Lessons on Missionary Service
Lesson No. Twelve

Missionaries are Blessed by Singing Hymns

Singing hymns is an effective way to testify of the gospel – In preparation for their mission prospective missionaries should learn many hymns in the LDS Hymn Book and participate in congregational singing at Church.  Good missionaries quickly come to appreciate the importance of singing our hymns.  Hymn singing is part of missionary meetings and conferences. It is important that missionaries sing in Church meetings as it has a positive effect on both members and investigators.  Singing hymns is a very effective way to teach and to testify. 

Hymns are prayers which are answered with blessings – The Lord said: “For 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” (D&C 25:12).

One of my favorite hymns which I learned on my mission was More Holiness Give Me.  The text and music of this hymn was written by Philip Paul Bliss who died at the age of 38 shortly after he wrote this hymn.  The title he originally gave it was My Prayer, and what a wonderful prayer it is.  In each stanza we ask for more of the things we need most. This prayer will be answered because they are what our Father is desirous to give to those who sincerely ask.

 “Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns.  Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, and comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end” (First Presidency Preface, Hymns, p. ix). 

This statement applies particularly to missionaries.  In addition to the examples used by the First Presidency singing hymns is a wonderful antidote for homesickness, a motivator to work hard and to keep the mission rules and schedule.  Doctrinal sermons on all the essential teachings of the gospel can be greatly enriched by messages from our hymns.

Singing hymns can literally open doors for teaching the gospel – During our mission in Kentucky two sisters were assigned to an area next to where my Assistants worked.  Soon the sisters were invited into more homes and were teaching more than the Assistants.  After some coaxing the sisters shared their door approach:  They would knock a door and when the person answered they asked if they could sing a hymn.  They sang “I am a Child of God”.  Then they asked if they could come in and share their message.  Few would refuse.

The Assistants began to use the same approach but sang “Lead Kindly Light”, one stanza of which is “The night is dark, and I am far from home.”  This approach worked well for them also.  Nevertheless, their door approach could not match the sisters.

Hymns we sang in the mission field continue to bless our family in a unique way – Elder David Dunbar was a wonderful pianist.  When he got the chicken pox we brought him to the mission home where he lived for two weeks.  During this time, he recorded all of the Hymns and songs from the Children’s Song Book on discs that played on our electronic piano.  We continue to love to sing these hymns with our grandchildren whenever we can.  They seem to love it also.  

Testimony – The combination of great music and inspired poetic words found in the hymns of the Church makes it possible for members of all ages to learn essential doctrines of the gospel.  Hymns help us withstand temptation as they fill our soul with worthy thoughts and bring peace to our lives.  Hymns lift our spirits.  They give us courage and a desire to increase in personal righteousness.