Music is a universal language but it speaks in many differing ways from the sublime to the irreverent.

In its purest form, music lifts our souls and brings us closer to God who is the source of all that is good, including music. Music entertains and enriches our lives. Its therapeutic value is being discovered in hospitals and clinics. Its educational value in schools is being re-discovered after it has been eliminated for too long.

One educator has written: "I'm increasingly impressed by the evidence that music in the schools has a ripple effect and actually improves many students' performance in other subject areas. . . . Survey after survey demonstrates that exposure to music can enhance everything from reading readiness to math proficiency. No one is sure why, but neurological factors are apparently involved." (See "The New Sounds of Success in School," Parade magazine, February 28, 1999, p. 9.)

Perhaps we, as Latter-day Saints, can understand why because music was undoubtedly part of our spiritual training in pre-mortal life. It certainly will be part of our eternal life. We have this understanding from the Book of Mormon when we read about Lehi's vision of the heavens.

His son Nephi records: ". . . he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God." (1 Ne. 1:8.)

All scripture, both ancient and modern, affirms that by incorporating good music in our lives we can become closer to God and build more spirituality into our lives. It is interesting to note that prior to the agony of His atoning sacrifice in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus sang a hymn with His Apostles. (See Matt. 26:30.)

Music did not cease during the period of the Dark Ages, and as the period of reformation began prior to the restoration of the gospel, God poured down from heaven powerful music through such composers as Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Handel, to mention only a few.

One of George Frederick Handel's musical triumphs was his oratorio "The Messiah," which he composed in just 24 days in 1741. He was so absorbed by the flow of inspiration to him that he hardly ate or slept. His servant usually found trays of food untouched. On one occasion he opened the door of the room and the startled composer, with tears streaming down his cheeks, said: "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself." Handel had just completed composing the glorious Hallelujah Chorus. (See Spiritual Lives of Great Composers, by Patrick Kavanaugh, Sparrow Press, p. 3.)

Within three months after the organization of the Church in this dispensation, God revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith that his wife, Emma, should commence the publication of a book of hymns to be used in the worship services of the Church.

God emphasized the importance of music, especially hymns, when He 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.)

Brigham Young gave us this interesting insight into good music when he said: "There is no music in hell, for all good music belongs to heaven. Sweet harmonious sounds give exquisite joy to human beings capable of appreciating music. I delight in hearing harmonious tones made by the human voice, by musical instruments, and by both combined." (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 242.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley has counseled us: "Let there be music in the home. If you have teenagers who have their own recordings you will be prone to describe the sound as something other than music. Let them occasionally hear something better. Expose them to it. It will speak for itself. More of appreciation will come than you may think. It may not be spoken, but it will be felt, and its influence will become increasingly manifest as the years pass." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 394.)

Most people have quiet music running through their minds as they go about their daily affairs. This must have been the reason the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians: ". . . but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph. 5:18-19.)

Let us carry such worshipful music and songs in our hearts, and let us fill our lives with praise to God by music that is lovely and of good report.