All Good Things

Posted by Melissa Y. | January 19, 2010 | 23 Comments

When I was a teenager, things were pretty black and white. Good was good, bad was bad, and I thought I could tell the difference between the two. One of the things I categorically defined as “bad” was LDS pop music (this was the late eighties, so cut me some slack). It bothered me when sacred phrases, concepts, and names were paired with rhythms and vocal styles that were anything but; or when the music and lyrics were more emotionally manipulative than spiritually uplifting.

Bad, bad, bad.

But always, there were people who loved the music, who claimed that it helped them feel the Spirit, who were downright teary before the end of the introduction.

Which left me wondering how I could be so insensitive.

It also left me wondering about scriptures like Alma 5:40 and Moroni 7:16, where we are told that all good things come from God. All good things, all things that persuade us to believe in Christ, are sent forth from Him. If some people felt the Spirit through this music, was it a “good thing”? The idea that I might be spurning a gift of God troubled me.

Over the years, I’ve wondered if the quality of “goodness” or “badness” is something that can’t be quantified–if it’s something that’s not measureable in the way that physical properties such as color or texture are. Perhaps it’s not an inherent characteristic. To be clear, I do recognize that some things are definitely good and others are solidly bad. There are standards of greatness in every discipline; not everything is relative. But within the wide expanse of gray, I’m thinking that goodness is more within us than without.

As an example, let’s consider dandelions. My grandmother loved them. To her, they were a happy harbinger of spring, and she loved how the yellow flowers perked up her otherwise drab lawn. For me, however, they are wicked, encroaching little weeds that elicit nothing but bad words and a search for herbicides. The perceived goodness or badness is not inherent in the dandelion itself—it’s all in how each person sees it. Perhaps the goodness that we see in anything stems from God’s influence on our spirits rather than any inherent quality the object possesses.

I’ve come to terms with religious pop music since my teenage years. It’s not something that promotes the Spirit in my life, so I try to find other things that do. I can’t write it off as bad, though, because I know there are others who see it differently. It makes me grateful for a Heavenly Father who, in His mercy, has provided infinite ways for His children to draw closer to Him. And it makes me grateful to be able to appreciate things I might otherwise not.

I may even smile at the dandelions this spring.

Comments

23 Responses to “All Good Things”

Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
January 19th, 2010 @ 9:19 am

You know, in the 80s I had a steady diet of Janice Kapp Perry and Michael McLean, and I loved it. Now I can hardly listen to it without gagging a little. Way too cheesy. I’ve learned that there’s a difference between emotional and spiritual feelings. However, I’ve developed an unexpected taste for the local Christian radio station. While some of it is a little over the top, it’s definitely a better option than most of the current chart-toppers and I feel safe with my kids listening in the back seat. It’s mostly background music, but some of the songs I really love. You make a good point, though. Often it’s a matter of taste and not so much right and wrong. And given that we are all completely unique packages, in matters of the Spirit, what may feel right for one person may make another feel uncomfortable. And that’s okay.
Sue
January 19th, 2010 @ 10:44 am

I hope you won’t take it personally, Steph, as we are all entitled to our own opinions (thank goodness!), but I’m going to say a few words in behalf of Janis Kapp Perry here. I would agree that not everything she has ever written hits the mark, and some of it could even be described as “cheesy” (though it would probably sound less so if sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with a full orchestra), but much of her work has been written expressly for church programs, no doubt under inspiration, and these would seem to evoke the Spirit. May I list some of them?

I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus
I Love to See the Temple
We’ll Bring the World His Truth
A Child’s Prayer
Mother, Tell Me the Story
Let the Holy Spirit Guide
In the Hollow of Thy Hand
Love Is Spoken Here
No Ordinary Man
His Image in Your Countenance
My Star Is Rising
and others

Sometimes songs lose their initial punch when we hear them too often, and maybe Janice’s music has been overused at times to the extent where it is ceases to be appreciated, but I have seen a sort of elitist, “I’m too cool to think Janice Kapp Perry has any talent” movement in the Church lately that troubles me. This woman has a great ability to bring the Spirit and a spiritual gift in doing so that she has shared most generously with the Church and its members. I wish more people were giving her props for that.

