The Power of Music
The other day at church, I watched David (5 yrs) put his arm around Rebekah (3 yrs) and walk her up to the stand so that they could sing “Holding Hands Around the World” with the other Primary children. As they heartily sang “we are led by His light and we love truth and right,” I felt moved by their pure faith.
Our family loves music. Family home evenings center around learning a primary song and talking about the principles we learn from the song. When my kids are making a bad decision, we sing: “Dare to do right, dare to be true, you have a work that no other can do.” When people are having problems with sharing we sing: “Give said the little stream, give oh give, give oh give.” Music is a powerful tool for teaching and feeling the spirit.
As a child, I used to sing with my family and, as I sang, I always felt a powerful closeness not only to my family members, but also to my Heavenly Father and my Savior. Music is a conduit for the Spirit and can help us to open our hearts to inspiration from the Lord.
After receiving some recordings of a choir that my husband and I sing in, a dear friend of mine e-mailed me: “I played the songs and I cried. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but life has been incredibly stressful. As soon as I heard those angelic voices, I immediately felt a peace come over me. The music is brilliant.” My non-member friend felt the Spirit when she listened to our choir sing and it helped her feel the love of God in her life. I’m grateful for music in my life and for the opportunities it gives me to teach my children, open my heart to the Spirit and feel the joy and love of God.
April 2nd, 2007 21:24
We were advised in conference to use the hymns more, and your testimony about the special role of music in our lives only furthers my desire to do so. Thanks, Kirsti!
April 2nd, 2007 23:27
Amen to what Naiah said! I thought this was a perfectly timed post given what we were taught in Conference. You have given some great examples of how to bring music more into my home, in such a practical way! Thank you!
April 3rd, 2007 12:23
Thanks for this timely reminder of the spiritual power music can bring to our lives, Kirsti.
I have noticed that often, when music of the Tabernacle Choir was playing in our home, a family member would approach me and express feelings of love. I believe that they were probably unconsciously influenced by what they were hearing to say things they felt, but might have left unsaid at that time had that music not been playing.
One of my most profound spiritual experiences was when, as the Primary Chorister many years ago in our ward in a London, England suburb, I got to introduce the new song, “Love One Another.” I will never forget how the children responded as they first heard and then sang that simple, beautiful song. As you put it, Kirsti, “Music is a conduit for the Spirit and can help us to open our hearts to inspiration from the Lord.” The Spirit was there with us. We felt the love of the Lord for us in a more profound way because the truth of the Savior’s words had been joined to a lovely melody.
Thanks also for including the link to that beautiful choral piece that your choir sang. I, like your friend, felt it bring me peace, and open my heart to inspiration.
April 4th, 2007 07:47
I love Holding Hands Around the World. When we were learning it last year in Primary, I would play it as the postlude music so I could practice it a bit more, and the senior primary would sing it as they left the room. They never did that with any other piece of music.
I have always been a proponent of the effects of good music in the home, from the spirituality of hymns and the uplifting sounds of Classical music.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.