The Possibilities of Worship
David L. EgliOne of the central principles of the Restored Gospel is that God created people to be free to diminish or expand their relationship to Him. He invites us all to find joy in our creation…
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Spring 1975/1976
The Spring 1975/1976 Issue focuses on the role of music and worship in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, edited by Walter Whipple and Rowan Taylor. David L. Egli explores the possibilities of worship, while Vereena Ursenbach Hatch reflects on music's spiritual significance. Bruce W. Jorgensen emphasizes the power of singing in worship. Ralph Woodward discusses choral music in the church and offers recommendations for improvement. Harold Neal highlights the role of music in the Reorganized Church, and other contributors examine the organ's place in church music and the evolution of Mormon hymnody. Newell B. Weight traces the birth of Mormon hymns, and Karen Lynn reviews past and future trends in LDS hymn texts. Norberto Guinaldo, Raymond C. Gobin, Weldon Whipple, and Walter Whipple discuss foreign editions of the LDS hymnal, covering Spanish, French, Japanese, and German hymnals. Reid Nibley and Norberto Guinaldo discuss the future of church music in a conversation. The issue also features a tribute to Hugh B. Brown, an influential apostle, written by Richard D. Poll. And more!
One of the central principles of the Restored Gospel is that God created people to be free to diminish or expand their relationship to Him. He invites us all to find joy in our creation…
In considering the future of music in the Church worship service, a brief inquiry into the scriptures is necessary if musical objectives are to be rooted firmly in the rich soil of doctrinal truth. Too…
Brothers and Sisters, I have been asked to talk on music as a form of worship, or on the significance of music in worship.* I found in reading some scriptures trying to prepare for this talk that I needed to narrow things down, so my real topic would be something like the religious or spiritual significance of song, and if I were to give a title for it, I would paraphrase Psalm 100, verse 2: “Serve the Lord with gladness: come into his presence with singing.”
Church music is that music which serves a worshipful purpose in a religious meeting. The Random House Dictionary defines worship as “reverent honor or regard paid to God or a sacred personage. . . .…
Sharing the love of music as the common heritage of Mormonism throughout the world, the Reorganization has experienced a steady growth in the use and development of music by its membership. Congregational singing has always…
“And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.” Thus was recorded the…
Our LDS hymn texts are a fascinating key to the history of the Church and the changing attitudes and concerns of the saints. Since the publication of the vest pocket hymnal of 1835, each new…
The Church in the Latin-American countries faces acute problems in relation to music and worship. While this is not readily apparent to the general Church membership and leadership, it is of great concern to aesthetically-minded…
Early in the history of the French missions, Church leaders encouraged the publication of hymnals. In 1899, the Swiss Mission published a collection of Mormon hymns which became the basis of the French hymnody. When…
Of the hymnals discussed in this issue, the Japanese is unique in that it is used by a people with no tradition of hymn singing. The current hymnal is the third used by the Saints…
For well over a century the German-speaking Latter-day Saints have had their own hymnal. They are currently singing out of the ninth edition (excluding reprints), and many congregations make occasional use of the out-of-print Choirbook…
When Elder Hugh B. Brown (the B also stands for Brown) passed from this stage of his eternal existence on December 2, 1975, the Church lost a remarkable leader. For a generation of Latter-day Saints…
Just over ten years ago I was approached by four young Mormons who were affiliated with Stanford University in one capacity or another. They wanted to know if there was a library market for a…
We have a new baby in our family. Soon after Amy was born, our oldest son introduced himself to the woman who was building a house behind ours. “And how many children are there in…
In 1907 J. J. McClellan, then organist for the Mormon Tabernacle, published a new choral suite under the extravagant title, “Ode to Irrigation.” The first of five choruses described in heavy Victorian prose a truly…
My grandfather, for whom I was named, was born in 1878 in a four-room stone house built by his father in Round Valley, near Morgan, Utah. My great grandfather had a small farm there and a job on the Union Pacific Railroad, but in the spring of 1883…
What is there but hips and thighs
To a black dwarf?
And the rudimentary calls and crying
Of sparrows swinging out
Dialogue 10.1 (1975-1976): 84–86
Review of Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith coauthored by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill regarding the trial of Joseph Smith and his brother’s Hyrum deaths. Jensen argues that this book is a mustread for anyone who is interested in ‘Mormon history, philosophy, and the law.’
“Oh Mother, Father will look so pretty for his wedding!” In these words this book begins and one feels instantly the poignant picture of the woman, Melissa, pressing her husband’s suit, a job she had…
This is a slender biography of a Mormon pioneer and patriarch which was written by an adoring daughter in her later years. The inclusion of this volume in the serial publications of the Tanner Trust…