Again, I am not directing this to you, Steph, and hope you won’t take my comments personally. Your post just triggered some thoughts I’ve had several times in recent years about Perry. To tell the truth, there are some of her songs I’m not overly fond of either. I simply wanted to acknowledge her talents and say that I’ve noticed a trend in the last few years to devalue them. I’ve wondered if it might be driven by the same tendency found in so-called movie snobs, book snobs, etc. My brother-in-law (a production designer) dismisses most heartwarming movies as indulgent nonsense, and my brother (an avowed intellectual) thinks anything not penned by an existentialist (or at least someone who leans in that direction) is garbage. But here’s what I believe: Sometimes, overtly warm and fuzzy is okay, even beautiful. The pure, sweet simplicity of “Let the Holy Spirit Guide,” “We’ll Bring the World His Truth,” and “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” is pretty wonderful; and surely anyone who has brought so much joy and testimony to Primary children (and their parents) deserves our respect.

Thanks for indulging me, and again, my intent is not to offend…though I admit to feeling a little bit of an urge to defend.

=)
Steph @ Diapers and Divinity
January 19th, 2010 @ 10:50 am

Sue, your comment is fair and your point is well-taken. Certainly, there are many of their songs that are obviously inspired and doctrinally on-point. I have a couple favorites from both artists that I mentioned. I was referring specifically to the cassette tapes I listened to as a teenager, that when I listen to now, strike me as incredibly more cheesy than I remember. Sorry to have made a sweeping generalization.
KShaw
January 19th, 2010 @ 11:12 am

This is an interesting topic, in light of some of the things my DH and I were talking about over the weekend. We had decided awhile ago to really take time to decide whether the things we were listening to were “good” for us and our kids to listen to. (there is always a radio on in our car, or in the house) Especially since we gave our 9 year old an Ipod for Christmas, with an Itunes card to download some music. I told her that she needs to clear anything she wants to download with me or her dad before she can.
I have had a really hard time finding music that is fun, uplifting and not so saccarine sweet that I want to commit HariKari. But I don’t like the words of the music that is on the radio. (I gotta admit, I love most of the melody and beats of modern music today) My husband is somone that never actually hears the words, until I mention it to him. (Case in point: we have listened to and watched Veggie Tales for quite awhile. We attended a live concert, and when they started to sing “God is bigger then the Boogieman”, He was startled, and asked me if they had just mentioned God in the song. I was laughing my head off at him, because he had never realized that they were Christian based, he just thought they were really cute and the kids loved them)
I have a very dear friend whose dad is a Baptist minister, who listens to lots of Christian music, and I have enjoyed some of it, but honestly some of it makes me uncomfortable. Maybe it speaks more to my hangups with my struggles with my personal faith then to whether the music is “spiritual” or not. It makes her feel great, so I am cool with that.
I love the fact that we are all different, and have different things that bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.
Great post, got me thinking.

(p.s. I love dandelions )
Melissa Y.
January 19th, 2010 @ 11:14 am

Good points, Sue. Generalizations are tricky, and I probably should have been more careful in the OP talking about LDS pop. But that’s part of the point–in my immaturity, I lumped everything together and had a hard time seeing the good in things that I had categorized. As I’ve tried to be more open to goodness, I’ve found it in some surprising places.

It also helps to know people who love different types of things. I have a soft spot for country music thanks to a roommate from Kentucky who loved it.

One recent experience with finding goodness came while shopping for books. I saw one called Good Without God, and I immediately thought how crafty Satan is and basically thought the book was a product of the devil. But, as is the case with most books that catch my eye, I came home and read the Amazon reviews on it. They were surprisingly positive, and one reviewer particularly struck me by stating that she felt excited and hopeful after reading it. I sat back and wondered if she was feeling the fruit of the spirit. It’s stunning to think that God might possibly reach out to His children even through something that decries His name. I don’t think that means the book is inspired, but I’m amazed at God’s capacity to reach us even when we’re unaware.

It’s all a part of sorting out what is good for me and learning not to judge others.
Melissa M.
January 19th, 2010 @ 11:15 am

When I first saw “Saturday’s Warriors” in the 70′s, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. The testimony-building story line! The music! The romance! The tear-jerking ending! Talk about musical theater at its finest.

Of course, as I got older and my tastes changed, I no longer saw “Saturday’s Warriors” as high art. But—as this post reminds me—cheesy, manipulative theatrics/music and false doctrine notwithstanding, maybe there was some “good” to the play, after all? It did inspire my 16-year-old self during a particularly difficult time, so maybe it had some redeeming value. I certainly thought it did, then.

