Did you know that singing every day can help you feel happy? Mormons know it! Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormons, as they are commonly known) have long known that “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me (God), and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (Doctrine & Covenants 25:11-12.)
An early order of business for the Mormon Church was the collection of hymns to be used in our worship. In Mormon beliefs, God speaks today through His duly appointed Prophet. When the Church was newly formed, The Lord instructed Emma Smith, through the Prophet Joseph, to “make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church. For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart” (Doctrine & Covenants 25:11-12.) The Lord also spoke through the prophet Brigham Young, saying: “” (Doctrine & Covenants 136:28.) To that I would add that when you are sad, and you find it difficult to pray, a song or a hymn can help make the distance between you and your Heavenly Father very small.
When I am having a hard time finding the words to say what is in my heart, my favorite hymn to sing is “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” by Robert Robinson and John Wyeth which says in part:
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
Or, when you’re finding yourself tempted to say or do the wrong thing, you could sing this children’s hymn to yourself:
If on occasion you have found
Your language is in question,
Or ugly thoughts come to your mind,
Then here’s a good suggestion.
Just hum your favorite hymn,
Sing out with vigor and vim,
And you will find it clears your mind.
Hum your favorite hymn.
Before you say an angry word,
Remember you’ll regret it,
For once it’s said the harm is done,
And some folks won’t forget it.
(Children’s Songbook #152)
“O sing unto the Lord a new song; … make a joyful noise unto the Lord. …” (Psalms 98:1,4.) I am confident that as you and I lift up our voices in song, our hearts and our moods will be lifted. We shall be as the watchmen of Zion … “with the voice together shall they sing: … break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people. …” (Isaiah 52:8-9.)
