Music has always been a fundamental part of worship in Latter-Day Saint services. It has the potential to greatly augment an otherwise average meeting. The intermediate hymn is particularly welcome on High Council Sunday or when the speakers are telling their life story instead of teaching the doctrine of Christ... which is a topic for another post.
Skill is not always required for the music to be meaningful. Just this morning (7:00 AM, which is way too early for Stake Priesthood), there was a "choir" that favored us with "Called to Serve." There were at least two members of this choir that were singing notes that had nothing to do with the song. Fortunately, they were accompanied by a talented pianist, which helped tremendously. In spite of the notes, this was a welcome sound to liven up the meeting.
Skill also may not be able to redeem some songs. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir cannot make "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" less painful. For those not familiar with this song, its purpose is to promote contentment with the callings, assignments, and situations which may be required by God. This is a great message. The leadership of the church has been known to quote its lyrics many times when preaching about improving our attitudes. It has three verses that go over going, doing, and being what God would ask. The problem is mostly with the tune. The melody is so slow and repetitive, that I cannot recall singing through it myself without yawning at least twice. I've often thought they might add a verse called "I'll sing what you want me to sing" where it would describe that even though it is a horrible horrible melody, we have been asked by whoever picked the music to sing it...
I think there are several songs of the same mediocre nature in our hymnal. "Love at Home" causes blood to squirt from my eyes. "Home Can Be a Heaven On Earth" was the choice for today's meeting. It should not have been surprising to me. In months that have a fifth Sunday, adult Priesthood and Relief Society members join in a combined meeting. Ninety nine times out of one hundred, this results in a selection of mediocre music. When I was in the Young Men organization, these combined meetings resulted in people asking us to stand and recite the Young Women Value pledge as well... which nearly caused me an aneurysm... but I digress.
Please do not misunderstand me; I am not one that lobbies for the presence of Christian Rock in the meetings. The lack of brass and percussion instruments does not leave me unsatisfied. I do not long for the presence of a swaying, clapping gospel choir. I do however feel like there are songs that inspire confidence and faith. "Redeemer of Israel", "The Spirit of God", "Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise", and "Hope of Israel" are examples of songs that are appropriate for LDS services, and also do not put people in a catatonic state. I enjoy "Praise to the Man", "Onward Christian Soldiers", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", and I don't even mind putting my shoulder to the wheel on occasion. In fact our hymnal is filled with powerful music that portrays God as a God, and not as a warm fuzzy feeling in your tummy.
