“Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing to them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones.” —

“First Presidency Preface,” Hymns, 1985

Using Music to Sing Your Way Home

Although enjoyable, recorded music doesn’t touch the tether that making music does. Giving children, youth, and adults opportunities to learn & make music at home and church is a blessing. You can even make music in the car by singing together!

How do you start making living music? Some Ideas:

• Take and give music lessons
• Support musical attempts at home (no matter the stage of music)
• Create opportunities to make music at church
• Sing in the car, on walks, etc
• Let youth play in YW and Priesthood meetings, Primary prelude, and in Sacrament meetings. Preludes can be a great opportunity and can engage youth and adults who otherwise might not be contributing. . . not to mention that it sets a wonderful atmosphere for our meetings.

Opening and closing hymns are not standard practice in our meetings now BUT it doesn’t mean music is banned from our meetings. Support and use music and teach others to serve through music. There is joy in Singing Your Way Home.

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My Calling

Whatever your music calling, the stake is available to support, train, and answer questions for you. Please let us know if you would like to meet individually or as a group with your ward music brothers and sisters. Contact coalstakemusic@gmail.com or Sister Ginger Dean.

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What’s New

• Sacred Music tab in the Church Library App – Besides hymn texts and music, you can find a lot more. Take a look on your phone For instance…

• A guitar accompaniment and vocal to “Be Thou Humble” ( see ‘Songs of Devotion’)
• The name & audio of the beautiful hymn played at General Conference’s last session? (see ‘Conference Music’)
• Didn’t you just love the 2016 Youth Theme Song? (find it in ‘Youth Music’)
• Want to get your children’s attention before scripture study or church.
• I need to refresh myself on conducting a 4/4 meter hymn (it’s in ‘Using the Hymnbook’)

No matter your calling or family relationship, there is something for everyone!

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Up and Coming

• The Michael O’Neal Singers (MOS) offering a concert Sunday 3 PM July 24th “Celebrate: Music for Joyous Occasions”

• Organ and Piano Coaching available at the Dahlonega, Coal Mountain, Brannon, and Union Hill buildings. Free. Contact coalstakemusic@gmail.com

• “Carry On” Music Festival – Sat 17 Sept. Seeking ensembles to perform from each unit in our stake. Any uplifting music and instrumentation welcome. Let Sister Dean know if you want to perform or need ideas for music at coalstakemusic@gmail.com

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Hymn Highlight

Come, Come Ye Saints # 30

William Clayton penned this hymn at the bequest of Brigham Young as a sort of rallying song in 1846. It was 103 miles west of Nauvoo after William learned that his wife had safely given birth back in Nauvoo. He penned the words feeling the inspiration of the Lord guide his effort and paired it with a folk tune. In his words,

“This morning I composed a new song, ‘All Is Well.’ I feel to thank my Heavenly Father for my boy. I hope that my wife will soon be well.”

When Brother Clayton first presented his hymn to the Saints as they gathered around the campfire at the end of a long, arduous day of travel, he undoubtedly had only his manuscript and was thus obliged to teach the song by rote—one line at a time—until they learned it. thetabernaclechoir.org

Because the hymn was a favorite of the trail pioneers, whenever someone started singing the song, the whole group would join in. To learn more interesting facts, click here.

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Watch This

‘Hymn for America’ was written by Stephen Paulus, lyrics by Michael Browne for Craig Jessop and the Tabernacle Choir.

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ is a very familiar piece but Handel wrote quite a bit of other music. ‘Zadok the Priest’ was written for the coronation of King George II in 1727 and has been sung at every British coronation since. It was last sung at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953. The lyrics are taken from scriptures that describe the anointing of Solomon the King in the Old Testament.