Emma Smith Selects Emma Smith Selects Sacred Hymns Sacred Hymns

Doctrine and Covenants 25Doctrine and Covenants 25

SACRAMENT MEETINGSACRAMENT MEETINGAnnouncementsAnnouncements Invocation (opening prayer)Invocation (opening prayer)Ward [or branch] businessWard [or branch] businessSacramentSacramentSpeakersSpeakersBenediction (closing prayer)   Benediction (closing prayer)  

WHAT IS MISSING?   WHAT IS MISSING?  

Why do you think we use music in Why do you think we use music in our Church meetings? our Church meetings?

Why do we sing hymns? Why do we sing hymns? What difference do you think it would What difference do you think it would

make if we did not sing hymns in our make if we did not sing hymns in our Church meetings? Church meetings?

““Music is of enormous importance in Music is of enormous importance in our worship services. I believe that our worship services. I believe that those who choose, conduct, present, those who choose, conduct, present, and accompany the music may and accompany the music may influence the spirit of reverence in influence the spirit of reverence in our meetings more than a speaker our meetings more than a speaker does” does” (Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, p. (Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, p. 28; or 28; or Ensign,Ensign, Nov. 1991, p. 22). Nov. 1991, p. 22).

““Brothers and sisters, let us use the Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the spirit of the Lord hymns to invite the spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives. Let us memorize and our personal lives. Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment. partake of their spiritual nourishment. Know that the song of the righteous is a Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, ‘and prayer unto our Father in Heaven, ‘and it shall be answered with a blessing it shall be answered with a blessing upon [your] heads’ ” upon [your] heads’ ” (“First Presidency Preface,” (“First Presidency Preface,” Hymns,Hymns, p. x) p. x)

Why is reverent music is important Why is reverent music is important in our lives and how we can use the in our lives and how we can use the hymns to grow closer to Heavenly hymns to grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Father and Jesus Christ?

Emma SmithEmma SmithAn Elect LadyAn Elect Lady

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Emma Hale Smith was a Emma Hale Smith was a school teacher from an school teacher from an intelligent and highly intelligent and highly respected family. She respected family. She was a tall and beautiful was a tall and beautiful lady with black hair and lady with black hair and dark eyes. Her family dark eyes. Her family

members did not believe members did not believe Joseph was a prophet, Joseph was a prophet, and though they later and though they later

became friendly to him, became friendly to him, they were upset when they were upset when Emma married Joseph.Emma married Joseph.

The prophet’s wife had to The prophet’s wife had to endure many of the same endure many of the same

persecutions, hardships and persecutions, hardships and heartaches that her heartaches that her

husband did. Joseph and husband did. Joseph and Emma were poor. They Emma were poor. They

often had to rely on others often had to rely on others for a place to live and food for a place to live and food to eat while Joseph fulfilled to eat while Joseph fulfilled his church responsibilities. his church responsibilities. Emma and Joseph also had Emma and Joseph also had to move several times to to move several times to

avoid persecution.avoid persecution.

Emma helped and Emma helped and supported her supported her husband in his husband in his

work. She went work. She went with Joseph the with Joseph the

night he received night he received the plates at the the plates at the Hill Cumorah and Hill Cumorah and once she rode to once she rode to

warn her husband warn her husband that a group of that a group of

men were men were searching the searching the

woods to find the woods to find the plates he had plates he had hidden there.hidden there.

As Joseph began the As Joseph began the translation of the Book of translation of the Book of Mormon, Emma served as Mormon, Emma served as

his scribe, even though she his scribe, even though she had many household had many household

responsibilities. Emma responsibilities. Emma lived with the plates in her lived with the plates in her home for almost two years, home for almost two years, but she was never allowed but she was never allowed to see them. They were to see them. They were

often kept in a little trunk often kept in a little trunk on her dresser or on a table on her dresser or on a table covered with a linen cloth.covered with a linen cloth.

Joseph’s mother, LucyJoseph’s mother, Lucy Mack Mack Smith, said of Emma: “I have Smith, said of Emma: “I have

never seen a woman in my life, never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every who would endure every

species of fatigue and hardship, species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month and from from month to month and from

year to year, with that year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal and unflinching courage, zeal and patience, which she has ever patience, which she has ever

done; for I know that which she done; for I know that which she has had to endure…would have has had to endure…would have borne down almost any otherborne down almost any other

woman.”woman.”

The Lord spoke to The Lord spoke to Emma through Joseph. Emma through Joseph. He called her an elect He called her an elect

lady and gave her lady and gave her important work to do. important work to do. She was to comfort She was to comfort him when he was him when he was

troubled. Emma was troubled. Emma was also told to teach the also told to teach the

Saints from the Saints from the scriptures. The Holy scriptures. The Holy

Ghost would help her Ghost would help her in this important work.in this important work.

The Lord also The Lord also commanded Emma to commanded Emma to make a collection of make a collection of

hymns that the saints hymns that the saints could sing in their could sing in their

church meetings. The church meetings. The hymn book was hymn book was

completed in 1835 and completed in 1835 and contained the words to contained the words to 90 hymns. 34 of these 90 hymns. 34 of these hymns were written by hymns were written by church members about church members about the restoration of the the restoration of the gospel and the others gospel and the others

were selected by those were selected by those already being used by already being used by

other churches. other churches.

