The question was, "There's been an interesting discussion going on in another Church music group about what a "hymn" is and about what music is appropriate for sacrament meeting. I'm curious to know what the members of this group think."
My Bishop LOVES music, and is pretty liberal when it comes to music selection - perhaps even more liberal than I am! But, he taught me exactly what music is appropriate for Sacrament meeting. I had arranged a medley of Primary Children's Pioneer songs, and I submitted it to him for approval. He looked through it, and gave it back to me. He said he liked it, and it would be great for something else, but it was not appropriate for Sacrament meeting because it did not testify of Christ. I had known it was a light-hearted medley, but it was about the Pioneers so I didn't think that it wouldn't be acceptable. Once he told me why, it clicked into place exactly what we are doing with music.
Sacrament meeting is for one purpose, and one purpose alone. To partake of the Sacrament, and to worship Christ. This purpose is not always perfectly met, through thank-imonies and such, but anything the General Authorities have taught about Sacrament Meeting tells us that it is a time to testify of Christ, and for us to worship (ie: emulate) Him.
Since that singular experience, I've not had any troubles choosing music for Ward Choir. As I was writing this, I think I caught a greater vision of my calling. However frustrated I may get with others not quite getting the message about what we should be about during Sacrament meeting, especially Testimony meeting, I have the opportunity and responsibility to bear pure testimony of Christ through music.
This also applies to the arrangements of the music we choose. It should not be chosen based on performance, but on how well it testifies. If a piece turns simply into an impressive performance of music, it immediately is inappropriate, no matter what the words are about. The joining of words to music can become a pure expression of love and faith in Jesus Christ, and that is our main purpose and goal.
My new mission statement for Ward Choir: In everything, bear pure testimony of Jesus Christ through music. I needed that. Thanks for the question that prompted it.
The other benefit of only choosing music that testifies of Jesus Christ is, it doesn't matter what topic the speakers have been assigned, if we are singing of Christ, it will always fit. I have struggled with getting topics soon enough to choose music to perfectly go with the topic - it hasn't happened yet in the two years I've been in the calling - but I never feel it detracted from the topic if it was purely about Christ.
And though it was understood by me, simply not stated, another comment fits as well:
While testifying of Christ is one good measure of sacrament meeting-appropriateness, it cannot be the only one. There is a whole lot of testifying of Christ going on out there in Christian Music Land, and most of it would not be appropriate for our services. There must be a reverence for the subject in the music as well. (Posted by another group member)
And:
For me, I prefer stillness and peace in my Sacrament music. I want to feel the holy Ghost and receive revelation. This is a sacred service, not one for showing off abilities, nor talent, nor for drawing attention to the performer, composer, or anyone else. We are not idol worshipers. We don't worship the creation or the art itself, but rather good art should be invisible and allow us to see beyond the art. It is a vehicle to help us see something better. Art that draws attention to itself, for me, has no place in Sacrament meeting.
The application of this mission statement is far-reaching (as most mission statements are). Another site I was looking at recommended having the members of the choir share a spiritual thought at the beginning of choir. I thought that was a good idea, and planned to implement it. Now, I will have them use the hymn book and the music we are singing in choir, and answer the question, "How does this testify of Christ?"
Jesus Christ is the Root of All Christian Doctrine - learned from a talk by that name - and we should make Him the center of all we do in the church. If He is lost, then we are. Bringing everything back to Him is essential for what we do to live, to have the saving power. If we lose sight of Him, nothing we do can make up for the lack of it.
