Aug 22
2010
Japan | Meiji Shrine 2004
Written by JAKE | posted in Cublog |
I felt impressed to share this post with you. Before I started Cubworld i was in Hawaii singing in the BYU Hawaii Concert Choir. One of the high lights of being in the choir was being able to tour Japan and Korea. I was asked to speak in church today on “How singing the hymns helps represents our faith”. Enjoy.
In 1870s a group of Meiji priests from Tokyo Japan were traveling the western United States, with a scheduled pass through Salt Lake City, they ended up spending some time here due to a blizzard. They visited with church members and also met Brigham Young. While here they also heard and were impressed by a performance of the hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints.” This impression has grown into a trusting relationship with the Meiji priest over the last 140 years.
that’s me to the far right.
In 2004 I was blessed to be a part of the BYU Hawaii concert choir. We toured Japan and Korea and one of our stops was in Tokyo where we visited the Meiji Shrine. The Meiji priest reached out to us and we were the first Christian group invited to sing at the Shrine. They brought us into a very special court yard. One where normally only people of the Meiji faith would be allowed. We stood in a sacred area of the courtyard and sang “come come ye saint” with the last verse being sung in Japanese. The Meiji priests were said to have been very moved by the last verse of the hymn sung in their native Tongue:
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the saints their rest obtain,
O how we’ll make this chorus swell,
All is well! All is well!
Our Choir director Dr. Smith testified of the sacred experiences by saying that “What took place there was much bigger than me, or the Choir or anyone. We were on the lords mission,”
Out side of the sacred area were local media and news reporters and the following day the choir and the Shrine were a controversial topic in the news being that they allowed a Christian group into a sacred areas of the Shrine. In one radio interview one of the Meiji priest was asked why this choir was allowed to perform there. The priest said: “Because we have a relationship with them”.
This was a very moving experience for me being able to use the same hymn that planted a seed 140 year prior as a real tool for missionary work that helped represent my faith.
In Section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants verses 10-13 the Lord says to Joseph Smith:
10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.
11 And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.
12 For 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.
13 Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made
I know these things to be true and have felt the blessings of the hymns in my life countless times.
end of talk
I feel that this not only applies to hymns but to good positive music in general. I don’t classify my music as “christian” but i do feel that the things i believe and understand play a big part in the topics and things i write and sing about.
Thanks for allowing me to share these thoughts with you
Aloha!
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