A Spirit of Gratitude

I didn't think I'd have an example of a statement I made in my last blog so quickly.

During my weekly visit to my uncles' home I was watching TV with my Uncle Jerry. My Uncle Jerry is a great fan and frequent viewer of the Gaither Gospel Hour. Through him I've had the opportunity to listen to a lot of beautiful music that I might not have heard otherwise.

In my last blog I said that one of the most effective teachers for me is music. One song in particular profoundly and immediately touched my heart this past Tuesday, and I've since downloaded it, and listened to it repeatedly since then. I love the spirit of gratitude that is so simply expressed in the lyrics and I thought I would share it.

I've listened to this everyday, trying to hold onto that spirit of gratitude in my heart. I hope it might help another as well.

Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies

The very first scripture I memorized as a child was Doctrine & Covenants 25:12, which reads,
     "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

I remember seeing it on a handmade poster that had been affixed to the wall of our Primary room and it gave me such a thrill inside to read it, that I had to memorize it. Since then, the music of the Church has continued to be one of the greatest inspirations in my life. In many ways it is the most effective and profound way for me to learn. It was still something of a surprise for me though, to receive the call of Branch Chorister a few weeks ago.

When my Branch President extended the call, I did ask him, "President, are you sure? I have no formal music training." President assured me that he felt it was right and I accepted.

Unfortunately, since then, I have allowed my spirit to become harrowed up by doubts regarding my ability to fulfill this calling. My branch has many saints that are acquiring their advance degrees in various aspects of music - vocal, instruments, conducting,...so I have felt very intimidated standing before this group to lead them in the hymns every Sunday.

I had lead the music in Sacrament meeting on a couple of occasions prior to my call but upon it officially becoming my duty, I felt a heavy weight of responsibility. Some of it eased after I was finally set apart and received the necessary blessings to fulfill my role but I still felt very awkward this past Sunday.

I have been pondering the question more intently these past few days and realized I had forgotten one of President Monson's teachings, "Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies."

While it will be necessary for me to study and do my best to magnify this calling, I am not expected to carry this burden alone.

Some may ask, "What burden? You only have to lead the hymns for an hour every Sunday! How hard could that be?!"

In order to better magnify my calling, I have been studying the topic of music in my scriptures and came across this scripture in Deuteronomy 31: 19-21, which I felt directly (and chillingly) applies to our time and states:
     "Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
      For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.
      And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed; for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware."(italics added)

Elder Franklin D. Richards of the Seventy in his talk, LDS Hymns -- Worshiping With Song said, "Today, one of the important parts of our worship services is the congregational singing of hymns...As each of our religious services is opened by a hymn and a prayer, the spirit of worship is established and a beautiful feeling of fellowship is felt...In our Latter-day Saint hymns, we sing praises to the Lord, pray unto the Lord, recite great religious truths—in effect sermons—and our minds and spirits are elevated and spiritually stimulated."

Elder Richards also quoted President Kimball (in reference to our singing of hymns) as having said, "Some of the greatest sermons that have ever been preached were preached by the singing of a song..."

So yes, I feel that it is a great responsibility but it is one that I will strive to embrace. Not only will I fulfill my part by preparing to understand the hymns' messages, and the actual process of leading music but I will try to remember that the Lord felt that I could do the job. He has faith in me and I need to have faith in Him, His work and in His ability to make me the kind of tool that will aid in bringing the Holy Spirit into our church meeting and helping his presence to be felt. I feel like Ammon when he said in Alma 26:12,
      "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things... "

I will remember and have faith.