Mother's Music.

In a revelation given to the prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said:

D&C 25: 12

12 For my soul ^adelighteth in the ^bsong of the ^cheart; yea, the ^dsong of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.

This simple scripture shows us that Music is important to the Lord and is also a great way for us to worship, pray, and testify of Him.

I grew up in a home filled with music. This was mostly because of my mother. She has a wonderful singing voice and is very talented. I think if my mom had chosen a different road in life, she would have ended up as a famous singer, actor, dancer or performer.

But as it was, her heart was in raising her children and living the Gospel. She chose to use her talents for the building of the kingdom. Almost every church calling she served in had to do with music or performing.

She was always singing at church services, wedding receptions, funerals, or other functions. She was often chosen to direct and produce plays and musicals for both church and the community.

At one point she taught over 100 students vocal, dancing and performing lessons.

Some of my earliest memories are of her teaching me songs.

This influence of music had a great impression on my family. Three of my Brothers went on to careers in the performing arts, most all of us play a musical instrument, and all of us love music.

Having said of of this, there was nothing more sacred to me than to hear my mother singing the hymns.

I remember many times sitting on the benches and bending my ear towards the sound of my Mother singing those sacred songs. I'd often seen her "perform" music. But this was a different kind of singing. The sound of her voice, raised in testimony of the Savoir, the restoration, and gospel principles, spoke to me in ways other music could not.

I could tell when she sang these songs, it wasn't to perform, but rather to testify. I can think of no more profound testimony of Jesus Christ that I've ever heard then that of my Mother singing. Her voice wasn't the the out of control vibrato that you would here from many of the of the other ladies in church, but instead it was a soft sacred sound.

I didn't recognize it until later in life, but I now understand the feelings I was feeling as a child as I heard my mother sing were nothing less than the whisperings of the Holy Spirit testifying to my heart that Jesus Christ really is my savior.

Since then, I've tried to sing the sacred hymns to my own children. I like to sit on the rocking chair with them in my lap while I sing them to sleep. It is one of my favorite things to do. I don't have the angelic voice of my mother, but I hope they will hear more than my voice. Just like I did when my mother sang to me. I hope they will feel the Holy Ghost testifying to their hearts of the truthfulness of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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