Join the Salvation Army and See the World is written on one of my tee shirts. That phrase has meant more and more to me as I've grown in the Army for the past 20 years.

My father, a fourth generation Mormon, played trombone in his youth. Following my father's musical example, when I was nine I also took up the trombone.

When I was a kid, prior to meeting the Army, I happened to tune into a TV program that featured a Salvation Army Songster Brigade in stand–up collar uniforms. They were performing Christmas carols. I remember asking myself, "Who are these people?"

A Musical Introduction

Later in high school, a biology teacher of mine just happened to mention that he gave to The Salvation Army because of a positive experience he had with the Army in his time of need. One of the students mentioned, "But they wear those funny clothes!" In my junior year, a fellow high school band student, Maury Priest, showed me his silver trombone. He mentioned he played in a Salvation Army Band and invited me to come to his corp band rehearsal.

Impressed with his musical talent and because of my two previous exposures to the Army, I went to the rehearsal with my trombone to check out those people dressed in the funny clothes!

Upon Bandmaster Gordon Damant's downbeat I heard glorious sounds coming out of the cornet section of the Sacramento Citadel Band. One of the band members was the notable Eric Loveless. Another was Erik Sholin. At that instant I was hooked on the sound of the Salvation Army Band. From that time forward I would shuttle back and forth between my Mormon ward meetings of priesthood, Sunday school, and Sacrament meetings and Sacramento Citadel Band engagements at Holiness services, Open–Air Meetings and Salvation Services.

Christ Is the Answer

During my association with the Sacramento Citadel Band I was introduced to recordings of the Hollywood Tabernacle, Oakland Citadel and International Staff Bands. I copied one long–playing record, The Holy War, onto a reel–to–reel recording tape. That recording tape would later be my only connection with the Army. On that recording was Ray Steadman–Allen's "Fantasia for Pianoforte and Band." During an interlude in the fantasia in that song, the International Staff Band sings, "Christ is the answer to my every need, Christ is the answer He is my friend indeed."

Many years later, when I was married and raising a Mormon family, the words of the fantasia kept assaulting my heart. After many years, those words finally pierced my stubborn heart. I asked Jesus to come into my life. Today, I am a student of Biblical Christianity, a Salvation soldier and a member of the Tustin Ranch Salvation Army Band, I indeed see the world through opened spiritual eyes!

Once lost, almost found, lost and found again! Praises to Him!

Dennis Sibley worships at the Tustin Ranch, California corps, where he is a soldier and a bandsman.

Reprinted from the US War Cry, May 13, 2006 edition