Singing together, as described in scripture, is an act of, and also an aid to, worship. We hear the Lord's voice through his ancient prophets teaching us to bow down, to kneel before Him, and to praise and make a joyful noise unto Him through music. The Apostle Paul speaks of spirit and understanding in prayer and song (I Corinthians 14:15) and of singing, teaching and admonishing with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Colosians 3:16).

At the laying of the foundations of the earth, all the sons of God sang and shouted for joy. (Job 38:7) At his son's birth, angels in celestial praise united in proclaiming the peaceable things of his kingdom. (Luke 2:13,14) Prior to the crucifixion, Jesus, with his disciples sang a hymn. Within these accounts are themes of prayer, pleading, trust, covenants, sacrifice, exhortation, meditation and obedience to the Father's precepts, his everlasting love and support. Praise and glory themes are prominent: "How I love thy law...Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:97 and 105).

Through revelation, our Father has graciously provided instructions for our use of music in worship, all of which refer to his children singing together, as congregations. To Moses, He gave a song to instruct the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:19-21, 31; 32:1-44).

To us, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord has designated sacred hymns as his preferred music for worship. He also defines a hymn, and tells us its purpose, as a prayer or communication with the Lord. He promises a blessing upon the heads of the elect - a crown of righteousness and life in his presence (D&C 25:11, 12, 15-16). Our living prophets consistently reinforce these concepts of worship through singing.

We have been given the text of the new song to be sung by all of the Saints at the Second Coming when the Savior takes his place as King of Kings (D&C 84:99-102).

Music is an invaluable part of the Relief Society program. It enhances spirituality in the meetings and brings unity to the sisters through participation. Music blesses the lives of all sisters, married or single, young or old. The prelude music and opening hymn set the mood for the meeting.

The five-minute music period is a learning time where women can gain a greater appreciation for good music and learn music skills to use in their homes and in their personal lives. The music period doesn't just have to be singing a song. Sisters should be encouraged to appreciate and take advantage of musical and cultural opportunities in the Church and community. The hymn book has a lot of good information and should give some wonderful ideas for Relief Society music. Remember that five minutes goes by quickly. Teach only one concept at a time. Prior planning and careful timing are needed to keep from encroaching on others' time.

2. Teach Reading Music and Conducting
1. Teach how to read music.
2. Discuss note values, rhythm, rest values, time signatures, breathing techniques, etc.
3. Teach the basic beat patterns used in conducting.
4. Teach the standard beat patterns on pages 384-385.
5. Tell history of a musical instrument, show the parts, how to put it together, and how to play it.
6. Use music theory flash cards and fill in the blanks of a story with musical symbol clues.
7. Give sisters some lined paper and teach them about notes. Then have them write a couple of measures. Play their compositions!

3. Teach Hymns
1. Inform the teachers that the hymns are numbered, rather than the pages.
2. Introduce the sisters to the hymn book and teach them how to use it at home and in meetings.
3. Go over the various glossaries in the back of the hymn book.
4. Discuss the message from the First Presidency on pages IX and X.
5. Study the scripture references at the bottom of a hymn and discuss how it relates to the hymn.
• Challenge the sisters to strive to follow the teachings of the scripture and the hymn.
6. Study the composers of our hymns:
• Short life history, other music selections of classical composers, and origin of some of the hymns.
• Share historical notes or the story behind the hymn before singing it.
• See the book Our Latter-Day Hymns by Karen Lynn Davidson.
7. Memorize the words to a hymn. A fine elderly gentleman, who had a wonderful voice and loved to sing lived in a ward. As his eyesight diminished, and he eventually became blind, there were many things that he had to give up, but singing was not one of them. He could participate fully in the entire sacrament service, independently because he had been memorizing hymns for years. Since he had memorized the words, he was able to visualize the message of the Savior during the Sacrament. Memorizing the hymns is also helpful when a young mother has her hands full with a baby or young children
8. Talk about words that aren't common language in several of the hymns.
• For example: Hymn #191, Verse 2, "plaited"
• What does that word really mean?
• Tell the sisters that this wasn't just one stem of thorns but many braided together.
• The following week have a definitions match-up of the words and the correct definition. (warblings, diadem, etc.)
9. Use a different instrument or an optional oblagato above the singing of the melody to add an inspirational touch.
10. Do something different with an old hymn, such as taking out all the dotted notes.
11. Sing hymns with same meters. On page 392 there are the tune names and meters. For example, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" is called "Duane Street" and its meter is "LMD." Turn to page 405 and look for the "LMD" section. (It's on page 408). Each of the hymns listed under "LMD" can be sung to the tune of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief". It is especially effective to put familiar tunes and familiar words to another hymn together because the message of the words really seems to come out. Try singing the words of "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" to the tune of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief."
12. Divide into four groups and compose words to a hymn. Select a short hymn tune and give them two words per phrase to work with. Have the words go along with the lesson.
13. Have the sisters write down their favorite scriptures. Then have them find a hymn that goes along with it.<
14. Favorite hymn box - tell WHY it is favorite. Pass paper around the month before and have a box for the "requests."
15. Mystery Sister Spotlight: spotlight a sister, find out from a family member information about her and her favorite hymn. Then sing that hymn.
16. Practice a hymn with a purpose in mind, such as a special Sacrament Meeting Presentation, a social, or to be prepared in the event of a funeral, etc.
17. Use the Relief Society as a choir several times a year.
18. Use the time to learn a special song for women such as "Make Us One" by Sally deFord. (You need a good pianist for this one.)
19. Spend a month sharing the hymns that are traditional folk songs. "Simple Gifts" is a Shaker hymn.

