I’m a Mormon, So…

Chel Owens

I’m a Mormon, so I sing. I sing hymns with other members of the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during our Sacrament Meeting, if it’s part of the lesson during the second hour of Sunday worship services, in the Primary during their singing time, or as part of the ward choir or a special choir that may form for other meetings.

©LDS Media Library

Sacred music increases faith in Jesus Christ. It invites the Spirit and teaches doctrine. It also creates a feeling of reverence, unifies members, and provides a way to worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

LDS General Handbook, “Music“

We use music in many places:

Sacrament Meeting begins with an opening hymn, has a sacramental hymn before the sacrament service, and ends with a closing hymn. There is often an intermediary, or rest, hymn midway through the hour. These hymns are taken from the official LDS Hymnbook.

©LDS Church News

The children who attend Primary sing songs pertaining to the theme of the year, ones they will be performing as part of the Primary Program held annually (more on that, later), a special birthday tune if the leaders wish to celebrate those, or welcome songs for visitors or new members. This singing time ran for at least half an hour when members spent three hours at church; now, this time is truncated to fifteen minutes.

©LDS Media Library

Likewise, the other meetings (Sunday Schools, Young Men’s, Young Women’s, Relief Society, and Elder’s Quorum) had opening and closing hymns when the meeting block was longer. Now, these groups do not sing during their second-hour meeting.

Every ward or branch is encouraged to have a choir. Ward choirs tend to sing during the rest hymn time of Sacrament Meeting or for the Sundays near to a holiday.

©LDS Church

When wards or branches plan Stake, Regional, or General Conference (more on that, later); a choir is organized to sing at those.

Besides these official, scheduled, uniform moments of song; the music coordinator of a ward or branch might also organize special musical numbers by those playing an instrument or those who wish to sing a special (bishop-approved) musical number.

The LDS Church also owns and operates the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) -and the Orchestra at Temple Square -and the Bells at Temple Square. These are made up of volunteers who must audition for positions and commit to a certain level of attendance and performance in order to participate. They sing for General Conference, special concerts, on tour, and each Sunday for Music and the Spoken Word.

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, singing “Amazing Grace”

©2023 Chel Owens

……

We Mormons are officially members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and are to drop any name but that. Since many recognize the nickname of ‘Mormon’ and it works with the alliteration so well, however, I will use the term.

My other note is that I will keep to official doctrinal practices. I will add my own application of them, especially in response to comments.

My final note is that I LOVE discussing anything I write. Don’t be rude, obviously, but any and all queries or responses are welcome.

My final note beyond the final note is that I do not seek to convert anyone. I am motivated by forming connections, answering curiosity, and straightening pictures. So, you’re safe.

29 thoughts on “I’m a Mormon, So…”

  4. I grew up in the Church of Christ where singing worship is all acapella. I’m convinced that I learned to read music and sing in harmony from my youngest experiences there – hence, a love of music that carries into everything I do. I also listened to a lot of Bluegrass music growing up and love, love, love, the old hymns. You might know it but there’s an album by the group, Fiddlesticks, that is nothing but old Mormon hymns. It’s worth a listen!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My husband, Kevin, is basically a walking jukebox and he’s played Fiddlesticks.

      ❤️ Your upbringing sounds wonderful. I love love love all kinds of music and know it’s from my exposure to do much as part of the LDS faith. A capella is beautiful.

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  7. I must admit, as a kid I hated singing at Church. I preferred going to the early morning mass because it was music free and most important, over faster. Admittedly, I do not attend service anymore but when I am inside a church for something, i.e. wedding, funeral, etc… I do enjoy the music and find it adds something joyful to the proceedings.

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  8. I didn’t know you sang Chelsea. You sing pretty well too. Maybe we should get Bruce to accompany you on the piano while you sing jazz. I could suggest some tunes. Hymn singing is a part of Reformed and Methodist churches too. I like bands like Sovereign Grace who make old hymns contemporary.

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      1. Bruce could teach you scat singing. But I’ve heard he’s into post-punk-deathcore with reggae influences these days. Lol! I wonder what he’ll say when he reads this 😂 Yeah I don’t listen to much gospel these days. More secular stuff. My music taste has gotten insipid though.

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          1. I want to be cool and say I listen to bands like Opeth, Dream Theatre, In Flames, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Mars Volta, GoGo Penguin, but I no longer do. These days it’s Lewis Capaldi, Adele, Rita Ora and Kelly Clarkson’s covers on her talk show. She did a Blink 182 one recently and it was amazing. The other covers are your generic pop – the insipid stuff I listen to lol. I religiously watch the voice too, but dislike country artists winning it frequently.

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