The Joy of Congregational Singing

"Most Church meetings are enhanced by the singing of hymns. Music provides a primary means by which members participate in Church worship services. Congregational singing has a unique and often underused power for unifying members as they worship together" (Handbook 2: Administering the Church 14.4.3).

On a cold Sunday morning during the winter of 1997, the Levoberezhny Branch (pictured above) met for Sacrament Meeting in a small rented space in the basement of a large apartment building in Kiev, Ukraine. As we sang the opening hymn, I remember struggling, as a new missionary in the area, to sing a familiar tune in an unfamiliar language.

In contrast, several rows behind me one of the good members of this branch struggled to sing an unfamiliar tune in a familiar language. I glanced back and smiled as I saw (and heard) a burly, mustached Ukrainian bellowing the opening hymn to what seemed to be a completely different tune!  I remember being impressed by his enthusiasm and feeling the joy with which he sang.

At the time, only a small selection of LDS hymns had been translated into the local languages of Ukrainian and Russian, but the members sang those few hymns with all their hearts. At a time when branches in the area were small and growing, congregational singing provided an important sense of unity. In your own ward, don't underestimate the power of singing together as a congregation!