Quotography: Music

Perhaps nothing invites the spirit so effectively as the right music. It can inspire, heal and awaken us!

Songs of the heart

The first time I walked back into County Lanes Assisted Living Center, after my trip to Europe, I was immediately welcomed with the feeling of warmth, love, and friendship. I noticed right off that my favorite lady was no longer with us. I was relieved to find out that she moved, and had not passed away. A couple of other of my favorite sister's had succumbed to bad health, leaving them more dependent than ever on aids to assist them. But that did not diminish their spirit, because it radiated out like sunbeams. My spirit was renewed that day, in more ways than one.

As we started to sing the opening song, the spirit immediately engulfed me. My voice cracked and my lips began to quiver. The tears welled up in my eyes as we sang How Great Thou Art. It took me back to Dad's life. That was his life, through and through. It took me back to his funeral. Those sentiments came out in both song and words expressed that day. 

That day at Country Lanes I was surrounded by the sweetest group of elderly women, the spirit so strong, that I could barely get the words out. But they were loud and clear in my heart. 

1. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the worlds thy hands have made. I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy pow'r thru-out the universe displayed.

2. When thru the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.

3. And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scare can take it in. That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

4. When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, "My God, how great thou art!"

Chorus

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, How great thou art! How great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee, How great thou art! How great thou art! 

The most defining moment in the song came when the words... "And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, Sent him to die, I scare can take it in." I truly felt only love and adoration to Him that gave His life for me. I can't even begin to comprehend the magnitude of that gift, the love, the burden borne for me personally. I scarce can take it in!

I thought about being at dad's graveside when Alia, Ann, and their girls sang the song, once again. Their voices rose to the heavens and I felt the angels join in. I will never, ever forget the feeling that pervaded me that day. 

Our Relief Society meeting didn't end with the opening song. We enjoyed a wonderful prepared lesson and closed the meeting with yet, another song that has become near and dear to my heart. How Firm a Foundation. Mom's favorite song which was sung at her funeral, as well.

1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent word! What more can he say than to you he hath said, Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior, Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2. In ev'ry condition- in sickness, in health, In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth, At home or a-broad, on the land or the sea- As thy days may demand, as they days may demand, As they days may demand, so they succor shall be.

3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. When through the deep water I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o'erflow, For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design, They dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

6. Ev'en down to old age, all my people shall prove, My sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn, Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.

7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake! 

I was once again taken back to the day that Leslie and I were in mom's room at the Care Center, when I had an overwhelming urge to sing her a song... her favorite song. We went in search of a hymn book, and Leslie and I sang to her. We didn't have the most beautiful voices. Far from it, but it was beautiful to her. I could hardly sing. The spirit was so strong. We came to the end, and she asked us to sing it again. We did! It felt good. I had never sang to my mother before. But those words... "fear not, I am with thee..."  connected our spirits on a level that only the heart can understand. I loved her so much, and I knew she knew it! 

It wasn't long before we had the entire family up singing to her. A beautiful choir made up of her sons and daughters and grandchildren and spouses. Singing hymns. Harmonizing! It was like a choir from heaven. Angels joining in. Several grandchildren have exceptional voices. I remember being overcome with the spirit as Kevin and Jacob sang in their booming bass voices. Annie played the organ. Teri Beth played the violin on another occasion. She can make the most beautiful music with that instrument.

One of the aids commented to me, afterwards, that she heard singing and was drawn to where it was coming from. As she approached mom's door, she stopped, peeked inside, and lingered as she listened to the most beautiful music she said she had ever heard. Her heart was filled to the brim with the spirit and said we sounded like a heavenly choir. Our music not only comforted mother and her family that day, but it touched many residents and workers, alike.  

Mom loved music. It was so soothing to her. She sang her entire life. She sang in ward choirs, in the Singing Mother's Choir, and at home. One of my best memories was her knocking lightly on my bedroom door early in the mornings to awaken me for school. Her loving voice... "Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to pray..." still resonates in my heart and soul today.

