According to Moroni, much that happened during worship services relied on the Spirit, suggesting flexible and somewhat spontaneous meetings. For example, although singing and prayer were both part of the services, Moroni does not indicate a fixed time for either. Though singing probably occurred “oft,” it was probably not as predictable in its arrangement as the modern pattern of opening hymn, sacrament hymn, closing hymn (and optional inter-speaker hymn) that are part of the predictable liturgical order of service in modern LDS services.
It would be satisfying to know more about Nephite singing. The ancient world lacked the overabundance of sounds that competed for human attention in the modern world. Communal singing was therefore both aesthetically beautiful and culturally powerful. It changed the nature of the audible world and involved the congregation in that alteration, creating a sacred sound environment. Congregational singing would be a very human way of expressing joy and aethestic feelings in a communal setting.
Vocabulary: The Methodist churches with which Joseph Smith was acquainted had two distinct positions; one of preacher and one of exhorter. It is possible that the vocabulary representing these two distinct facets was influenced by his own religious experience.
Text: This is the end of a chapter in the 1830 edition.