Music in our worship

BY GENELLE PUGMIRE Daily Herald

It is said the last song the band on the Titanic played before it sank April 14, 1912, was the hymn “Nearer My God to Thee.” That same hymn was sung by the crew and passengers of the SS Valencia six years earlier while it was sinking off the Canadian coast.

Music, particularly hymns, invites the spirit, calms the soul and brings us closer to our deity. In the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints, Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr., was given the call through revelation to “make a selection of sacred hymns” and that it was pleasing to the savior to be had in his church.

“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” (Doctrine and Covenants section 25:12)

The Doctrine and Covenants is considered modern day revelation and instructions from the Prophet Joseph Smith to the church and individuals, mostly.

So why do members of the church have such a passion for uplifting music and why are they encouraged to have hymns playing in their homes, on their playlists as well as in church gatherings?

The answer can be found in a comment made by President Russell M. Nelson during a Brigham Young University devotional on May 8, 2008.

“Remember, music has the power to provide spiritual nourishment. It has healing power. It has the power to facilitate worship. It allows us to

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From G10 contemplate the Atonement (and) the Restoration of the gospel with its saving principles and exalting ordinances. Music provides power for us to express prayerful thoughts and bear testimony of sacred truths.”

With the help of W. W. Phelps, one of the great hymn writers of the church, and appointed to assist and arrange for the printing, Emma Smith compiled 90 hymns. The new church hymnbook came together in 1835 and the first edition was published.

Members of The Church of Jesus

Christ do not have a corner on the market when it comes to singing praise, praying through music and seeking the Spirit. Music is used globally to unite congregations. While many churches find their praise through joyful and energetic choirs or guitars and drums, others enjoy the cathedral sounds provided by massive pipe organs and yet others a solemn cantor.

Music has been a part of worship and prayer for as long as mankind has had a voice. King David of the Old Testament is well-known for his many psalms of joy and lamentation.

The apostle Luke, in telling the story of the Nativity, noted that heavenly hosts appeared to the shepherds and praised God saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on Earth, peace, good will toward men.” It has been believed these words were delivered in song.

One of the world’s greatest compilations of hymns, music and praise is George Fredric Handel’s “Messiah.” It tells the story of Jesus Christ from his birth to his resurrection and beyond.

The scriptures contain many affirmations that hymn singing is a glorious way to worship. Before the savior and his apostles left the upper room where they had the experience of the Last Supper, they sang a hymn, according to Matthew in the New Testament.

The apostle Paul advised the Colossians that they should be “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col. 3:16)

“When the Lord’s Apostles meet in modern times, the singing of hymns is still part of their meetings. The weekly meetings of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple always begin with a hymn,” said President Dallin H. Oaks in the October 1994 semi-annual general conference of the church.

Oaks said they take turns picking the songs and from a record he kept he noted, “The opening song most frequently sung during the decade of my participation has been ‘I Need Thee Every Hour.’” He also noted at the time that then-Elder Nelson played the piano for the singing.

“Picture the spiritual impact of a handful of the Lord’s servants singing that song before praying for his guidance in fulfilling their mighty responsibilities,” Oakes said.

In the First Presidency’s message in the preface to the 1985 hymnbook currently being used, it says, “Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end”

Throughout the world, Latter-day Saints sing with joy, enthusiasm and reverence. Some congregations are more hesitant.

“I believe some of us in North America are getting

Worship

neglectful in our worship, including the singing of hymns. I have observed that the Saints elsewhere are more diligent in doing this. We in the center stakes of Zion should renew our fervent participation in the singing of our hymns,” Oaks added.

Elder Franklin D. Richards, previously of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy, spoke on worshiping with song. He noted that, “In our Latter-day Saint hymns, we sing praises to the Lord, pray unto the Lord, recite great religious truths — in effect sermons — and our minds and spirits are elevated and spiritually stimulated.”

Conversely some of today’s music can also lead us away from prayer, the Spirit and can affect our psyche, according to President Ezra Taft Benson in a general conference talk in 1971.

“‘Satan knows that music hath charms to soothe or stir the savage beast. That music has power to create atmosphere has been known before the beginning of Hollywood. Atmosphere creates environment, and environment influences behavior — the behavior of Babylon or of Enoch,’” Benson said, quoting an unnamed musician.

This does not mean that we should all be strumming our harps and singing hymns only. Benson acknowledged there is great music that is not a hymn.

President Thomas S. Monson loved Broadway musicals and attended many productions. Some of his favorite music was Broadway songs.

It is also important to members of the church to teach their children to enjoy the hymns and other good music.

Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Seventy recalls this story from his youth.

“My testimony and conversion to the restored gospel were strongly influenced by singing the hymns of Zion as a young boy. I grew up in the small town of Mapleton, Utah, and attended meetings in what is known today as the ‘old white church.’ My 95-year-old mother still lives in Mapleton. When I visit her, I drive past the ‘old white church,’ and a flood of sweet memories fills my mind. Among them is the converting power of the hymns we sang in priesthood, Sunday School and sacrament meetings.”

Jensen shared important lessons he learned about making worship more meaningful through hymns.

1. Strive to be more punctual to meetings, sit quietly and listen to the prelude music, and experi- ence reverence and revelation.

2. Exit meetings more reverently, allowing the postlude music to extend the spirit of the meeting.

3. Sing the hymns. I see some who have access to hymnals but do not sing.

4. Choose hymns appropriate to the meeting and messages.

5. Use hymns to introduce or to emphasize scriptures and gospel truths in lessons and classes.

6. Listen to the hymns more frequently in our homes, inviting the Spirit to prevail.

“Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in (family) home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones,” Jensen counseled.