I very rarely cry. In Young Women’s growing up, I always thought there was something wrong with me that I wouldn’t cry when I felt the Spirit like the other girls in my class.
(Side note: I think we can do better at reassuring our youth that feeling the Spirit is not the same thing as crying, even though many people experience both!)
But one sure way to get the tears flowing?
PLAY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.
When I sit down to watch a broadcast, as soon as the Tabernacle Choir starts singing a song, the tears start coming.
My absolute favorite way to bear my testimony is to play a piano solo of a hymn arrangement in church.
Or to sing with a choir, all united together in perfect harmony.
There is just something magical about music.
But it’s not just high-quality music that brings the Spirit, though.
The Lord asked Emma Smith to compile sacred hymns for the church, and then He told her in Doctrine and Covenants 25:12–
“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart;
“yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me,
“and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.”
God delights in our music.
Songs of righteous people are prayers.
And these song-prayers will be answered with blessings.
But the thing is…
I don’t think my musical training or abilities have much to do with my spiritual connection to music.
It doesn’t matter whether you can read a note or sing a melody.
No talent, audition or training required.
Songs, sung with an intentional devotion to God, are prayers.
And God delights in any sort of prayer or communion with Him.
And so I’m making sure to keep good, uplifting music in my life, to sing and play as often as I can.
Music is a prayer.
What is a song that has touched YOU most recently?
Just this weekend, I joined with a group of saints singing “Come, Come Ye Saints”, and felt a beautiful whisper from the Spirit that while the pioneers experienced tough trials, we are faced with completely different but still totally valid trials today. And that we can still find reasons to rejoice that “All is well!”
️Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
6 Responses
THANK YOU FOR EXPRESSING THE WORDS THAT I FEEL CAME RIGHT OUT OF MY HEART. I FELT THE SPIRIT WITH TEARS AND SHED THEM WHILE READING YOUR STUDY SNIPPETS TODAY. YOU ARE A VERY HUMBLE SPIRIT AND I ENJOY READING YOU EACH DAY! THANK YOU VERY MUCH! MUSIC IS MY SALVATION. I TRY TO PLAY ON THE PIANO DAILY EVEN IF IT’S JUST TIME FOR ONE SONG. I PLAY “THE LORD’S PRAYER” JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY.
Oh so cool! Keep it up! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying these!
Almost every day I will play a piano solo hymn just for me and Heavenly Father. It’s also how I express my testimony. When I hear the Tabernacle Choir or the Millennial Choir or any other group or soloist singing a hymn I get a big throat lump, heart escalates and tears follow. Glad I’m not the only one! ♥️????
Oh I love to hear that! Music really is the best!
My newest favorite song is My Own Sacred Grove by Angie Killian. I serve in primary and when the children sing this it stirs my soul! But just about ant hymn stirs my soul!
Yes, I totally love that song too! Thanks for sharing!