"The Songs We Sing"
July 29, 2003
Brother K. Newell Dayley
I always enjoy coming to Rexburg and feeling the spirit of this campus. A grand experiment was launched here not long ago. You are participants in a visionary enterprise that is truly marvelous. BYU–Idaho is destined to establish trend setting standards and expectations in higher education. I am confident you will succeed, even beyond your highest expectations and aspirations. It is truly an honor to be with you on this occasion.
My roots are in Idaho. I was born in Twin Falls and received an education in the schools of Burley. Living on a farm provided time and space for discovery and reflection. It was there that I discovered the beauty and power of music. Working alone in the fields, I could sing and whistle familiar songs and create songs of my own. By trying to write a few of these songs, I learned by experience to appreciate the vast knowledge and skill required. The process of songwriting fascinated me. About a year before entering college I made a quiet decision to become a musician.
Creating songs and other forms of music has been a great source of joy. Some of my creative work has been personal and developmental, but most has been intended to bless others. Always, the experience has been the same. During the creative process I learn things that are precious, sometimes surprising; things that could be learned in no other way. When these creative works are performed I learn once again, and always marvel that the creative process requires performance before it is complete. Of greater significance, however, is the way creative work has helped me learn to hear, to read, to ponder, and to understand the scriptures and other valid sources of spiritual enlightenment. Let me explain.
Meaningful, lasting songs are created when a composer’s thoughts and feelings are connected. Without this connection there is no music, only organized sound. Learning from the scriptures and the teachings of contemporary prophets, seers, and revelators requires the same connection of thought and feeling. Indeed, the Lord imparts his Spirit to us in order to enlighten our mind and fill our soul with joy (Doctrine and Covenants 11:13). He communicates with us through thought and feeling. I have learned that the most productive creative process is parallel to the process of learning under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Conversely, the most meaningful scriptural study may often be very similar to the creative process. In both processes, thought and feeling must be connected if our understanding is to expand.
To learn more about this common process, let’s consider the songs we sing and their relationship to our spiritual journey. I use the word “song” in the broadest sense because we have differing musical understanding and taste. In its deepest sense, however, a song is a stirring within the soul that demands expression. We vocalize some of these stirrings, while others are expressed more quietly. I believe James Montgomery captured the similarity between a prayer and a song in his hymn Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire. To illustrate, allow me to slightly alter his words:
“[Song] is the soul’s sincere desire, uttered or unexpressed, the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast. [Song] is the burden of a sigh, the falling of a tear, the upward glancing of an eye when none but God is near. [Song] is the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try; [song], the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high” (Hymns, #145).
In this context, we may better understand what our Savior meant when He told Emma Smith that His “soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me” (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12).
Some songs are motivational and encourage us to act. Others are born of reflection and help us learn from the past. Perhaps the most engaging songs look toward the future and invite us to anticipate growth and change. Songs can also be either the result or cause of right or wrong behavior. In my experience, righteous behavior invites songs of joy, and songs of joy and happiness encourage righteous behavior. Unrighteous behavior leads to songs of misery, and songs of misery and rebelliousness encourage unrighteous behavior. It may be true that we sing about who we are and become what we sing about.
Let’s consider for a moment some obvious contrasts between songs of the righteous and songs of the rebellious:
Righteous Rebellious
Songs of happiness Songs of unhappiness
Songs of redeeming love Songs of captivity and spiritual death
Songs of hope Songs of hopelessness
Songs of faith Songs of unbelief and sarcasm
Songs of charity Songs of hate and vengeance
Songs of light Songs of darkness
Songs of obedience Songs of disobedience
Songs of quiet innocence Songs of noisy indulgence
Songs of commitment Songs of estrangement
Songs of repentance Songs of pride
Songs of reconciliation Songs of selfishness
Songs of celebration Songs of damnation
Songs of dreams and visions Songs of self-adulation
How many of you know the song of Moses? It is a song of thanksgiving and triumph sung by Moses and the children of Israel after their escape from Egypt. Let’s read together a few verses of the song beginning with Exodus 15:1:
“I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously” (Exodus 15:1).
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders” (Exodus 15:11)?
“Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation” (Exodus 15:13).
“The LORD shall reign for ever and ever” (Exodus 15:18).
It is interesting to me that after Moses performed this song, “Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances” and repeated the song, perhaps many times (Exodus 15:20-21). It must have been quite a celebration!
In Revelation 15:3-4 we learn that exalted saints will one day sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb:
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest” (Revelations 15:3-4).
The song of Moses combines thanksgiving and praise. It is much like many of the hymns we sing today. We might consider it an early example of the type of song Israel will always sing. Maybe that is why it is the prototype for a hymn that perfected saints will one day sing.