Interesting thoughts, Melissa!
Sue
January 19th, 2010 @ 12:11 pm

Whew! I checked back here and am so grateful that nobody was offended by my observation. Thanks for hearing me in the spirit I intended. Segullah is such a good forum for even-handed discussion.

=)

PS. To KShaw…And this comment actually IS directed to you…I have found some great artists (now I’m not talking religious music here) in the folk/alternative sections of iTunes. Jack Johnson, for instance. Jason Mraz (usually…a couple are inappropriate). Joshua Radin. Brett Dennen (mostly uplifting with a couple of exceptions). Ingrid Michaelson. Kalai. You might want to check these out. I really like them.
JoLyn
January 19th, 2010 @ 12:50 pm

Great discussion. I admit to feeling the same feelings about a lot of the religious pop, and I agree with Steph that there is a big difference between emotional and spiritual feelings. What a challenge to teach good ways to tell the difference.

I like your reference to dandelions–there are so many things that are a matter of personal taste, based on our own experiences. And I also like the thought that there is good to be found in many places that we may not see at first glance.
Melissa
January 19th, 2010 @ 1:17 pm

I’m not sure if anyone here grew up in California? I never knew that the “religious pop” music was out there until my young adult years. My Utah-born boyfriend gave me a cassette of Afterglow. I remember loving it (I don’t remember if it was religious), but we didn’t have a wholesome sounding selection here. The feeling I remember was that it made me feel “comfortable.” Not inspired or bad or any of those terms. I tended to like Dan Fogelberg and Simon and Garfunkel and tunes like those rather than Devo. Social Distortion and Judas Priest which were big in my day. I’m not sure it was hip not to listen to our hit music station KROQ, but I tried and half the time I didn’t really like it. I reallly wanted to like it. All the cool kids listened to it. It just wasn’t always what I needed.

As an adult, I can totally see the gray areas now and appreciate them. What inspires me does not always inspire my friends or family. I don’t get that, but they don’t get me either sometimes. It’s all good. You are definitely correct–there is something within us that determines what is inspires us.

I love that we can appreciate these differences in ourselves and others. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. And by-the-way, I have a love/hate relationship with dandelions. I love them like your grandma for their beauty and curse them for their weeds.
Nan
January 19th, 2010 @ 1:30 pm

The Holy Ghost has very different ways of communicating to each person. Just as we all have different learning styles, so we all have different styles of spirituality. We might find God in varying types of music (I’m a big U2 fan myself), nature, the temple, the scriptures, prayer, meditation, writing, listening to talks, through visiting teaching, mothering, attending enrichment, reading a great work of fiction . . . . the key is to recognize that God is trying to speak to us, and then put ourselves in situations where we can hear His voice, have our hearts changed and then apply those great lessons.

Dandelions don’t speak to me, but white clover flowers in the lawn make me grateful to be alive. Sometimes there is little rhyme or reason to what might touch our hearts. I don’t necessarily think I’m out of tune when I don’t feel something others do, perhaps I’m just on a different, equally acceptable, frequency.
KShaw
January 19th, 2010 @ 1:34 pm

Sue: Thank you! I will start looking those artists up today! (I have to admit, I love Jason Mraz, and was heartbroken when he came to a venue a couple of towns over and I was too sick to go!)
I think it is important to remember that not all secular music is “of the devil” lol! it just takes some digging to find sometimes!
Again, thanks!
Karyn
January 19th, 2010 @ 1:35 pm

Maybe LDS pop music or dandelions or so many other things aren’t good or bad inherently in themselves, but just need to be put in an appropriate context. I love dandelions in a mountain field full of wildflowers, but I know that if they’re growing in my front lawn they’re quickly going to spread around the neighborhood and cause headaches for lots of people. Some LDS pop may appeal to less mature tastes, but if it helps redirect our thoughts to the Savior, where’s the harm?
anonymous
January 19th, 2010 @ 4:35 pm

I love this post Melissa. You’re right some bad/good is simply in the eye of the beholder. Texting comes to mind– I thought it was completely bad until I saw it’s uses in sending a message to all my YW at once and texting my son while he was on a ski trip.

And Sue, your comment was wonderful.
Mel
January 19th, 2010 @ 6:31 pm

This post made me laugh because I have very similar feelings about Simon Dewey and Greg Olsen and other LDS visual artists. I personally find this type of work much too saccharine and am not at all inspired by it. I don’t look down upon people that enjoy these paintings because it helps them to feel the Spirit or remember the Savior, but if they consider this great art I would tell them to spend some time in an art museum.

