Straight from the Hymnbook

"Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymns invite the Spirit of the Lord, create a feeling of reverence, unify us as members, and provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord" (Hymns, ix).

As a missionary in what was then the relatively new Ukraine Kiev Mission, my companions and I often served in locations far from the mission home.  For much of my mission, I served in Crimea, which is approximately 500 miles from Kiev.  At times, my companions and I felt isolated and distant from the rest of the mission.  Occasionally, we would travel to Kiev for mission conferences, which provided a much-needed sense of belonging and community.

On one such occasion, my companion and I boarded a train for the winding, 22-hour trek northward from Crimea to Kiev. Upon arriving we went to the mission home for our meeting.  We joined with about 20 other missionaries in singing the opening hymn, "The Spirit of God."  Though only a simple four-part hymn, that group of missionaries sang with such joy and enthusiasm, it created an unforgettable feeling of unity.

And that's really what it's about.  In our eagerness to find some creative arrangement, we sometimes lose sight of the fact that the hymns, in their simplest form, can sometimes be the most moving musical experience.