The hymnbook had no music printed in it. The hymnbook had no music printed in it. Members of the Church sang the words to Members of the Church sang the words to well-known tunes of the time and well-known tunes of the time and sometimes used different tunes with the sometimes used different tunes with the same hymns. Several of the hymns same hymns. Several of the hymns selected by Emma are included in our selected by Emma are included in our current hymnbook, including “Redeemer current hymnbook, including “Redeemer of Israel,” “How Firm a Foundation,” and of Israel,” “How Firm a Foundation,” and “Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah.” “Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah.”

How did the Lord describe Emma? How did the Lord describe Emma? (D&C 25:3; see footnote (D&C 25:3; see footnote b.b.) )

How did the Prophet’s mother How did the Prophet’s mother describe her? describe her?

What qualities of Emma Smith do you What qualities of Emma Smith do you admire? admire?

Do you think it was hard for Emma to Do you think it was hard for Emma to have the gold plates in her home but have the gold plates in her home but not be allowed to see them? Why? not be allowed to see them? Why?

What did the Lord tell her about What did the Lord tell her about seeing them? (D&C 25:4.) seeing them? (D&C 25:4.)

Have you ever wanted to do Have you ever wanted to do something that you were not allowed something that you were not allowed to do? What did you learn from your to do? What did you learn from your experience?experience?

What did the Lord tell Emma she should do What did the Lord tell Emma she should do to help her husband? (D&C 25:5–8) to help her husband? (D&C 25:5–8)

What can you tell about the kind of person What can you tell about the kind of person Emma was from the things she was asked Emma was from the things she was asked to do? to do?

How can you prepare to help in the Church How can you prepare to help in the Church as Emma did? as Emma did?

Doctrine and Covenants 25:9. Doctrine and Covenants 25:9. Why do you think Emma might have Why do you think Emma might have

been afraid? been afraid? What counsel did the Lord give her? What counsel did the Lord give her?

(D&C 25:9–10, 13–15.) (D&C 25:9–10, 13–15.) What can we learn from these verses What can we learn from these verses

about overcoming our own fears and about overcoming our own fears and problems? problems?

Why did Emma make a collection of Why did Emma make a collection of hymns? (hymns? (D&C 25:11D&C 25:11.) .)

What did Heavenly Father say about What did Heavenly Father say about hymns in hymns in Doctrine and Covenants 25:12Doctrine and Covenants 25:12? ?

Just as we talk to Heavenly Just as we talk to Heavenly Father when we pray, we also Father when we pray, we also talk to him when we sing talk to him when we sing hymns praising him.hymns praising him.

What has Heavenly Father promised What has Heavenly Father promised us if we sing hymns to worship him? (us if we sing hymns to worship him? (D&C 25:12D&C 25:12.) .)

What kinds of blessings might we What kinds of blessings might we receive from singing hymns? receive from singing hymns?

Hymns can help teach us the gospel Hymns can help teach us the gospel and strengthen our faith and and strengthen our faith and testimonies. testimonies.

They can help us want to repent and They can help us want to repent and keep the commandments. keep the commandments.

They can make us feel happy when They can make us feel happy when we are sad and can fill our minds we are sad and can fill our minds with good, clean thoughts with good, clean thoughts

They remind us that Heavenly They remind us that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. Father and Jesus Christ love us.

““Choose from among the sacred Choose from among the sacred music of the Church a favorite hymn, music of the Church a favorite hymn, one with words that are uplifting and one with words that are uplifting and music that is reverent, one that music that is reverent, one that makes you feel something akin to makes you feel something akin to inspiration. … Go over it in your mind inspiration. … Go over it in your mind carefully. Memorize it. … Now, use carefully. Memorize it. … Now, use this hymn as the place for your this hymn as the place for your thoughts to go. … As the music thoughts to go. … As the music begins and as the words form in your begins and as the words form in your thoughts, the unworthy [thoughts] thoughts, the unworthy [thoughts] will slip shamefully away” will slip shamefully away” (“Inspiring Music—(“Inspiring Music—Worthy Thoughts,” Worthy Thoughts,” Ensign,Ensign, Jan. 1974, p. 28). Jan. 1974, p. 28).

““I Wonder When I Wonder When He Comes Again”He Comes Again”

A Child’s PrayerA Child’s Prayer

““Music is of enormous importance in Music is of enormous importance in our worship services. I believe that our worship services. I believe that those who choose, conduct, present, those who choose, conduct, present, and accompany the music may and accompany the music may influence the spirit of reverence in our influence the spirit of reverence in our meetings more than a speaker does” meetings more than a speaker does” (Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, p. 28; or (Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, p. 28; or Ensign,Ensign, Nov. 1991, p. 22). Nov. 1991, p. 22).

““Brothers and sisters, let us use the Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the spirit of the Lord hymns to invite the spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives. Let us memorize our personal lives. Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual and partake of their spiritual nourishment. Know that the song of the nourishment. Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, ‘and it shall be answered with Heaven, ‘and it shall be answered with a blessing upon [your] heads’ ” a blessing upon [your] heads’ ” (“First (“First Presidency Preface,” Presidency Preface,” Hymns,Hymns, p. x). p. x).

Story about Story about President TaylorPresident Taylor

Pioneers Pioneers camping in the camping in the

Rocky Rocky MountainsMountains

How Firm a How Firm a FoundationFoundation

Away in a MangerAway in a Manger

Sing the words of one song to the melody of the other.

Doctrine and Covenants Doctrine and Covenants 25:12 25:12

12 For my soul delighted in the song 12 For my soul delighted in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. upon their heads.

memorize