Today I read Doctrine and Covenants section 136, the only revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants that was given to Brigham Young. This revelation was given to Brigham Young when he was at Winter Quarters during the mass exodus from Nauvoo and it gave the prophet instructions concerning the Saints and their trek west.
Most of this section is actually just instructions for caring for the Saints that were going on to Salt Lake City and those that were going to remain behind in Winter Quarters for another year. It also reenforced several commandments such as cease to content one with another and cease to speak evil concerning one another. Basic commandments that help keep the peace between the Saints.
The part of the section that stands out most to me is verse 28, which states "If thou are merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving." There are few things as controversial, at least in my opinion, in the church as music. Few things can inflame passions and emotions as easily and completely as music can. Just like with the gospel itself, the facts are all known and are all there but still people just can't seem to make a decision on it.
No one will content that music can inspire and inflame emotions. And yet there are those, particularly youth, who will deny the power of music and will say it does not affect them. I remember when I was a missionary and we would be having a really good day and the Spirit would be very strong and then we would go into a restaurant for dinner or lunch and the Spirit would just be gone. Just as quickly as you can snap your fingers. And getting the Spirit to come back is kind of like getting something wet, when it hits that water it's soaked in an instant, just like the Spirit leaving, but it takes awhile to get it dry again just like it does for the Spirit to come back.
Just like smoking, swearing, drinking, pornography and all other sins that drive away the Spirit in an instant, the first time you are exposed to inappropriate music you feel the Spirit telling you that this is not a good thing. You feel the hurt that is caused by the Spirit leaving. But unfortunately just like with sin, listening to the wrong type of music can start to feel comfortable, then pleasurable.
Here in Northern Alabama there are not very many radio stations that play the kind of music I prefer to listen to. I like most types of music, particularly classical music such as Handle, Mozart, and Bach. However, when I'm driving I typically prefer to listen to rock and roll. There are only a couple of stations down here that play rock and roll music, most are country or hip hop music, which are not my cup of tea so to speak. There is one station that plays particularly hard rock and roll music that I typically shy away from, but every now and then will play an ok song. Well it's kind of scary to me that sometimes I'll check that station and hear a song I used to listen to all the time and get excited and turn up the radio to sing along. What's scary is inevitably within a few moments I will feel the Spirit leave me and get that empty pit in my chest telling me this is not appropriate. It's nice to know that I have progressed in the right direction and so I am better in tune with where the Lord wants me to be, but it is sad and a little scary that I used to not find anything wrong with those songs or that type of music.
My Dad listens to very, very little music outside of classical music. His favorite singer is Andrea Bocelli, sometimes known as the Blind Tenor. I once asked him when I was a young teenager why he only listened to classical music and he replied that he tried to only listen to music that the Savior would listen to if He were here. That's quite profound in my opinion and is a great measuring stick to judge our music standards by. Can you picture the Savior listening to the songs they sing on "American Idol" or listening to gangster rap? I can't either. Do you think Heavenly Father listens to music? I can assure you He does. He listens to hymns and I daresay that He probably listens to other classical music. Now, not all classical music is created equal of course, there is some classical music that is just as inappropriate. Just because it's played by an orchestra does not make it good or appropriate.
As with all other forms of media, the greatest test of music is to ask yourself if you feel the desire to live the gospel, or be a better man/woman when you hear it. If the answer is no, then it's time to change your music choice. I love how in my house when my daughter starts to get fussy the one thing that will calm her down, every single time, is my wife and I sing primary songs to her. Every time by the time we are into the second line of whatever song she will stop crying and listen to us. If we stop she will go right back to crying but if we continue on and sing more songs, she stays happy and quiet. There is power in music. Just make sure to use it appropriately.
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