Sing Praises

By Laurel Rohlfing

If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing (D&C 136:28).

The Lord loves to hear us sing. He said, “My soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me” (D&C 25:12).

Most of the songs that we sing in church are songs of praise. When we sing them, we thank Heavenly Father and Jesus for the many blessings that They have given us. Singing songs of praise reminds us that the Lord loves us and helps us to live righteously.

The following stories tell of events where people sang praises unto the Lord. Read each story, then look up the accompanying scripture reference. Find and write the word that goes in each blank. To discover an important message, fill in the numbered organ keys with the letters that correspond to the numbers in your answers.

1. Directed by the Lord, Moses divided the waters of the Red Sea so that the children of Israel could cross on dry ground. When the Egyptian chariots chased after them, the sea was returned to its place and covered them. “Then sang Moses and the ____ 8 ____ 15, 22 ____ 10 ____ 13 ____ 2 ____ ____ ____ of Israel … unto the Lord” (Ex. 15:1) to thank Him for saving them from the Egyptians.

2. The Jews were happy when the king of Persia allowed them to return to their home in Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. When the builders laid the foundation, “they sang together … in praising and giving 7, 16 ____ ____ 3 ____ ____ ____ 5 ____ unto the Lord; because he is good” (Ezra 3:11).

3. Jesus met with His disciples in an upper room, blessed the sacrament, and gave it to them. He knew that the time had come when He must atone for the sins of the world and be crucified. “And when they had 18 ____ ____ 23 ____ 21 ____ an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives” (Matt. 26:30).

4. The apostle Paul and his companion were put in prison for preaching the gospel. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the 1 ____ 12 ____ 4, 19 ____ ____ ____ 20 ____ 9 ____ ____ ____ heard them” (Acts 16:25). Suddenly a great earthquake opened all the doors, and the prisoners’ bands were loosed.

5. The Nephites had all gathered in Zarahemla to protect themselves from the Gadianton robbers. The robbers expected to steal food from the Nephite farms, but they became hungry and weak when the Nephites used their food storage instead of growing things. When the Nephites returned to their homes after defeating the robbers, “they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their 24 ____ 11 ____ ____ for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies” (3 Ne. 4:31).

6. The Jaredite barges were blown by the wind to the promised land. The Jaredites would pray to the Lord when they were buried beneath the waves, and He would bring them back to the top of the water. “And they did sing praises unto the Lord … all the day long; and 14 ____ 17 ____ 6 ____ ____ the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord” (Ether 6:9).

Answers:

Sharing Time Ideas

Tell stories found in scriptures mentioned. After each story, sing song appropriate for that event. For example, for 3 Nephi 4:31 [3 Ne. 4:31], song might be “I Thank Thee, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, page 7, or Sing with Me, A-8).
Songs in Children’s Songbook are generally listed sequentially by topic on Contents page at beginning of book. Create story by singing several songs in order. For example, begin with “An Angel Came to Joseph Smith,” page 86, and continue through “The Golden Plates,” “The Sacred Grove,” “On a Golden Springtime,” and “The Priesthood Is Restored.”
Show illustrations found on various pages in Children’s Songbook (an opaque projector will enlarge). Sing song that accompanies each illustration. Have children draw their own illustrations for their favorite songs, and compile them in book.
Tell story “Jesus, Listening, Can Hear” (Ensign, June 1988, page 46). Discuss what it’s like for children who can’t talk or sing to communicate. Have children try to communicate in ways other than talking or singing.

Illustrated by Scott Greer