Raise your voice

There’s room for all the voices, says Elder Holland. 
 

Raise your voice

Now how about a verse of Reverently, Quietly?
 

A joyful noise

Sometimes those songs just get stuck in your head, you know what I mean?
 

They shall sing a new song

I like how they're rolling out the periodic updates to the hymnal. Some of them are familiar, and it gives us a chance to listen and learn the new ones in bite sized pieces.

But I'm pretty sure they're never going to include Rudolph.
 

Make a joyful noise

I love the new songs that they're adding to the hymnbook! They have such great stories behind them!

The guy in the portrait? W.W. Phelps.
 

Changes (LDS Version)

Trying to navigate the new hymns in our family has been a bit awkward. Some folks are more tech-savvy than others.
 

Think a sacred song

I've seen a lot of people on social media express their excitement about the new additions to our collection of hymns. But I'm sure there are a lot of pianists and organists who realize that there are a bunch of new songs to learn!
 

Sketchbook: Improvement Era

A few decades ago, Hank Ketchum had a gag in the original Dennis the Menace. Dennis and his family were sitting in church. Alice, his mom, was looking at him in a mix of shock and embarrassment, while the people in the pews round about were chuckling. Dennis said, "Because I know 'Yankee Doodle' better, that's why!"

That cartoon has always stuck with me as an example of a cartoon coming in at the perfect moment in the middle of the story. We know what happened moments before, and that makes it all the more amusing.

This sketch is, yeah, a blatant ripoff of that cartoon. But with the pervasiveness of Taylor Swift and her influence with teen/tween culture, I thought it might be fun to explore. At least in the sketchbook.
 

Sketchbook: The song of the righteous

Every now and then, our ward has a sacrament meeting in which instead of talks, people are invited to share a hymn and why it is meaningful to them — and then we sing a verse (or two) from that hymn. It's kind of like a musical testimony meeting. Our organist and director get a good workout.

It's interesting to hear why a hymn is significant to an individual. That gives more meaning  as we sing together and invites the spirit to sing along.
 

Sketchbook: Raised voices

Something about this just seemed wrong, so it stayed in the sketchbook. Maybe a different song?
 

Sketchbook: Get up and dance

Maybe when they complete the latest revision to the hymn book there we be some tunes that are easy to dance to.

Which hymn makes you want to get up and dance?
 

On top of the world

My experience of sleeping on the top bunk in the MTC was more like Sis. Kerry Jo's than this elder.
 

Sing we now at parting

Have you ever been singing reverently in church and suddenly think, wouldn't it be funny if...? 

Light the World: Songs Worth Sharing

The Christmas season has a sound all its own, from jingling bells to brass bands to sacred choirs to the stillness of the falling snow. But one of the most joyous sounds of the season comes when finals are complete!

Share a song today: a carol, a hymn or whatever it is that brings you joy. Make a beautiful noise!
 

Oh, Babylon!

Have you ever had the experience of singing a hymn and hearing it in a different way than you ever have before? 

 

Every doubt will fly

It's difficult to carry heavy burdens when you spend all your time floating.
 

For joys laid up above

...and if they have too much sunshine, there's no way that they're going to be able to sleep!
 

It will surprise you

I remember when I was a deacon we thought it was hilarious to change the words to the hymns. Not in a Weird Al parody kind of way... just changing a word or two.

It doesn't take much to get a deacon to giggle.

Minute by minute

There are some days where it seems that hourly isn't nearly enough!
 

Conference Hymns: No. 16

It could happen.