From The Heart Choir

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”-- Psalm 69:30

I love music. It has been an integral part of my life for the entire time I have lived on the earth, and I imagine before I received my body and came from the preexistence. I can recall from my youth, my mother at the piano practicing hymns and other music - Yanni, Mozart, etc; And my father with his guitar as we sat around his feet or around a campfire. I find happiness with my fingers on the strings of my guitar, violin, or the keys of a piano. 

But no music gives me as much joy as singing of my Savior, Jesus Christ. The ability to feel the Spirit testify of His life and mission comes quickly as I listen to music about Him. How grateful I am then, to participate in a choir that has at its core the mission of spreading the word of God and of testifying of Christ! 
Our first fireside is Sunday the 24th in the Hinckley chapel in Rexburg, ID. and we are excited and humbled by the opportunity to sing praises to our God and our King!

“Music is given of God to further his purposes. Sweet melodies mellow the souls of men and help prepare them for the gospel. After men receive the truth, songs of praise to Deity help to sanctify and cleanse their souls.”
-- Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine (1966), 521

“Music can set an atmosphere of worship which invites [the] spirit of revelation, of testimony.”
-- President Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22

The largest blessing to me from participation in this choir, is the greater understanding of the Plan of Salvation - sometimes called the Plan of Happiness. And I have gained greater happiness through this deeper understanding. Singing about the life of Christ and about resurrection, about what happens to those who pass on from this life, has brought me comfort. With David's passing in February, I often am struck rather randomly it seems with heavy grief. Although I know that he is safe and taken care of, and even that I will see him again, and that he will always be my big protective brother, I still miss him often. There is a pain at losing a sibling that I can't fully describe and I would never wish upon anyone.

In one of our songs we sing the lines: "Lux aeterna, luceat eis, Domine (May everlasting light shine upon them, Lord). Turn to me and be gracious for my heart is in distress. Oh God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? My tears linger at night but joy comes in the morning light. Lord, in Your infinite mercy, grant [us] rest." ("In Remembrance". Jeffrey L. Ames)
The song was written for three of his students who were siblings and all died in an automobile accident. As we sang this song at retreat over the weekend, I was struck so suddenly with pain that I was left breathless and had to excuse myself. I am grateful for the kind friend who came and found me and mourned with me. The scriptures say we are to "mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" and she surely was a disciple of Christ in that moment. 

I want you to know that God is an individual God. I love that in the middle of the pain in this song, we declare "My God," because Heavenly Father is an individual God. He is My God and He is Your God. He knows what pains us and He knows how to help us through that pain. I know that David will eventually be at rest and that I will see him again. 

Music speaks to our spirits and I believe it must have been an integral part of our experience before we came to this life. I love music and find it difficult to be without it! I am all the more grateful when that music teaches me essential lessons that carry me through trials.