Introduction to the Latter-day Hymns Series

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

08 Jan 2008 03:00 PM

We have been told by the Lord that "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me" and that it will be answered upon the heads of those who perform the music. We are also told that we draw closer to God through music than through any other means save it be for prayer. Music is a powerful tool, one that can be used to bring us near to the throne of God or one that can be used to drive us away from the Holy Ghost.

My great-great-grandmother was converted to the Gospel by the power of the hymns. As a Welshwoman, music was in her blood, and when she heard the songs of Zion, she recognized the spirit that was in them. She spoke very little English at the time and didn't understand many of the sermons she heard in church, but when the Saints began to sing, she knew the Church was true.

When Emma Smith was asked to compile a selection of hymns for the use of the Saints, she started a legacy. Since Emma's time, we've had other hymn books, each updated with recent compositions but also keeping the beloved favorites we've sung for years, such as "How Great Thou Art," "The Spirit of God," and "Come, Come Ye Saints." What would we do without these remarkably stirring hymns to add an extra measure of the Spirit to our meetings and to bring our souls more in harmony with that of the Lord?

The Latter-day Hymns series will give us a look into the stories behind the hymns and discuss the words of the hymns themselves. Using the LDS hymnbook, the Internet, and "Our Latter-Day Hymns" by Karen Lynn Davidson, we'll learn what brought the hymns into being, and we'll discuss the impact this sacred music has on those who hear it. This series will be beneficial to those who teach music in church, who conduct for family home evening, or for those would like to learn more for their own edification. I hope you'll be able to join us.

Related Blogs:

The Nourishing Power of Hymns

Creating a Reverent Home

Family Home Evening: Music and Worship

Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I've been a blogger for Families.com since August of 2006.

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