The Music of the Gospel: Can You Hear It?

I am certain I am not the only one who at some point in their life has wanted to make someone else do something.  It may be a teacher at school requesting his students to listen, a parent or babysitter teaching the right way to do something--whether or not there always is a "right" way is another series of posts, but yes there often IS a "right" way--I have even noticed this tendency in young children playing together. Because of this seemingly universal challenge and my passion for music, the extended metaphor of this General Conference talk really hit me. It still speaks to me and I know it can and will touch some of you.

          “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood”—or by 

          virtue of being the dad or the mom or the biggest or the loudest—“only by persuasion, by long-

          suffering, by gentleness and meekness, … by love unfeigned; [and] by kindness” 

          (D&C 121:41–42).

          "[These] are the attributes that tune our hearts to the music of 

          the gospel. When they are present, the dance steps will be 

          performed more naturally and joyfully by all of the dancers in 

          the family, without the need for threats or intimidation or 

          compulsion."

For those of you not familiar with the talk, go ahead and open the link. I'll wait...No seriously.

So what did you think? Many of my friends probably heard it before and if you have, did you remember it? Interesting tangent: picture of Navajo medicine man for reference. I love the power in the metaphor that dancing can help heal and that the medicine man could teach the doctor the steps but not necessarily how to hear the music. Dancing is a joyful expression, a beautiful blending of technique and emotion; this carries weight in the metaphor I think.

Lately I have been praying for the Lord to help me learn compassion. I view this as 

a merciful and nurturing sort of love independent of the recipient's worthiness or desires. I have high standards for myself and others am painfully aware of my default setting of coercion when it comes to "teaching" what is right. (My daughter, Victoria, recently picked up the line, "But you have to let me do this myself or I will never learn...") For the past several months, the Lord has blessed me to be very aware of my feelings and motivations, even in the moment. I am still learning to be temperate but I nevertheless hear the music of the gospel more often than not. But much like a musician wishing to take her musicianship to the next level, the Spirit of the Lord must be present for me to make lasting improvements. That's part of the power of Christ's Atonement.

Returning to Elder Wilford W. Andersen's talk, 

          If early efforts at making music seem dissonant and discordant, remember that dissonance 

          cannot be corrected by criticism. Dissonance in the home is like darkness 

          in a room. It does little good to scold the darkness. We must                   displace the darkness by introducing light.

          So if the basses in your family choir are too loud and overbearing, or if the string section in 

          your family orchestra is a little too shrill or a little bit sharp, or if those impetuous piccolos are 

          out of tune or out of control, be patient. If you’re not hearing the music of the gospel in your 

          home, please remember these two words: keep practicing.

May I add my testimony to his that "[w]ith God’s help, the day will come when the music of the gospel will fill your home with unspeakable joy." Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has meant learning the dance steps as well as how to hear the music of Christ's gospel. It is a life-long listening cycle and one that has blessed my life immeasurably. I know that 

          Even when performed well, the music will not solve all of our problems. There will still be 

          crescendos and decrescendos in our lives, staccatos and legatos. Such is the nature of life on 

          planet earth. [I once had a wise professor of religion label these things "evidences of the Fall."]

          But when we add music to the dance steps, the sometimes complicated rhythms of marriage 

          and family life tend to move toward a harmonious balance. Even our most difficult challenges 

          will add rich plaintive tones and moving motifs.

So no matter where you are in life, tune in to the Lord's radio station and start dancing. He will help you find joy in even the awkward beginner's phases, a foretaste of the joy He himself feels as we progress towards our infinite potential as His own spirit sons and daughters. You must learn to join the dance!

In preparation for the Indianapolis Temple dedication

I will be singing this as part of a 20 voice choir in the Celestial Room. I've performed this same hymn once before years ago at the dedication of the Rexburg temple, but I must admit that the words were not as clear as they should be in my mind. As I have studied them this week, the lyrics have come alive again my heart and so I share my testimony with you on this hallowed occasion.

I believe in Christ; He is my King.
With all my heart to Him I'll sing.
I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.                

God is so awesome that of course I will praise Him. His awesomeness also extends to His listening to and answering my personal prayers!

I believe in Christ; He is God's Son.
On earth to dwell, His soul did come.
He healed the sick the dead He raised.
Good works were His: His name be praised!

The end of this first verse (originally there were 8 written by Brother McKonkie which were combined into 4 longer verses for the sake of hymn writing) reminds me of the beginning of The Living Christ. I love how simply and powerfully these words testify of the condescension of The Only Begotten of the Father. It gets personal starting in the very next verse.

I believe in Christ, my Lord, my God.
My feet He plants on gospel sod.
I'll worship Him [in gratitude for this and all other blessings] with all my might.
He is the source of truth and light.

When life gets hard and I feel discouraged I pray from understanding and love from the source of all truth. In performing the infinite atonement, He descended below all things. And I think of this as I continue singing.

I believe in Christ. He ransoms me.
From Satan's grasp He sets me free.
And I shall live in joy and love
In His eternal courts above.

I have taught my daughter to answer the following questions. What is the Atonement? The Key. The Key to what? The key that unlocks the gate into Heaven. And who turns that key? Jesus Christ. And what do we have to do for him to turn the key for us? Repent. This is the simple but true conversation I strive to live each day as I look forward to the Second Coming sung of in the next verse.

I believe in Christ; He stands supreme!                This means my morality should come from His.
From Him I'll gain my fondest dream.                  Obviously exaltation but also things in this life too...
And while I strive through grief and pain
His voice is heard: Ye shall obtain.                       God always keeps His promises!

I believe in Christ. So, come what may,
With Him I'll stand at that great day                    Reaffirming the promises I have made with God...
When on this earth He comes again
To rule among the sons of men.

This is only a portion of the testimony shared by Brother McConkie at the LDS General Conference in April 1972. Go and read it and record your feelings as you ponder his words. It doesn't have to be Christmas or Easter for us to consider or relationship with God and to live our testimonies of truth. So in the words of another great hymn: "Go and do something today!"