4. Teach from the Children's Songbook
1. Teach the sisters a primary song once in a while. Some of the beginnings of a testimony can come as the spirit testifies the truthfulness of the simple messages contained in the primary songs of the Savior such as "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus."
2. Use music from the Children's Songbook so mothers will be able to learn the songs their children are learning in Primary and sing them at home. Coordinate with Primary Chorister on this one.
3. Sing songs from the upcoming Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentation. It's a big help to the Primary chorister if the moms are teaching the music to the kids at home.
4. Memorize books of the Old Testament (or whatever book of scripture is being taught that year) with a song from Primary.
5. Teach two-part songs like "Love is Spoken Here."
6. Teach fun songs (Over the River & Through the Woods, Brother Brigham)
7. Share Family Home Evening music ideas.

5. Teach Music Appreciation
1. Share articles about music from the Ensign, Church News, Friend, Era.
2. Play uplifting music or examples of music that can bring the Spirit into the home.
   "Use music to prepare the saints to Meet the Savior" Mark E. Peterson
3. Play different styles of music and discuss the composers.
4. Play a segment of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Video.
5. Be aware of cultural opportunities in the Church and community.
6. Play a recording of classical music and discuss what criteria makes it uplifting and what feeling it creates.
7. Share a short life history and some music selections of classical composers.
8. Play a recording of music that is special to you and explain why then play it.
9. Encourage having a good music library in the home both for adults and children. Give ideas of what to have in a library.

6. Use Others as Resources
1. Ask a soloist (male or female), a family, or some YW or YM or Primary children to come to Relief Society to give a special musical presentation.
2. Invite someone to play a solo on an instrument.
3. Ask someone to bring a recording of their favorite uplifting music and have them tell about it and why it is favorite.
4. If there are youth in your ward or stake that are currently in a musical, have them come in and sing a number from the play. This is good advertising for the play and encourages support of the arts in the community./li>
5. Use your public library for many resources, especially about the classical composers.

7. Plan Your Lessons
1. Keep anniversaries (Joseph Smith's birthday or death, etc) and holiday themes in mind. Planning several months ahead with a calendar in front of you will help you remember these in time to do something to commemorate them.
2. Keep in mind the Sacrament theme for the month or the topic of the Relief Society lesson or Relief Society theme for the year or month.

8. Games
1. Name That Tune
   For lesson on the Godhead play name that tune and tell what member of the Godhead hymn is about.
2. Hymns Pictionary
3. Hymns Charades (act out hymn)
4. Hymns With New Titles (give old title and have them guess the new title)
5. Hymns With a Twist (How Loose a Roof = How Firm a Foundation)
6. Use music theory flash cards and fill in the blanks story with musical symbol clues.
7. Give the sisters paper and pencil and have them draw the title of a hymn and let them guess each others' titles. Either let them choose their own titles or assign them.
8. Show sisters how to make homemade musical instruments and have a family band (shakers, drums, triangles, whistles, flutes, glasses filled with water at different levels to make different pitches when hit with a spoon, etc.). Tell history of a musical instrument, show the parts and how to put it together, show how to play it.
9. Common hymn words game (there are words that are commonly used in the hymns. Have cards with a word on it like: thank, hills, how, etc. Draw a card and sing a hymn with this word in it) Give a matching quiz. Type up lists and their definitions of words used in hymns that are not in common use, such as:

In a recent workshop, Sister Elizabeth W. Pierce answered questions on copyright laws. We must be careful as photocopying music without permission is dishonest and illegal; it is an infraction of federal copyright law.

One may make one copy of sheet music to mark up for analysis or, for example, give director's cues in a performance to preserve a clean copy of the music, so long as the copy is not shared with others.

Copyrights do expire. If a work was copyrighted before March 1, 1978, the duration is 28 years, renewable for 47 years, totaling 75 years as a rule of thumb on any work copyrighted prior to that date. After that date, the duration is the life of the author, renewable for 50 years. For works copyrighted by companies, the duration is 75 years.

The civil liability for copyright infringement is up to $100,000 for each infraction. Thus illegally copying music for use in a ward choir, could easily bring a lawsuit for millions of dollars. Through a legal doctrine called "vicarious liability", the choir director, stake president, and the Church could become embroiled in the lawsuit. Thus, it is absolutely necessary that Church members scrupulously observe copyright laws.

Music in the Church hymn book carries a notice at the bottom of the page as to whether it may be copied "for incidental, noncommercial church or home use" or whether copying is prohibited without permission. If there is no such notice, the hymn is in the public domain and may be freely copied.