Mormon Music
Latter-day Saints take music very seriously. Church members use sacred songs to invoke the Spirit and impart doctrine.
Jeremy Grimshaw shows that early Mormon composers embraced an eclectic musical sensibility with dramatic chromaticism and exoticist modality; as well as exploring La Monte Young’s development of an explicitly Mormon musical mysticism.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is one of America’s premier choral ensembles, boasting 360 members selected through rigorous auditions and an intensive 16-week training program. Their performances can be heard every Sunday on radio and TV broadcast “Music and the Spoken Word”, Temple Square concerts in Salt Lake City during Christmastime, and various albums released over time.
The Choir’s distinct sound can be traced back to its massive organ, which may have helped form its identity in its early days of Church. Furthermore, its distinctive style is further highlighted by the specific acoustics of Tabernacle building itself which were designed to mimic raindrop sounds.
Though its primary mission remains hymn singing for general meetings, the Choir has also become renowned cultural ambassadors worldwide. Touring has taken them to four presidential inaugurations including Ronald Reagan’s (1981). Additionally, it participated in many significant national events such as Constitution Hall Philadelphia bicentennial celebration (24 November 1976) and nationwide radio memorial for John F. Kennedy (24 November 1963).
Latter-day Saint Psalmody
Early in the Church’s history, hymns were printed without musical notation. Two unofficial but popular song books–Songs of Zion and Deseret Sunday School Songs–proposed that music be added alongside text to make hymns more singable; to address this concern, Church President Heber J. Grant established a committee responsible for musical affairs within the Church as well as managing production of hymnbooks.
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was published for the first time officially by Latter-day Saints in 1927 and then revised slightly for publication again in 1948. Finally, its current edition was issued in 1985.
The 1985 edition was the first time hymns were divided into men’s or women’s songs and included choral anthems for the first time. Additionally, some hymns in this collection can be traced back to biblical sources and still widely sung today.
Hymns
Hymns explore themes of prayer, redemption, and devotion. They provide hope and reassurance during difficult times and remind worshippers of God’s gracious sacrificial love extended towards mankind as encouragement to keep going forward with life.
This hymn explores the harsh realities of this temporal world and asks God for help to overcome them. While some online blogs and forums might find this song offensive, reading or singing it can be transformative experience for anyone who reads and sings it.
As well as its composition, it’s interesting to observe the circumstances under which this hymn was composed; they provide insight into one man who was much more than simply an upstanding religious individual with an impressive singing voice. His spiritual development from gang member to preacher makes a compelling tale.
Music Outside of Church
Many who seek to preserve church music for worshiping God have discovered that the best approach is limiting exposure to worldly music in churches as much as possible. To achieve this objective, however, church leadership must demonstrate strong spiritual standards for their family members’ musical tastes, and ensure they adhere to them (1 Timothy 3:1-5). Pastors and deacons must also ensure their own homes don’t violate these standards (ie: their musical tastes).
Church leaders must carefully choose those to assist with the music ministry, particularly music directors and church musicians who assist. Music should follow a spiritual philosophy that does not include worldly influences; churches who want to establish an alternative culture might consider only playing instrumental versions of popular praise and worship songs before or after services.
