THOUGHTS about HYMNS

John Wesley's Singing Rules One of the founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley wrote these rules for congregational singing which I find to still be timely and valid.
MARTIN LUTHER on the Importance of Hymns I am researching to see if he actually said this, but it certainly rings true!

PUBLIC ADDRESSES and Articles
on the ARTS and on HYMNS

-- The Gospel Vision of the Arts ... a landmark speech by President Spencer W. Kimball given at Brigham Young University in 1967
-- "Inspiring Music - Worthy Thoughts" ... Elder Boyd K. Packer in the October 1973 LDS General Conference ... and here are Two Other Quotes by Elder Boyd K. Packer in LDS General Conferences.
-- Guidelines for Writing Latter-day Hymns - a 1973 article by Alexander Schreiner, Tabernacle Organist and Church Music Committee member. Official church guidelines have changed and we have a new hymnal, but the spirit of the subject rings true.
-- The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord ... a 1976 BYU speech by Elder Boyd K. Packer
-- 1985 Hymnal - two ENSIGN articles and a First Presidency letter published when the 1985 LDS Hymnal was published
-- "LDS Hymns - Worshiping With Song" ... Elder Franklin D. Richards in the October 1982 LDS General Conference
-- NEWLY POSTED!!! The Language of Prayer ... Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the April 1993 General Conference
-- "Worship Through Music" ... Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the October 1994 LDS General Conference
-- Learning and Singing Hymns - a 1994 conversation with the Church Music Committee Chairman Michael F. Moody
-- Filling the World with Goodness and Truth ... a 1996 Ensign Magazine article by Elder M. Russell Ballard
-- The Power of Hymns ... by Elder Merrill J. Bateman (takes you to another website)
-- The Nourishing Power of Hymns ... by Elder Jay E. Jensen in the April 2007 LDS General Conference
-- Music to Calm the Beasts of Depression, Grief, and Trauma ... my own Meridian Magazine article; part of a series on Men and Depression.
-- Power in the Hymns ... an address I gave in November 2007 to my home congregation and have been invited to other congregations to deliver it
-- Power in the Hymns to Praise the Lord ... by W. Herbert Klopfer, former member of the LDS Church music committee
-- NEW!! The Power of Simple Music by composer Janice Kapp Perry; originally appeared in Meridian Magazine
-- NEW!! Worship Though the Hymns ... a March 2008 NEW ERA article (takes you to another website)

QUOTES from GENERAL CONFERENCE on Hymns and Singing

- LDS CHURCH MUSIC RESOURCE - the church website now has a Music page with some incredible resources for Latter-Day Saints! (takes you to another website)
- IS it true LDS congregations can only use their hymnal in their church services? CLICK HERE to read straight out of the Handbook of Instructions on the subject. Or, CLICK HERE to read the same thing but with my commentary on the side.
- "Harmony on the Highway" answers some of the why and how's to memorize hymns
- "I Have a Question" "Why are we encouraged to limit our musical selections for sacrament meetings to hymns or other hymn-like selections?"
- LEVELS of SINGING A unique way to help children understand how to sing and to sing well. Can also be used for adults!