Learn what sacred music has to do with revelation

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday Morning Session of the October 1994 Conference.

Because I majored in music in college, and I've been involved in musical...stuff...for practically my entire life, you would think I would be one of those people who bear their testimonies about music and say "I really feel the spirit through music" and so forth. But I'm not, really. Not that I don't like music! I do, obviously. But somewhere along the way after I got married and had children, I pretty much stopped ever deliberately listening to music. I hear music all day long (someone is always practicing the piano) and I tolerate music in the car when my older boys want it (hardly ever when I'm driving alone, though!) and I love singing in church and to my babies. We sing in our homeschool fairly often too. But on my own time…I just value silence so much when I can get it, that I would never dream of "wasting" that silence by turning on music!

However—we are having a Music Unit in our homeschool right now, so I have been thinking more about the value of music, and just kind of pondering what role it's supposed to play in our lives. So when Elder Packer's talked about music in his talk on personal revelation, I took notice. Here's what he said:

Make wholesome music of all kinds a part of your life. 

Then learn what sacred music has to do with revelation. The Lord said, “My soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.” 

Secular music may be inspiring in a classical or popular sense, but it will not prepare your mind to be instructed by the Spirit as will sacred music. 

The Apostle Paul counseled the Ephesians to “be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Emphasis is Elder Packer's)

I just think that's so interesting—what DOES sacred music have to do with revelation? I have certainly received revelation in church when there's been music. Or in the temple chapel. But I have just as often, or more often, received revelation in the Celestial Room (no music), while running, or at other times when I'm alone with no music. So I had honestly never connected those two concepts before. I also thought the idea of music "preparing your mind to be instructed" was interesting. Does that mean I would be better prepared for revelation if I turned on some sort of sacred music first? I'm not opposed to trying that.

I also wondered why his emphasis on "speaking to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." I know Elder Packer was a big advocate of memorizing the words of hymns as a defense against negative thoughts, so maybe that's what he meant here. Or did he have other uses of singing to ourselves in mind as well?

Even though I haven't thought of seeking music specifically to invite revelation, I have recently felt how joyful it is to sing together with my family, and I've never doubted that music can speak to our deepest feelings. But I'll be interested to keep learning how I can use music to more advantage in our lives!