Music has a huge impact on our lives

I have often wondered why it is that music is one of the most powerful emotional tools in the world. Very few things will change the emotional setting of a moment quicker than music. I  I have found in my life that the more hymns I listen to, the more I feel the spirit. For the last month, when I have been stumped as to what I need to write about for this blog, I have turned on some hymns. Within minutes, I have an idea, which leads to more ideas. I have been doing this for several years, not just with this blog. Whenever I need to prepare a lesson, prepare to go to the temple, know I will be giving a priesthood blessing, am preparing a talk, or just need to feel better about life, I listen to hymns. I have a few favorites, and am gaining new ones every General Conference session, and every time I hear a spiritual song I haven't heard before. Here are some of my favorites:

April 2011: More Holiness Give Me
October 2012: Does The Journey Seem Long?
October 2009: Lord Dismiss us with Thy Blessing (The harmonies in this one are spine tingling...)
October 2009: O May My Soul Commune with Thee (Straight from the hymn book, but four parts as sung by none other than the Mormon Tabernacle choir... breathtaking)
April 2013: Tell Me The Stories of Jesus (I never noticed that it's a waltz until I heard this version)
October 2011: I am a Child of God (And you will feel it during this arrangement)
April 2012: Jesus Savior, Pilot Me
April 2012: Lead Kindly Light (Listen to the preceding talk first... Elder Jeffrey R Holland is amazing.)
April 2011: I Know That My Savior Loves me
October 2012: Love One Another (What?! It has another verse?!)
And finally; April 2008: Joseph Smith's First Prayer

You can go here  to find some of your own favorites, or to listen to some of mine. (I just learned about this part of the lds.org website owned by The Church, and I see some serious downloading in my future...) I plan to download every song available on that website, and listen. I know I will find even more musical "companions" I invite you to use this resource as well. It's free, it's legal, it's amazing.

I would like to invite you to listen to at least one song on my list. I testify you will feel the spirit. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.