We receive Christ’s atonement and share in his identity as his adopted, covenant children (see Mosiah 5:7) by receiving and obeying the laws and ordinances of the gospel (see A of F 1:3). As “his seed” (Mosiah 15:10–13), we can become like Christ and share in his character traits, including his power and exuberant joy, his spiritual fire (revelation and testimony), and his redeeming love, all of which help unite us with him and each other—at-ONE-ment, indeed (see D&C 50:43).
As Christ’s traits become our traits, we exclaim and testify with Isaiah, “Jehovah is my strength and my song” (Isa. 12:2). Quite naturally, we feel a deep physical, emotional, and spiritual desire and need to express our power and joy, our fire, our love, and many other divine, transcendent feelings in song:
WE SHARE AND SING OF HIS POWER AND EXUBERANT JOY
“The Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. . . . Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth” (Isa. 12:2–3, 5).
“The Lord is my light; then why should I fear? By day and by night his presence is near. He is my salvation from sorrow and sin . . . . The Lord is my light; he is my joy and my song. By day and by night he leads, he leads me along. . . . He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King. With Saints and with angels his praises I’ll sing” (Hymns, “The Lord Is My Light,” no. 89).
“The righteous . . . shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy” (D&C 45:71).
“Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth . . . and break forth into singing, O mountains . . . for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted” (1 Ne. 21:13).
“Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. . . . Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy!” (D&C 128:22–23).
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King! Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, and Saints and angels sing . . . Rejoice! Rejoice when Jesus reigns, and Saints their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy” (Hymns, “Joy to the World,” no. 201).
WE SHARE AND SING OF HIS SPIRITUAL FIRE: REVELATION AND TESTIMONY
“His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing [i.e., not saying something], and I could not stay [i.e., could not remain silent]. . . . Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers” (Jer. 20:9, 13).
“The Spirit of God like a fire is burning! . . . The visions and blessings of old are returning, and angels are coming to visit the earth. We’ll sing and we’ll shout with the armies of heaven, Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb! . . . The Lord is extending the Saints’ understanding . . . The knowledge and power of God are expanding; the veil o’er the earth is beginning to burst” (Hymns, “The Spirit of God,” no. 2).
WE SHARE AND SING OF HIS REDEEMING LOVE
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“I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? . . . Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?” (Alma 5:26; 26:13).
“‘Tis sweet to sing the matchless love of Him who left his home above and came to earth—oh, wondrous plan—to suffer, bleed, and die for man! . . . Oh, blessed hour! communion sweet! When children, friends, and teachers meet and, in remembrance of his grace, unite in sweetest songs of praise. For Jesus died on Calvary! That all through him might ransomed be. Then sing hosannas to his name; let heav’n and earth his love proclaim” (Hymns, “‘Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love,” no. 176).
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