D&C 25:11-12; 136:28; Alma 26:8; refer in this text to 1 Ne. 18:9
“A missionary should never permit himself to see a movie or cheap literature, or hear music that tends to interfere with or which dampens the spirit of missionary work. There is ample evidence that rock music is offensive to the Spirit and affects adversely the spirituality of the missionaries and thus the success of the proselyting work.” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 202)
“Don’t listen to music that is degrading. Music can, by its tempo, by its beat, by its intensity (and I would add by its lyrics) dull the spiritual sensitivity of men (and women). Young people, you cannot afford to fill your minds with this unworthy, hard music of our day.” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 326)
“I have spoken before of the experience I had as a twelve-year-old boy, a newly ordained deacon. With my father I went to our stake priesthood meeting. He sat on the stand as a member of the stake presidency, and I sat on the back row of the chapel. The men of that large congregation stood and sang,
Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.
Hymns, 1985, no. 27
As I heard them sing that hymn with power and conviction, there came into my heart a witness of the divine calling of the boy Joseph, and I am grateful that the Lord has sustained it seventy years since then.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 51)
“I stopped at a … ward meetinghouse and slipped unnoticed into the overflow area just as the congregation was beginning to sing… . As we sang, … I glanced around at members of the congregation and was stunned to observe that about a third of them were not singing. How could this be? … What are we saying, what are we thinking, when we fail to join in singing in our worship services? I believe some of us … are getting neglectful in our worship, including the singing of hymns.” (Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1994, p. 11)
“On a beautiful Sunday morning in the fall of 1841, my great-grandfather, William Minshall Evans, then sixteen years of age, was walking down the streets of Liverpool, England, on his way to church. Suddenly he heard singing that thrilled him beyond anything he had ever heard before. He followed the sound down an alley and up some rickety stairs into a room where a few people were holding a meeting. John Taylor, who later became president of the Church and who had a beautiful tenor voice was the singer. The song he sang was so beautiful that William remained to hear the sermon. Upon returning home, William was reprimanded by his elder brother, David, for being absent from his accustomed place in the choir. Asked to give an account of himself, William replied, ‘I have been where you should have been, and I shall not be satisfied until you all hear the wonderful truth I have heard this morning.’ …William and David were converted to the gospel, and then helped convert other members of their family… . I never sing the hymns of the Church without remembering that it was the singing of a hymn that opened the door to the gospel for my family and made it possible for me to enjoy all the blessings that have followed.” (Marjorie Hinckley, Ensign, July 1981, p. 48)