We learn more about the song of the lamb from latter-day revelation:
“And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem; and they shall sing the song of the Lamb, day and night forever and ever” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:56, emphasis added).
In 2 Samuel 22 we find another ancient song, David’s beautiful psalm of thanksgiving. In reflecting on the creation and performance of this psalm, David said: “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2). Each of us may have that same experience. As we sing songs of thanksgiving with honest intent, we invite the Spirit of the Lord to speak to and through us, enlivening and increasing our realization and understanding of the Lord’s bounteous blessings. It is also through songs of thanksgiving that we may find the gateway to true and meaningful prayer. Allow me to share a personal example.
For several years, I performed in the trumpet section of the Utah Symphony Orchestra, necessitating frequent trips between Provo and Salt Lake City, a distance of about forty-five miles each way. Sometimes this required two trips a day, one very early in the morning and another at night because I was also teaching at BYU. One morning I began a sincere prayer of thanksgiving as I left home, remembering the Lord’s blessings and offering sincere gratitude with the same commitment and feeling I would invest in performing a song I loved. By the time I had passed the city of Lehi (about the halfway point), the Holy Ghost had filled my heart with the pure love of Christ and opened my mind to receive insight and guidance throughout the prayer that continued until I reached my destination.
I learned that morning that expressing gratitude to our Father in Heaven with real intent invites the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost then teaches us how to pray and what to pray for. Join me in reading four brief passages of scripture that teach us this essential principle:
- “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
- “He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God; wherefore it is done even as he asketh. And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit; and ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with. And ye must practice virtue and holiness before me continually” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:30-33).
- “And if ye are purified and cleansed from all sin, ye shall ask whatsoever you will in the name of Jesus and it shall be done. But know this, it shall be given you what you shall ask” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:29-30). “He that receiveth of God, let him account it of God; and let him rejoice that he is accounted of God worthy to receive” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:34).
- “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you; and if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63-65).
It seems rather clear that we should pray carefully and seek to benefit from the kind and willing assistance of the Holy Ghost. It will not surprise you that solitary trips between Provo and Salt Lake City have continued to be beneficial times of prayer for me. Those prayers usually begin with an extended expression of sincere gratitude, a song of thanksgiving sufficient to soften my heart and invite the precious companionship of the Holy Ghost. They always result in enlightenment and pure joy.
One day I noticed that sometimes I would awake in the morning with a song in my mind, or later in the day a song would suddenly begin to run through my mind with such intensity that I would begin to sing it quietly while working. Some time later it occurred to me that the words of those songs might be related to a question that was on my mind, or a problem I was facing, or something I needed to do or change. After careful observation, over a period of time, my suspicion was verified. Indeed, precious messages were being conveyed to me through music, perhaps because of my sensitivity to that medium. Recognizing, receiving, and acting on those messages over the years has often made a significant difference in my life and in the lives of others. I believe the songs we sing that arise from the center of our being may sometimes reveal a path to take, service to give, or important changes to make. If we truly listen, the song in our heart may lead us to recognize a unique service or learning opportunity. I am reminded of the Lord’s instruction to Oliver Cowdery: “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation” (Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3).
Music speaks naturally to my heart. Consequently, the Holy Ghost often uses music to enter and influence the deepest recesses of my being, softening my heart so my mind can receive the words of Christ. I suspect this also may be true for many of you.
Through the Atonement and the gift of repentance, we may experience a change of heart that frees us from the bondage of sin. As we escape the bitter darkness of sin, the pure love of Christ fills us with hope and faith. We yearn to sing the song of redeeming love. Remember the description of this process in Alma 5:26? “And now behold, 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” (Alma 5:26, emphasis added)? A change of heart causes us to rejoice, “because of the power of [our Savior’s] word which is in us” whereby we are “loosed from the pains of hell; and…brought to sing redeeming love” (Alma 26:13).
I accept Alma’s question, “Can ye feel so now?” as an invitation to sing a song of remembrance. We do this by singing the song of redeeming love to help us remember the feelings, understandings, and commitments it embodies. Our challenge as Latter-day Saints is to always remember the Savior and keep His commandments so that we will always have His spirit to be with us. If we sing a song of remembrance often we will surely sing the song of redeeming love with greater frequency and find ourselves walking among those who come “to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads” (Doctrine and Covenants 66:11, emphasis added).
“I Feel My Savior’s Love,” a song you probably learned in Primary, is a song of remembrance. It reminds us of our love for the Savior and of His love for us. During its creation, the title of this song actually came first. It was formed while reading of the angels that descended and assisted the resurrected Christ in ministering to the Nephite children. That account caused me to wonder how I might have felt had I been there. I imagined that I would have felt the Savior’s love, and a vivid memory of His love would have remained with me. I would have recognized and felt His love in everything that surrounded me. Later, I would have rejoiced in affirming that I had felt my Savior’s love while in His presence.
