My Soul Delighteth In The Song Of The Heart

Consider the doctrine taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith: "There are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it." (D&C 130:5). Commenting on this statement, President Joseph F. Smith said: "Hence, when messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not stranger, but from the ranks of our kindred, friends and fellow-beings and fellow-servants. In like manner our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the Divine presence messages of love, of warning, or reproof and instruction, to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh."

How often has the Lord tried to communicate with us? Not necessarily through angelic ministers, but to our hearts and our minds through the 'still, small voice' of the spirit? How often have we not been able to receive it? When it comes to music, the entire issue is the matter of being able to receive or not to receive personal revelation. The Lord says in the Doctrine and Covenants, "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" (D&C 8:2-3).

If the Lord communicates to our minds and our hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost whispers by a still small voice, how can we feel or hear the spirit if we have filled our minds and hearts with irreverent music or images?

Elder Boyd K. Packer taught us concerning this sacred subject. He said, "This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless. The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer. Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit."

How often has the Lord tried to communicate with us, but He was unable to do so because we had static in our receiving system? How often have our music, videos or DVD's been the source of that static? On the other hand, how often has the Lord communicated to us through music?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie made a profound statement when he said, "Music is part of the language of the Gods. It has been give to man so he can sing praises to the Lord. It is a means of expressing with poetic words and in melodious tunes, the deep feelings of rejoicing and thanksgiving found in the hearts of those who have testimonies of the divine Sonship and who know of the wonders and glories wrought for them by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Music is both in the voice and in the heart. Unfortunately not all music is good and edifying. Lucifer uses much that goes by the name of music to lead people to that which does not edify and is not of God. Just as language can be used to bless or curse, so music is a means of singing praises to the Lord or of planting evil thoughts and desires in the minds of men."
jack christiansen