Be Still My Soul

My heart hurts.
I am seeking comfort, and I have found it in music.
Music is so beautiful. In High school my seminary teacher wrote a riddle on the chalkboard.

What is this...

*Powerful enough to destroy armies
*Harmless enough that a child can use
*Through it you can prophesy
*Immediately invites the spirit
*It can easily destroy you

No one was able to solve that. How could there be an answer to such a vastly diverse and immensely powerful statement. The answer is just one word, MUSIC.

When you are a teenager you are so involved in your own little world and you can't always see the bigger picture. I can't say that I was attentive everyday in class, but this stuck out to me and I recorded it in the inside cover of my scriptures. Music can enter into someone's heart, even when they may seem closed off to the world and others around them. It immediately invites the spirit. I have seen it touch the lives of people around me. They can't always explain what they are feeling, but they can feel God's love. It can be such a powerful tool for us, and we can learn how to use it to enrich our lives and the lives of those around us.

But, "it can easily destroy you" ? I think Satan has taken advantage of this tool and we need to be careful.

One time in college I was having a rough few months and I couldn't figure out what the problem was. The semester was ending and I signed up for the next semester's classes. I wanted to take a BOM class that semester. There are so many teachers to chose from but as I was scrolling through only one stood out to me, Kory Kunz.

I had taken other religions courses before and I may have been glazed during class, and rushed through homework, but I won't say that I WAS, we'll just let you decide. But this class was different from the first day. I felt the spirit, I learned so much everyday. I couldn't figure out why I LOVED this class so much and why I suddenly was filled with the spirit.

One day Kory taught a lesson on loving and serving others. That lead to him talking about his older brother who had struggled a lot in his life, and lost his way a little. Other people judged him and gave him little support. But Kory loved his brother and stood by him, believing in him. He wrote a song for his brother, called "My Older Brother". When he played the piano and sang his song, I could not contain my emotion. It was beautiful. My only older brother, Nathan was about to be married and I think that was part of it. I was embarrassed, but I could tell that other class members were also moved.

Then I realized why this class was so different. There was music everyday, songs that he wrote and composed himself. I fell in love with all his songs, bought both his CD's, and practically memorized every song.

My Uncle suddenly passed away and I spent most of the day with family. As I was driving home tonight, a song came on the Christian station that spoke to me.

"Where I Belong"

Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive
I won't keep searching for answers that aren't here to find

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

So when the walls come falling down on me
And when I'm lost in the current of a raging sea
I have this blessed assurance holding me.

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

When the earth shakes I wanna be found in You
When the lights fade I wanna be found in You

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong
[x2]

Where I belong, where I belong
Where I belong, where I belong

This song reminded me of my uncle, and it made me happy to be reminded that he is with loved ones. There is no more pain or confusion. He is happy and warm.

When my Grandpa Hansen passed away a few years ago, me, my mom and sisters sang Hymns to him by his bedside. My grandfather was not active in the church, but he could feel the spirit that day. He was in a lot of pain and sleeping a lot. He opened his eyes and looked at us the entire time we sang. I could feel the spirit very strongly, and it was one of the most beautiful moments in my life. Music has no prejudice. It doesn't matter where you are in this life. On what mile marker we are in our travels through the journey of life and our eternal existence. It doesn't matter if we believe in God, if we are old, young, boy or girl, rich or poor. Play some music with inspiring lyrics, and our hearts will be touched and we will feel love. If we are too stubborn to see what we are doing wrong, or too angry, or if we have just lost our way, we needn't look any farther than music. Maybe we have a friend or neighbor who does not interested in church or the gospel and we are struggling to find a way to reach them. The answer is simple. MUSIC.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.