which is an arrangement of the hymn “I Know that My Redeemer Lives,” Cardall enlisted the support of a string quartet comprised of two local talented local church members and two missionaries serving in the England London Mission. The four musicians also accompanied him on a rendition of one of his most popular songs called, “Life and Death.”
The song “Life and Death” has special meaning in view of Cardall’s extraordinary, even miraculous life. He wasn’t expected to live much beyond a day or two when born with a complex congenital heart defect but a delicate surgery performed when he was less than a day old prolonged his life. As a result of sincere prayers, priesthood blessings and the skills of a cadre of physicians who performed countless procedures through the years, Cardall led a relatively normal life. But in his mid-thirties, the popular recording artist went into heart failure. After being on a transplant waiting list for 385 days, Cardall, in September 2009, received a new healthy transplanted heart. The surgery was a resounding success. Sadly, though, during that period of waiting, his younger brother lost his life, which led to a great deal of personal anguish. He also had profoundly deep feelings for the young man whose heart now beat in his chest. It was during that time of intense introspection that he turned to the piano keyboard and therapeutically composed his arrangement of the song “Life and Death.”
In sharing portions of his story with the congregation, Cardall reminded them that the Saviour is the source of peace in this world, especially during times of challenge and adversity. He encouraged his audience to always remember the enabling and purifying power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. His spoken testimony, along with his unique and delicate arrangements of testifying hymns resulted in an evening of spiritual edification that will long be remembered by those in attendance.