My father-in-law who was about the nicest guy you could ever meet, was serving as the Bishop in his ward and was encouraging the ward members to sing in the ward choir decided he needed to be an example so he went choir practice, after choir practice he was told, " Bishop, we know you have so much to do and we have enough in the choir, you really don't have to participate". He knew they were politely asking him not to sing.
Alan BurgessDecember 22, 2015
I often feel that ward choirs are so small because some members are too humble to share their talents, and others have been encouraged not to. The Lord doesn't expect every hymn of praise to be worthy of a MoTab album. Indeed, in Psalm 100:1 we are all told to: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands." I believe that what is in our heart is far more important than the musical gifts that we may (or may not have) been blessed with. I love singing the hymns of the Church, even along side of someone who is apparently tone deaf.
Anonymous and frequently off-keyDecember 22, 2015
I loved this article! I've often said, "The scriptures say 'Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.' There's nowhere that it says, 'Thou shalt sing on key.'" I'm one who struggles to hit the right notes, although I love to sing. With my love of music in spite of my not so great voice I have served as Primary music director, Relief Society chorister, and even Sacrament Meeting chorister. I'm grateful for the opportunities that I am given to share my love of singing. I appreciate it when the talented singers around me are encouraging, like when a friend with a beautiful voice whispered, "You did that whole verse on key!" Other comments have been not so kind, and although I forgive ward members who made them, it's hard to forget the sharp words of someone to whom good singing comes naturally and doesn't understand how hard I'm trying or how much I love to sing in spite of my shortcomings. I hope this article will help more people to remember that we're doing the best we can and we're praising the Lord. If you must say something, please make it something encouraging or helpful. I wish there were a singing class in church! In school, all singing classes were filled by audition, which meant that the good singers had every opportunity to become great singers, but those with no particular talent never had a chance to learn.
Cameron DDecember 22, 2015
While I do agree that you shouldn't "... pay too much attention to the sounds he makes. If you do, you may miss the music...", several others may miss the music entirely when they hear the song.
As a chorister who sings in small chamber choir, the importance of singing well is important. Being able to hear oneself is, I believe, a learned skill. (Just watch some of those early episodes of American Idol to hear those who have not learned that skill.) When one of those contestants realize that they are not good, it hurts them.
Why? Because someone, who is their friend should have told them sooner that they should probably take lessons or do something to improve.
Imagine Handel's Messiah being performed poorly. Does it bring you closer to God?
I believe everyone can sing. Some need a little more help than others. And they should be made aware of that. Not making them aware is the true error. We all want to improve, but sometimes we don't know in which areas.
A "joyful noise" should be more joyful and less noise.
ClayDecember 22, 2015
President Heber J. Grant loved to sing......But was completely tone deaf. On one trip (I believe to St George), when he was the prophet, he asked his travelling companions (Rudger Clawson and J. Golden Kimball) if while travelling in an open buggy, he could sing 100 hymns on the way. Both consented. After a while they began to beg him to stop (he was probably way off key). He reports that he held them to their agreement. I have heard recordings of President Grant's singing, and he struggled to stay on key, but he sang anyway.
David ChristiansenDecember 22, 2015
Well put. We do not sing because we have talent. We sing because we have testimonies!
I grew up in Kaysville and remember a brother in our ward who sang off-key. Way off-key. And very Loud. I was a teenager and would snicker at his apparent tone deafness. It wasn't until later in life I realized that he was singing his testimony.
I now appreciate his fervor and enthusiasm.
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Corey D.December 24, 2023
My father-in-law who was about the nicest guy you could ever meet, was serving as the Bishop in his ward and was encouraging the ward members to sing in the ward choir decided he needed to be an example so he went choir practice, after choir practice he was told, " Bishop, we know you have so much to do and we have enough in the choir, you really don't have to participate". He knew they were politely asking him not to sing.
Alan BurgessDecember 22, 2015
I often feel that ward choirs are so small because some members are too humble to share their talents, and others have been encouraged not to. The Lord doesn't expect every hymn of praise to be worthy of a MoTab album. Indeed, in Psalm 100:1 we are all told to: "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands." I believe that what is in our heart is far more important than the musical gifts that we may (or may not have) been blessed with. I love singing the hymns of the Church, even along side of someone who is apparently tone deaf.
Anonymous and frequently off-keyDecember 22, 2015
I loved this article! I've often said, "The scriptures say 'Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.' There's nowhere that it says, 'Thou shalt sing on key.'" I'm one who struggles to hit the right notes, although I love to sing. With my love of music in spite of my not so great voice I have served as Primary music director, Relief Society chorister, and even Sacrament Meeting chorister. I'm grateful for the opportunities that I am given to share my love of singing. I appreciate it when the talented singers around me are encouraging, like when a friend with a beautiful voice whispered, "You did that whole verse on key!" Other comments have been not so kind, and although I forgive ward members who made them, it's hard to forget the sharp words of someone to whom good singing comes naturally and doesn't understand how hard I'm trying or how much I love to sing in spite of my shortcomings. I hope this article will help more people to remember that we're doing the best we can and we're praising the Lord. If you must say something, please make it something encouraging or helpful. I wish there were a singing class in church! In school, all singing classes were filled by audition, which meant that the good singers had every opportunity to become great singers, but those with no particular talent never had a chance to learn.
Cameron DDecember 22, 2015
While I do agree that you shouldn't "... pay too much attention to the sounds he makes. If you do, you may miss the music...", several others may miss the music entirely when they hear the song. As a chorister who sings in small chamber choir, the importance of singing well is important. Being able to hear oneself is, I believe, a learned skill. (Just watch some of those early episodes of American Idol to hear those who have not learned that skill.) When one of those contestants realize that they are not good, it hurts them. Why? Because someone, who is their friend should have told them sooner that they should probably take lessons or do something to improve. Imagine Handel's Messiah being performed poorly. Does it bring you closer to God? I believe everyone can sing. Some need a little more help than others. And they should be made aware of that. Not making them aware is the true error. We all want to improve, but sometimes we don't know in which areas. A "joyful noise" should be more joyful and less noise.
ClayDecember 22, 2015
President Heber J. Grant loved to sing......But was completely tone deaf. On one trip (I believe to St George), when he was the prophet, he asked his travelling companions (Rudger Clawson and J. Golden Kimball) if while travelling in an open buggy, he could sing 100 hymns on the way. Both consented. After a while they began to beg him to stop (he was probably way off key). He reports that he held them to their agreement. I have heard recordings of President Grant's singing, and he struggled to stay on key, but he sang anyway.
David ChristiansenDecember 22, 2015
Well put. We do not sing because we have talent. We sing because we have testimonies! I grew up in Kaysville and remember a brother in our ward who sang off-key. Way off-key. And very Loud. I was a teenager and would snicker at his apparent tone deafness. It wasn't until later in life I realized that he was singing his testimony. I now appreciate his fervor and enthusiasm.
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