Displaying their world-renowned talents on BYU’s campus this week, Marvin A. Goldstein and Vanessa Joy teamed up
to teach a class through song about how music can give us courage and strength.
Goldstein and Joy have traveled the world together in recent years, with the mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“We perform for people that don’t know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all around the world,” Joy said. “It’s such a privilege to share that kind of knowledge.”
The duo started off the class with a rendition of a song titled “Prayer,” written by Joy and accompanied by Goldstein. Before starting the song, Joy tearfully explained that the song was very close to her heart.
“We can get through anything with the strength that comes through prayer,” Joy explained.
As Goldstein and Joy started into a classical version of “Piesu Requiem,” Joy stated that she can often get away with this song because people don’t really understand that the song is about Christ. The audience can, however, usually feel Christ’s spirit through the song.
“It’s a challenge to learn how to control and sing in different genres,” Goldstein said. “That’s what makes Vanessa so talented — she can express herself in so many different ways.”
Toward the end of the session, Joy emotionally explained that it was not easy getting where she is today, but that she is proof that anything can happen when you don’t listen to the negative comments from others.
“School was very hard for me. If it wasn’t for music, I’m not sure where I would be in my life,” Joy explained. “I was told by a guidance counselor at the beginning of high school that I was not college material.”
This news crushed young Joy but her mother told her not to listen and she eventually applied to college and got into two schools, and graduated from BYU.
“Satan gets into your mind and tries to have power over your thoughts,” Joy said. “We can tell him not to. My way is through music.”
