Music has always been a fixture in our Church.  The Prophet Joseph Smith loved music, often inviting various musicians into his home to entertain his family and guests.

Music has religious origins, as we all know (which makes it all the more silly that no religious music can be played in our schools).  I’m grateful to those brave music directors who turn a deaf ear and teach Christmas music, as well as those religious classical pieces, to our youth.

Typically, religious music and secular music were kept separate in their own environment.  Many people had the view that secular music was alluring and dangerous.  Leave it to the Latter-day Saints to combine the two on the stage; the Social Hall building in downtown Salt Lake, at first, then the Salt Lake Theater.

Brigham Young came from a musical family.  His father, John Young, was an excellent singer, as was his mother, who sang with her sisters around town.  Brigham and his brothers sang as a quartet throughout their youth.  It makes sense that Brigham Young would build several places where music could be found, both religious and secular.

Many of the early Saints came from Wales, well known for its abundance in musical ability, and it was common to fit any text to old tunes.  Several early Saints were adept at poetry, so hymn singing with familiar tunes developed early in our meetings.  We all know how Emma was asked to gather songs for a hymnbook to be readily sung.  This hymnbook only had the words written down, which enabled them to sing to any tune they desired.  This was the first time a collection of hymns had been collected by anyone in America.

I found much of this information from an article written in 1915. By this time, Evan Stephens had already taken the Tabernacle Choir on tour to New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco; and the choir was already internationally known.

Of course, Eliza R. Snow has to be mentioned for her great poetic gift.  Through her, we have received such favorite hymns as O My Father, Behold, The Great Redeemer Die, How Great The Wisdom And The Love, and others.

There was quite a bit of musical talent among the early pioneers.  Many of them served the church locally, singing or playing their instruments for the various congregations.  But several of these talented musicians became internationally known as well.  It’s too bad their renown has been lost over the years, but we can look at those musical Saints in our midst today who are well known throughout the world.  The tradition continues.

Relief Society is full of great music.  This article was written too early to know about the Singing Mothers, who would gather as a large group anywhere and sing the hymns.  Indeed, the Singing Mothers in Europe and South America were just as talented, committed, and lovely as those in Utah.  And I just have to mention Jesse Evans (a world renown opera soprano) forcefully enticing her husband, Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith, to sing with her at various meetings.  How I wish I had heard them for myself.

The accompanying article gives four ways the Relief Society can benefit from music:

First-“Every ward Society should have a chorister and an organist.”  Music tends to not be taken quite as seriously as it could.  The Spirit really does come when we hear, and sing, the songs praising the Lord.  A chorister should come prepared to share her love and enthusiasm for music.

Second-“Relief Society choirs should be organized wherever it is possible”  This article even goes so far as to say that occasionally half the lesson time should be spent in singing and practicing “that new hymns and songs may be learned”.  I think we all agree that there are hymns that we are unfamiliar with and there is never an opportunity to learn them.  “A Relief Society choir can sing for ward conferences, Anniversary Day (March 17^th), Sacrament Meeting, visits to hospitals and homes, and at funerals.”

Third-“Each stake should be proud to own a stake Relief Society choir”.  These choirs can sing for many of the same gatherings, or just offer an opportunity for sisters to mingle in a larger setting.

Fourth-When the chorister is “in tune”, her choice of “song can give the keynote of a meeting”, or set the spiritual tone.

I have to add this funny little example of what not to do, from the article: “On one occasion, at a meeting held on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet, and his brother, when the hearts of those present were full of sad memories and of love for the departed.  Instead of singing, ‘Praise to the Man’, or some familiar hymn, ‘a thoughtless chorister announced, and the choir sang,–‘Don’t kill the little birds’”!

“Let us wake up musically, and sing with spirit and understanding. “

Taken from two articles in the Relief Society Magazine, October 1915, “Music in the Church and in the Relief Society”, and “The Place of Music in Ward and Stake Relief Society”.