Be Still, My Soul

This is the text of my sacrament talk from today.  The program was referred to as Songs of the Restoration.  It was unusual, with 6 different speakers each giving a short talk on a specific hymn of their choice which was then sung by the congregation.  It was powerful and sacred and I am blessed to have been able to participate.  Here is the text of my talk.  

Be Still, My Soul – July 22, 2018 Sacrament Meeting: Songs of the Restoration

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Hymns are sung from a specific point of view.  Some are group expressions of praise; some are the prayer of an individual.  Of our over 300 hymns two are in the voice of God directly counseling us; #120 - Lean On My Ample Arm, and today’s sacrament hymn, #185 - Reverently And Meekly Now.  

Be Still, My Soul is unique; it is the meditation of an individual remembering the tender mercies of the Lord.

Moroni tells us in the closing chapter of the Book of Mormon: “Behold, I would exhort you…that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.” (Moroni 10:3)

Nephi says “my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.” (2 Nephi 4:16)

When I pray God often sends a song to my mind as an answer.  My prayers of discouragement or pain are often answered with Be Still, My Soul.

From Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

From 2 Chronicles 32: 7-8 “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for [the enemy] nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles.”

From Doctrine and Covenants 101:32, 36 and 58:4 “…in that day when the Lord shall come, He shall reveal all things…Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.” “For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet but is nigh at hand.”

From The Revelation of Saint John 21:3-4 “…the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

I will end with some remarks from my journal.  “I thank Thee so much for speaking comfort to my heart when I prayed in discouragement.  I love how you send songs to my mind to fill my soul with peace.  I thank Thee for this song.”

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.  

Be Still, My Soul

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side

With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain

Leave to thy God to order and provide

In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly 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: the hour is hast’ning 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 blessed we shall meet at last.

*The other hymns shared and sung in the meeting were:

#30 – Come, Come, Ye Saints

#338 – America the Beautiful

#249 – Called to Serve

#86 – How Great Thou Art

#85 – How Firm A Foundation