The Israelites were free! After being slaves their entire lives, they had escaped their captors when the Lord parted the Red Sea, let them cross, and then closed it up behind them to drown the pursuing Egyptian armies. It was an unmistakable miracle, one that would inspire the Israelites and other people of faith for generations to come.
And what did the children of Israel do next? They celebrated! They sang praises to the Lord, and Miriam and other women danced and played tambourine.1 Music? Singing? Dancing? In modern terms, we’d call that a party!
There are certain things the Lord expects us to treat with reverence and somberness. There are situations where laughter and celebration would be inappropriate. But don’t let that fool you into thinking a good disciple has to be serious all the time! The scriptures are full of instructions to rejoice:
- “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart” (Psalm 32:11).
- “Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13).
- “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).
The scriptures tell us that the angels rejoice when we repent or when we do the Lord’s work.2 Why should the angels have all the fun? We can rejoice, too. The Lord loves to see His children happy.
Plan a Party
Notes
1. See Exodus 15:1–21.
2. See Doctrine and Covenants 90:34; 88:2; 62:3.