A lot of people ask me how I am able to connect with the Lord enough to experience his atoning love so sustainably. They want to know how they can more fully rely on him. In this post, I hope to address one major way that happens for me.
Songs for the River
When I was a senior in high school, my sister was dating Craig Savage (who is now her husband). She had gone on a river rafting trip with him. While on the river, she fell out of the raft and was sucked into a siphon (whirlpool). She was underwater for so long that she thought this was it for her. She describes it as a seriously scary experience. Craig was shaken by it as well. While on his mission, he sent her an instrumental song from the album Songs for the River by Roger Hoffman. He recorded his voice over it reenacting the event. It was somewhat funny because Craig has a sense of humor. But as a 17-year-old girl, I thought it was better than receiving roses. It really touched me – both the humor and his taking the time to express how much he cared for her.
Listening to Seminary Records in the 70s
Another experience with music was in the 70s when I was around six or seven years old. My older step-siblings brought home a record from seminary called Like Unto Us. I listened to it over and over again not because I understood what it was singing about but because of the way it made me feel. I remember experiencing this tingly feeling in my heart.
This was my favorite song on that album. It's a remake of the original: That We May Know
Listening to EFY Cassette Tapes in the 80s
When I was a teenager in the 80s, our church group traveled by bus from San Jose, California to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah for a youth conference, which was like EFY for our entire stake. I went when I was fourteen and again when I was seventeen. These conferences consisted of activities, dances, and workshops. They brought so much light into my life. As a teen, I was never happier than when I went to them.
Steven Kapp Perry spoke to us at the second Youth Conference. He was probably in his mid-20s or early 30s. He is the son of Janice Kapp Perry, an American composer, songwriter, and author. I listened to her music and sang (in a group) many of her songs for church activities like New Beginnings.
During Steven Kapp Perry’s presentation at our Youth Conference, he spoke and sang to us. He was beautiful! Everything about him attracted me. He believed in Jesus Christ and I could tell that he walked the talk. Spiritually, he was light. I bought his cassette tape from the BYU bookstore.
On the way home to California, I listened to it over and over again. I could not get enough of it. I was worshipping God through the music. I wouldn’t have been able to describe it like that back then. I was just following my heart and it was filled with a powerfully strong Spirit. I remember being surprised when someone asked me to turn it off. I thought everyone loved it as much as I did. I did turn it off, but when I got home, I continued listening to this music as well as music from other Christian artists over and over again.
Worshipping Through Music
Throughout my years growing up, I did not like the idea of worshipping anyone. Even when I read about people worshipping in the scriptures, it seemed pretty awkward to me. But I didn’t understand what worship really was. I didn’t know that playing a certain artist’s music over and over again and taping up their pictures all over my walls was a type of worship. When I was thirteen, this is how much I loved Duran Duran and especially Simon LeBon.
I only started to recognize these things in 2006-8, when I came to understand that worshipping is an integral part of my happiness. I would have never thought that I needed and desired to do it. But I totally do. I just need to have someone worthy of my worship always in front of my eyes (both physical and spiritual).
And I’m not the one who decides who is worthy of it. My heart decides that. I can choose what I read, who I read about, what I listen to, what I look at, and what I watch, but I can’t force my heart to worship. It just does or doesn’t. I can definitely choose to search for the good in people and things. And what never fails to make my heart take flight is when I see Jesus Christ in them. Through experience, I have learned where I’m more likely to find Him.
Read more about worship: Why Worship?
Listening to Amy Grant CDs in the 90s
In college, my roommate Susan Lund introduced me to Amy Grant’s music. Amy Grant worships God in her music and I found an intense connection with it. For more than 30 years, I have been singing along with her. When my kids were babies I sang these songs to them. I went to her concert with a friend when she came to Denver in 1998. I sang every song with her. Amy Grant helped me develop stronger wings so I could worship God at a higher level.
One of my favorite songs by her is Emmanuel.
Listening to MP3s in the 2000s
As mentioned before, in 2006-08, I was studying the concept of worship for the first time. This is when I first realized that I was worshipping God through music. I then purposefully and knowingly used it to worship the Savior directly. Instead of just singing about him, I sang to him. As he was re-training me and teaching me higher-level relationship skills, I was so intensely grateful for the way he managed me and the way he loved me. It was seriously incredible. And I needed some way to release that appreciation, so I just sang to him. This brought me intense joy.
When I was driving kids around, shopping, or running errands I started listening to the music my kids were listening to on the radio, and then I added certain MP3s to my iPod. There were a lot of really good songs that had come out between 2000 and 2006. They were like gold to me. I searched for the semantic meaning behind the lyrics and translated them in my mind and sometimes in my journal. I used them to worship the Savior.
The intensity of his presence in my mind and heart increased dramatically throughout these years and as a result, what came out of me was this unique rejoicing-worship. The Reason by Hoobastank is an example of one of these 2000s songs.
The Reason
That's why I need you to hear
I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is you…
Listening to Music on Spotify in the 2020s
The song I have been listening to over and over again for the past two weeks on Spotify that just popped up in the "Recommended Songs" one day is called, Just Another Day by Jon Secada. I recognized it from the 90s, but this is the first time I really paid attention to it. I literally can't listen to it too many times. That only happens with a few songs.
I translated this love song into a worship song. The semantic message I’m communicating to the Savior and that he’s echoing back to me is that my work/life balance is getting off again. I’ve been spending too much time on work and school and not enough on our relationship. If I don’t take enough time for this, I start feeling lonely even if I’ve been interacting with a ton of other people.
Just Another Day
(Mornings are long)
(When you come home, I breathe a little faster)
Every time we’re together
It’d never be the same
If you're not here
How can you stay away?
Away, so long?
Why can't we stay together?
Just give me a reason, give me a reason
'Cause I, I don't wanna say it
I don't wanna find another way
Make it through the day without you
I can't resist
Trying to find exactly what I missed
It's just another day without you
It's just another day
Making the time
(Find the right lines)
To make you stay forever
What do I have to tell you?
I'm just trying to hold on to something
(Trying to hold on to something good)
Give us a chance to make it
To make it
Don’t wanna hold on to never
I'm not that strong, I'm not that strong!
I don't wanna say it
I don't wanna find another way
Make it through the day without you
Precious as Diamonds
Every song he has used to communicate with me is more precious than diamonds. And the songs keep coming. They literally spiritually nourish my spirit like food nourishes my body.
I know that music is important to a lot of people and that many are using it in the same way I have been. To those who are struggling with their communication relationship with God, I hope that this post gives greater evidence to the fact that this is a powerful way to communicate with Him.
Listen for the messages he is sending you through the songs you listen to. Then translate them to represent the stories you are walking through with the people in your life (Spin the Lyrics). Allow your heart to express the love you're feeling for your spouse, your kids, your friends, and especially for God. Your admiration and gratitude for them will turn into Sustainable Joy.
“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
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