Doctrine and Covenants 25: 11-12; Oh, What Songs of the Heart

 

How have you seen that the Lord delights in your song(s) of the heart?

"11 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.

12 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." (Doctrine and Covenants 25: 11-12)

"Oh, What Songs of the Heart

Joyfully

1.Oh, what songs of the heart

We shall sing all the day,

When again we assemble at home,

When we meet ne’er to part

With the blest o’er the way,

There no more from our loved ones to roam!

When we meet ne’er to part,

Oh, what songs of the heart

We shall sing in our beautiful home.

2.Tho our rapture and bliss

There’s no song can express,

We will shout, we will sing o’er and o’er,

As we greet with a kiss,

And with joy we caress

All our loved ones that passed on before;

As we greet with a kiss,

In our rapture and bliss,

All our loved ones that passed on before.

3.Oh, the visions we’ll see

In that home of the blest,

There’s no word, there’s no thought can impart,

But our rapture will be

All the soul can attest,

In the heavenly songs of the heart;

But our rapture will be

In the vision we’ll see

Best expressed in the songs of the heart.

4.Oh, what songs we’ll employ!

Oh, what welcome we’ll hear!

While our transports of love are complete,

As the heart swells with joy

In embraces most dear

When our heavenly parents we meet!

As the heart swells with joy,

Oh, what songs we’ll employ,

When our heavenly parents we meet!

Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849–1942

Music: William Clayson, 1840–1887

Doctrine and Covenants 76:58–66, 70

1 Corinthians 2:9" (Hymn No. 286)

And here's the commentary entitled: "The Lord delights in my “song of the heart.” : 

"What are some of your “song[s] of the heart”—songs that express your feelings about Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ? Consider singing or listening to a few of them. What is it about these songs that makes them special to you?

You might also ponder how these hymns are like a prayer. What do sacred music and prayer have in common? How have your sacred songs been “answered with a blessing”?

See also “Oh, What Songs of the Heart,” Hymns, no. 286."

 "Sparrow" and "The Lord Is My Light" are two among the many "songs of the heart" that express my feelings about Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ. These two are special because their words indeed speak to me personally. When I first heard the song "Sparrow", its words were just exactly what I needed to give me peace and comfort at that very moment when I was feeling discouraged. The line in "The Lord Is My Light" saying, "My weakness in mercy he covers with pow’r" has been a great source of strength for me and I've been seeing it fulfilled in my life over and over especially most recently. 

These hymns are indeed like a prayer. They are also expressing my testimony affirming how God is blessing me with His power. Sacred music and prayer both express gratitude for God's blessings. My sacred songs have been "answered with a blessing" many times. I received peace and comfort at the very moment I was feeling discouraged, and I've been seeing how the Lord would cover my weakness from time to time.