I often wonder what art will be like in the celestial kingdom. Some of the pieces that I find to be the most sublime, soul-expanding works were created by people who lived less than celestial lives.

Relating this to the real message of your post – we are all of a divine heritage, and for that reason sometimes wonderful, spiritual, truly good things can come from people who we might seem more “bad” than “good.” We should be accepting of the good, no matter what its source.
Kristine
January 19th, 2010 @ 7:41 pm

Melissa Y., I’m glad you rethought your initial impression. Greg Epstein, the author of _Good without God_ is one of the good guys–consistently taking on aggressive atheists like Hitchens, Dawkins, et al. He was also influential in getting an LDS Chaplain approved to join the Harvard Chaplaincy.
/end threadjack/
anonn
January 19th, 2010 @ 8:33 pm

I have a really hard time with Music, Art, Movies, Theatre, etc. made for an LDS audience. Granted, there are some beautiful things done, but I struggle with the “I’m LDS and an artist so I’m going to market this to that crowd” mentality. I must admit that I am biased against it. If someone I know recommends something, I will give it a listen, or look, and many times have liked it. But I have a real problem with the marketing of some LDS artists. Especially when I know they don’t live up to their religion and yet that is where they make their living. Nothing bugs me more. Sorry this is so negative, but I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how many people are preying on us.
Jennie
January 19th, 2010 @ 10:24 pm

For the most part I find LDS music too cheesy and it’s not really my style. I have a hard time finding good Sabbath music to listen to.

When I was a teenager, though, I couldn’t get enough of the stuff. The first time I heard “I Heard Him Come” I just about fell apart.

But I also thought A-Ha was a great band too, so teenage me wasn’t much into musical quality.
ashlee
January 19th, 2010 @ 11:19 pm

Jennie! I think you’re the only other A-Ha! fan (former) i know of. I looooooved their Scoundrel Days tape and was shocked to see them listed as a One Hit Wonder on VH1 a few years back. But, um, ya, they were! Too funny. Sorry, kind of off the point of the post.

The only LDS pop music i’ve really enjoyed is the soundtrack to Singles Ward. There’s some fun stuff in there.
RunnerMom
January 19th, 2010 @ 11:53 pm

To 16: I agree. I feel very much the same way.
However, having worked with the YW for quite awhile and seeing them respond positively to a couple of Jenny Phillips’ (I’ve heard her called “today’s Janice Kapp Perry”) songs, I’ve realized that there is a place for these things. I don’t like the thought of people making money by marketing to an LDS crowd. It just sits wrong with me. However, do I expect that everyone’s creative contributions should be free to the general church membership? No.
So I admit, I’ve bent my harsh opinions on music. I also admit to enjoying some modern music more than I do some of the old, unfamiliar tunes in the hymnbook.
But I still haven’t ventured into LDS literature and art. Just. Can’t. Go. There. Yet.
traci
January 20th, 2010 @ 7:01 am

ok, during the same time frame. Just plain Christian pop – there was a time, I had a counselor, who named a certain artist they wanted me to listen to all week til we saw each other again.

i mentioned i might not have any faith left by them – BEHOLDER STUFF!
Claudia
January 20th, 2010 @ 9:38 am

Some things are a matter of taste not good and evil. When it comes to music and other arts There is a fine line between the two and one person’s meat may be another person’s poison.

According to one of my musician friends familiarity is the basis of all musical appreciation. The context in which a thing becomes familiar also contributes to how much it might be appreciated. So, when we start talking about good and bad art we need to begin by setting aside the ideas that good means righteous and faith promoting and bad mean wicked and faith destroying. There are elements to art that are more objective that can be used to decide if it is either good or bad in the field in which it was created. Whether we like it or not is another matter.
Melissa M.
January 20th, 2010 @ 10:00 am

To RunnerMom, #19: If you do foray into LDS literature, start with *Bound on Earth* by our very own Angela Hallstrom. I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised. You’ll find that LDS literature can be well-written, nuanced, emotive without being sentimental, and profound without being preachy. At least, Angela’s book is. =)
Selwyn
January 20th, 2010 @ 2:17 pm

“But within the wide expanse of gray, I’m thinking that goodness is more within us than without.” Absolutely!

I don’t like people trying to be Pollyanna’s (having to find the absolute good in every situation) all the time, but sometimes just sitting back and trying to see other alternatives can make a big difference.