Mormon Music

Music and hymns have been an integral part of the Mormon Church since its very inception. Mormons believe that singing is an important form of worship and prayer to God. In a revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith 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(see D&C 25: 12).

Music is used to bring the spirit and reverence into meetings. In the preface of the hymnbook used by the Mormon Church it says, “Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns[. . .]brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the Spirit of the Lord into our homes and our personal lives. Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment. Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, ‘and it shall be answered with a blessing upon your heads.’” The hymns can be as powerful as scripture, and members of the Church are encouraged to use them this way; “we hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes" [1].

Emma Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith compiled the first hymnal. It was called 'A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of the Latter Day Saints'. She was called by the Lord to do this work. In Doctrine and Covenants 25:1, 11 it says: "Hearken unto the voice of the Lord your God, while I speak unto you, Emma Smith, my daughter; for verily I say unto you, all those who receive my gospel are sons and daughters in my kingdom. [. . .] And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church." This command was given only three months after the Church was organized. The compilation contained 90 songs. Only the words for the songs were printed in the book, and during meetings they would sing the words to various known tunes. Often they would sing different songs to the same tune.

Emma Smith’s compilations served the church for many years; sometimes, new songs would be added. In 1886, the President of the Church, John Taylor, asked five prominent LDS musicians to come up with music for all of the songs in the current book. Three years later they had finished, and published Latter-day Saint Psalmody. This hymnbook was the first in the Church to have both text and music for the songs.

The hymnbook used by the Church today is called simply, Hymns and is available online. It was first published in 1985, and it contains 341 hymns; 26 of which are from Emma Smith’s original compilation. This hymnbook is being used as the starting point for translating the songs into other languages. Hymns has been translated into 21 languages and other translations are in progress.

Music, both hymns and popular music, has played an important role in Mormon culture in many other ways. The Mormon Pioneers often sang during their trek west. In fact, a revelation given through Brigham Young encouraged the pioneers saying "If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving" (D&C 136:28). Mormons have often written songs for important events like temple dedications and holidays. Once in Utah, Welsh immigrants created a choir, which has become internationally known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Mormon colonies in the nineteenth century, no matter how small, usually had a town band and even today many Mormons learn an instrument and musican numbers are a frequent part of worship services. Each Mormon congregation is encouraged to have a choir and congregational hymns are sung at virtually every meeting.