Sacred Music that lifts our souls

The Church has its standard sacred music, as well as other special music.  For those times when meetings are going a little slow, or I feel too fidgety or distracted to just listen to the speaker, I often take a moment to scan through some of the music in the LDS hymnal.

For example, in days (mostly past) when I was working out my repentance over my behavior and how it aligned with my beliefs (or otherwise) the song entitled "Prayer is the Soul's Sincerest desire" was one of my favorites.  It told me that I was not alone, and that Heaven was there to help me.  Here are two key verses:

5. Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice, 
Returning from his ways,
 While angels in their songs rejoice
 And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
7. Nor prayer is made on earth alone:
 The Holy Spirit pleads,
 And Jesus at the Father’s throne
 For sinners intercedes.

Just as in the song above, LDS music is so uplifting.  It testifies to basic tenets of the Church; it elevates the spirit; and gives calm and peace.   Some of the most fervent sentiments of the Saints were created in music, as they spoke of their faith and belief while they endured their greatest hardships.

Come Come Ye Saints, is perhaps one of the most profound example of how, when pushed beyond their human abilities to endure hardships, the Saints sang of their sincere belief while reciting the phrase:

"And should we die before our journey's through,
 Happy day! All is well!
 We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
 With the just we shall dwell!"

I sang this song at the hospital bedside of my beloved, late Grandmother, Johanna Buhl Von Christenhoven, as she was succumbing to a stroke.  As I sang to her, she raised her hand, and held mine tightly.  It brings a tear to my eye as I think of the tenderness of that moment, as this wonderful LDS hymn helped us connect one last time.

For almost any time and condition in your life, there is sacred music offered by the Church, to lift your spirits, to provide peace and comfort, and instruction when you need it.  Beyond standard LDS hymns, there is so much more, too.   I really love the Messiah by Handel.  Here is a link of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah.  From the song: "He shall feed his flock" comes the following:

Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  (Matthew 11: 28-29)

This is particularly sweet, and it soothes my soul like a healing balm.

Please take a moment to think about some of your favorite religious music, and share a note with us - what is it, why do you like it, and how does it help you?

I can do more with the Lord, than I can on my own

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..."  Alma 26:12 

For the last thirty years, I have essentially been self-employed.  Working in that mode requires that one wears many hats, and takes care of numerous functions that must be in balance in order to keep one's business (typically one's sole source of income) running effectively and profitably.

About 15 years ago, due to an accounting error from my outside accountant, I was advised, (too late to change the outcome,) that the impending "payroll could not be met."  I've always been a firm believer that the last thing an employee should have to worry about is whether or not they are going to get paid.  Of all of the mutual commitments employees and employers make between them, I feel that the duty of loyalty from a boss to an employee is that as long as he is working for me, he will be paid, in full, and on time.

With this in mind, when this occasion arose, it was apparent to me that the possibility of missing so much as a single dollar of payroll, would inevitably result in an immediate and irretrievable failure of the business.  In this situation, I was met with the decision to take the money that was put away for tithing and use it, instead, for payroll.  In my mind, that decision would be at least as negative, if not more so, than not paying my employees.  For who would it be worse to rob?  God, or my fellow man?  Neither was acceptable, and both would spell disaster.

The only decision that could be made, was made.  Pay tithing, and rely on Heavenly Father to provide.  This was after "all that I could do" and after so many decades of experience, realizing that after having applied all of the knowledge and resources that I had available to me, that my only option was to fall to my knees, and humbly admit to Heavenly Father, that I knew of no way out of the mess, and could he please help me understand what I must do, in order to resolve the problem.

What happened still burns brightly after all these years, so I will share it here.    Later in the day, after sincere supplication and prayer with the Lord, my dear friend, (now departed) David Thomas called me.  He wanted to know if I could go to lunch with him.  He was one of my favorite people, and a dear, and respected mentor.  Of course, I sought his company, as I felt that perhaps he would have a good idea for me.  When I explained what had happened, and how I didn't know what to do, David gave me an excellent idea.

David asked:  You own your office building outright, is that correct?  I said, yes, that is correct.    He asked, "do you have any invoices that clients owe you, that they have not yet paid?"  And I said, yes, that is also true.  He said, do you pay your tithing?  To which I answered, of course.  Always, and on time.

So he said, "Brad, I often make a little extra income by factoring other people's receivables.  The problem is, factoring is very expensive, and I don't think it would be a good idea for you.  (Factors, as I understand it, typically charge up to a 40% discount.)  Dave said, you can sell me your invoices, at a rate of 1 point each time you do it, plus a 2% per month interest rate.  If you sell me an invoice, and you pay back the loan on the invoice within a month, that means it will cost you 3% in total.  Over a year's time, that is an equivalent interest rate of 25%, but I don't think you'll need to go that long.  He said, instead of using your invoices as collateral, you will give me a lien on your building to cover the value of the loan.

David was willing to make me the deal on the spot, because he knew me well, and knew that I paid my tithing.   I accepted his kind, and entirely unexpected offer, and was able to meet payroll, on time, the next day.  Based on the arrangement he made with me, the matter was completely resolved within thirty days.

Because I relied on the Lord, he found a way for me to continue to meet all of my obligations, while not taking charity, or failing.  Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..."  Alma 26:12 

This very short video on Youtube is about a Father of a severely handicapped son, who takes him along in triathalons.   The love, concern, and strength of this Father is a similitude of the love and strength that our Father in Heaven holds for us.  Please take a moment to watch it.  I promise it will be worth it.

What experiences have you had in relying on the Lord to make up for the last bit of strength you needed that was beyond your reach?