Something about music

I swear in my pre-earth life I had musical talent, and I am praying it will be when I pass from this life, too. My singing voice is just ok, but I can hum anything and stay on pitch. I love to hum, and I find myself often humming hymns throughout the day. Music, that is... good inspirational music, moves me in a way that I can not even put into words. It enters my heart and finds a place to stay. One time I had hummed my day away, and Dave told me to"stop!" He couldn't take it anymore! It was only then that I realized how much music really was a part of my life, even though I was not playing any musical instrument at the time and I was not in a choir. 

The first time I knew music would be a part of my life was when I took piano lessons. I was young, but old enough to feel the thrill of making music. I pictured myself as a concert pianist as I moved my young crocked, double jointed fingers up and down the keyboard. When I turned 14 years old, everything changed. I became interested in a particular boy, and my world, as I knew it, would never be the same. I abandoned my piano lessons and school band. I lost interest in the very thing I once loved. I don't know how that was possible, but I did.

I married the boy that took my interest elsewhere, and several years later we were living in Colorado with a young family. I secretly wanted a piano and was always on the lookout. One day I found a turn of the century baby grand piano. I was so excited! We bought it for $900 and had it restored. It was beautiful! It was my dream to pick up playing the piano again and have my children learn to play. I was even called to be the pianist in my ward Relief Society. I was so scared. It had been so long. I felt so intimidated. I didn't know how I would ever be able to do it. It was only a matter of a few weeks that we moved from our Steamboat Springs branch to Craig. You could say I was saved by the move! The R.S. president had told me she was inspired to have me called to that position. Makes me wonder all these years later had we stayed and I accepted the call and challenge.....

Years later, still. I was on my second marriage. We were selling fruit at the Farmer's Market in SLC, when a lady stopped at our booth. As she picked out some fruit we struck up a conversation with each other. We were drawn to each other... like we knew each other from somewhere before. Her name -- Sue Jarvis. She said she knew me. I told her I knew her. We tried to make the connection, from previous places where we might have lived and knew each other. Her name was even familiar to me. School, perhaps? And then she asked me if I sang. Surely that was where she knew me from! She was involved in the music department and choir at BYU. We never did figure it out... but we were kindred spirits and we knew it. She departed and I went about my business. And, I have never forgotten her. Even though our encounter was for a brief moment, I felt like I have always known her. I hope I bump into my friend again, someday. And... we sing together!

When Audrey and I made our trips from Brigham City to Price, we sang songs all the way through Spanish Fork and Price Canyon. These memories with Audrey are so dear to my heart. We belted out Patriotic songs, Especially for Youth songs, church hymns, primary songs. Now, that Audrey is grown, I love to sit by her in church and listen to her beautiful Alto voice. And then... just like that she can switch to Soprano. I don't know where she acquired such a beautiful voice, but it is heavenly to me. She is, indeed, sunshine to my soul. For more reasons than one!

I remember right after dad passed away, I really changed. I experienced a mighty change. I thought of Alma the younger and what he experienced. That he had no more disposition to do evil. I felt that way. And I only wanted to listen to good, inspirational music. To this very day, that is what I listen to. It is healing, comforting, and inspirational. As I made the many trips through the canyon on Hwy. 6 from Brigham City to Price and back, to visit family. I would put in the Especially for Youth CD's and sing to the songs. How Great Thou Art, Come Thou Font of Every Blessing, and so many more. 

A year or so before mom passed away, mom gave me the piano I grew up on. Oh.. it's not good enough to play on. It's out of tune and there is no hope of fixing that problem. But, every now and again, I get out the piano books of my youth and play the songs that were so familiar to me. It takes me back to the time I imagined myself as a concert pianist. No, I never will be. At least not in this life. But I get so much satisfaction from playing the old ivory keys of my youth and dream of the time I will be! 

Good music is a heavenly treasure. It resonates truth, joy, and enlightenment. It inspires me to reach higher. It is in my soul and always will be.