A couple of months later, while working on the lyrics and music of the song, I tried to imagine how the Savior himself might have felt while ministering to the Nephite children. During that process, my mind quite naturally turned toward my companion, Diane, and our own children. As I reflected on our relationship and the love I felt for them, my heart was filled with a most exquisite joy, a joy that stimulated and guided the song’s creation.
Join with me now in singing I Feel My Savior’s Love. As we do, let’s imagine that we’re all children in the presence of angels and our Savior, singing of Him with childlike respect, reverence, love, and faith. (Children’s Songbook, p. 74-75)
Did you notice how singing with childlike love and commitment enlarged your soul, how it began to enlighten your understanding, and how delicious it was to you? (See Alma 32:28) A song of remembrance invites the companionship of the Holy Ghost. The influence of the Holy Ghost expands and strengthens our faith. Whether we sing in our mind, silently with our breath, or with full voice, the song of a righteous heart invites rich, spiritual blessings of light and love to flow from our Father in Heaven because it is, in reality, a form of prayer.
There are other songs we ought to sing. The song of unity is one of them. Too many people in our world sing songs of selfishness, sin, estrangement from God, intolerance, and resistance to change. Let me share five possible verses of the song of unity. Each verse is about a word that begins with one of the letters of “unity.” Each word identifies an essential character trait or attribute of those who establish and promote unity. These attributes are: unselfish, noble, inspired, tolerant, and youthful.
Let’s go through an exercise together that will help us better understand and remember these five attributes. Hold your right hand in front of you at about eye level with the palm forward. The U-shaped space between the thumb and first finger reminds us of the first letter of unity and the importance of being unselfish. The first finger corresponds with the second letter of unity and reminds us to be noble. The second finger reminds us of the third letter of unity and the importance of being inspired. The third finger corresponds with the fourth letter of unity, reminding us to be tolerant. And the little finger reminds us of the fifth letter of unity and the importance of being youthful. Now, repeat the five attributes after me, while pointing with the first finger of your left hand at either your thumb or the finger that matches the first letter of each: Unselfish (point to the thumb or the “u” shape between the thumb and first finger), Noble (point to the first finger), Inspired (point to the second finger), Tolerant (point to the third finger), and Youthful (point to the littlest finger). To help a little more, let’s briefly review the meaning of each attribute and ask a leading question or two about our level of mastery.
To be unselfish means putting the general good or the needs and interests of others first. We know that unselfishness is a fundamental attribute of those who will establish Zion. We might ask: “Am I willing and able to put the needs of others first? If not, how can I learn to do so?”
Those with high ideals and excellent moral character are noble. We might ask ourselves: “Who am I when no one knows my thoughts or sees my behavior? Am I truly striving to be noble?”
The world considers those who are brilliant or creative to be inspired. But we ought to ask: “Am I worthy and willing to invite, receive, and respond to the power and persuasion of the Holy Ghost. Do I seek the inspiration of heaven or do I seek to gratify my pride?
To be tolerant is to fairly consider the differing views of others or to be able to endure harsh conditions or treatment. We might ask: “Am I willing to understand and accept others as they are, not just as I wish them to be? Am I willing to patiently endure the weaknesses we impose on each other in a world where personal agency is supreme? Am I truly able to recognize that others are also children of God?”
Those who are youthful are vigorous and energetic. They may be young or more experienced. Age is not the determining factor. Let’s ask then: “Am I positive, helpful, flexible, visionary, optimistic, enthusiastic, and continually filled with joy and newness of life? If not, how can I become more youthful?”
Let’s repeat the five attributes that promote unity, using our right hand as a guide. “U” (point to the thumb) reminds us to be unselfish. “N” (touch the first finger) reminds us to be noble. “I” (etc.) reminds us to be inspired. “T” reminds us to be tolerant. And “Y” reminds us to be youthful. Raising our hand in a friendly wave will, from this time forward, help us remember the attributes that promote unity!
If time permitted, we could continue talking about the songs we sing and their relationship to the gospel of Jesus Christ for a very long time. Truly, “Jehovah is [our] strength and [our] song” (Isaiah12:2). The songs we sing reflect who we are. The songs we sing help us become what we want to be. The songs we sing can be a precious link to our eternal home. It is our privilege to “sing unto the Lord” a new song as we live to be worthy of His mercy and wondrous grace (Isaiah 12:5).
I witness to you this day that songs can be the gateway to prayer, and that prayer is the gateway to our Savior’s love. Songs can help us express gratitude for His love with deeper feeling and meaning. Songs can help us become more like Him. Songs can help us learn to be “of one heart and one mind,” and dwell “in righteousness” (Moses 7:18).
May the songs we sing lead each of us steadily toward the presence of our Father in Heaven, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.