I know not everyone feels like singing all the time, but I was wondering something, who here has had an epiphany of sorts when singing (or trying to sing for those who aren't that good at singing ) that has given them spiritual strength? Do you think you would have had the same experience and strengthening if you had not been engaged in the act of singing the hymn? Did your attitude towards singing the hymns at church meetings / elsewhere change as a result? Anything you would care to share?
I was just thinking about this yesterday, as we sang a very strong and powerfully worded hymn for The Sacrament.
Reverently and Meekly Now, no. 185
1. Rev’rently and meekly now, Let thy head most humbly bow. Think of me, thou ransomed one; Think what I for thee have done. With my blood that dripped like rain, Sweat in agony of pain, With my body on the tree I have ransomed even thee.
2. In this bread now blest for thee, Emblem of my body see; In this water or this wine, Emblem of my blood divine. Oh, remember what was done That the sinner might be won. On the cross of Calvary I have suffered death for thee.
3. Bid thine heart all strife to cease; With thy brethren be at peace. Oh, forgive as thou wouldst be E’en forgiven now by me. In the solemn faith of prayer Cast upon me all thy care, And my Spirit’s grace shall be Like a fountain unto thee.
4. At the throne I intercede; For thee ever do I plead. I have loved thee as thy friend, With a love that cannot end. Be obedient, I implore, Prayerful, watchful evermore, And be constant unto me, That thy Savior I may be.
Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849–1942
The words of the hymn were very much a reminder to me of certain scriptures in the Doctrine and Covenants where The Lord is speaking of His role in the Atonement.
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It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
I had better believe that you can get spiritual strength from hymns. My YSA branch has been around since March of this year. The chior practices for half an hour or less most Sundays if at all. Our chior director can't read or even understand music, we have a different pianist almost every week, the turnover in the chior is almost as fast (half of whom are there for the brownies our chior director brings), and our Branch President is trying to get the Stake to schedule us to sing at Conference in less than five weeks. We are going to need all the spiritual strength we can get.
One of my favorite hymns has always been "Lord I Would Follow Thee."
The only way I get spirtual strength from hymns is if they are played really, really loud so that I do not hear my own voice. I'm one of those people that was asked to please not sing in the choir!
High on a mountain top, a badger chased a squirrel, the badger ate the squirrel and now there's no more squirrel.
In Desseret the badger is full and now... there.... iiiiissss... no... more.... squirrel!
Reminds me of my Gospel Choir, in which we were supposed to sing, "I've got that Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart..." and the lyrics went, "I've got the peace that passeth understanding, down in my heart!" and I'd sing, "I've got the peas that passed through Uncle Flandings down in my heart."
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)