---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Talmage, James Edward
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 22
number: 7
published: 1919-05
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Talmage, James E., "A Church Up-to-Date," *Improvement Era* 22, no. 7 (May 1919): 632–633.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2207unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera2207unse
start_page: 632
end_page: 633
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1919-05)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2207unse
  publication_year: 1919
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1919, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# A Church Up-to-Date

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The Power of Song

     Recently T had occasion to refer to a Latter-day Saints
hymn book.     I was at a ward meeting, and asked the leader
of the choir for the book.     It turned out that in that large
choir, not a single copy could be found.          There were the
Psalmody, and other collections, but no hymn books. I discovered by the inquiry that seldom, if ever, was a hymn book
tied in that choir or that congregation, except as the selected
hymns were found in the collections mentioned, and in which
they are not always found in full. Ofttimes the final verses are
far superior to the others in expressing the poet's thoughts,
and without them, the inspiration of the poem is often lost. I
regretted the absence of hymn books very much.         I trust the
condition is not general; but if so, that we shall have a reformation in this respect, and that all the choirs and congregations
in Zion will be supplied with an abundance of hymn books,
in order that our fingers and worshipers may become thoroughly
familiar with the spiritual songs of Zion and sing them under
the inspiration of the Spirit of the Lord.
     I firmly believe that the singing of the sacred hymns
written by the servants and hand-maidens of God, has a powerful effect in converting people to the principles of the gospel,
and in promoting peace and spiritual growth. Singing is a
prayer to the Lord, for we are told, "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."
     I desire to relate just one incident showing how song has
the power to soothe irritated feelings and bring harmony to
the hearts of men who are filled with a contentious spirit.
     The incident occurred some years ago, I have been told,
and it was a quarrel between two old Nauvoo veterans. These
men had been full of integrity and devotion to the work of the
Lord.    They had been through many of the hardships of
Nauvoo, and had suffered the drivings and persecutions of the
Saints, as well as the hardships of pioneering, incident to the
early settlement of Salt Lake Valley. These men had quarreled
over some business affairs, and finally concluded that they

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EDITORS' TABLE                       635

would try and get President   John Taylor to help them adjust
their difficulties.
     John Taylor was then the president of the Council of the
Twelve Apostles. The veterans pledged their word of honor,
that they would faithfully abide by whatever decision Brother
Taylor might render. Like many others, even in these days,
they were not willing to accept the conclusions of their teachers, or bishops, or presidents of stakes, who would have been
the authorized persons, in their order, to consult, and which
would have been the proper course to pursue, but they must
have some higher authority. Having been personally acquainted
with President Brigham Young, in the days of Nauvoo, and
feeling their importance in their own devotion to the work of
the Lord, nothing short, apparently, of an apostle's advice,
would satisfy them.
     They called on President Taylor, but did not immediately
tell him what their trouble was, but explained that they had
seriously quarreled and asked him if he would listen to their
story and render his decision.
     President Taylor willingly consented. He said, "Brethren,
before I hear your case, I would like very much to sing one
of the songs of Zion for you."
     Those of my readers who were acquainted with President
Taylor know that he was a very capable singer, and interpreted
sweetly and with spirit, our sacred hymns. He then sang one
of these to the two brethren.     Seeing its effect, he remarked
that he never heard one of the songs of Zion but that he wanted
to listen to one more, and so asked that he might sing another.
Of course, they consented. They both seemed to enjoy it; and,
having sung the second song, he remarked that with their consent he would sing still another, which he did, as he had heard
there is luck in odd numbers.      Then in his jocular way, he
remarked: "Now brethren, I do not want to wear you out, but
if you will forgive me, and listen to one more hymn, I promise
to stop singing, and will hear your case."
     The story goes that when President Tavlor had finished
the fourth song, the brethren were melted to tears, got up and
shook hands, asked President Taylor to excuse them for having
called upon him, and for taking up his time, they then departed without his even knowing what their difficulties were.
    President Taylor's singing from our standard hymn book,
had reconciled the brethren. The Spirit of the Lord had entered their hearts, and the hills of difference that existed between them, and evidently appeared as big as mountains, had
been leveled and become as nothing. Love aurl brotherhood
had developed in their souls, and the trifles over which they
had quarreled, hud become valueless in their sight. The songs