By Lu Ann Brobst Staheli

I was excited about my new calling as Relief Society chorister and wanted to use the opportunity to learn the hymns. I also wanted to teach the sisters about music, authors, and the history of these sacred songs. I had noticed that my ward in Spanish Fork, Utah, did not often sing hymns that had been my favorites in Bloomington, Indiana. I remembered that even in Bloomington, we had a core of songs we usually sang which were different from those used in other Indiana wards or branches where I had been a member. I knew that all hymns had been carefully selected for inclusion in the church canon, and I wondered why we didn’t sing more of them.

Soon I discovered a reason. Members of the church seemed to sing more readily when the songs were the familiar standards used regularly in sacrament and auxiliary meetings.
Few voices joined in when a song was unfamiliar. I could understand the reluctance of a chorister to knowingly choose songs that no one would sing. I decided that the opportunity to sing a practice hymn in Relief Society might be the way to overcome those fears. I set myself to the challenge, warned the pianist of my intention, and asked the Relief Society presidency for their support. I made a chart that listed every song from the hymnal that could be sung by women’s voices and we were off. Each week I highlighted the songs we had sung on my chart, keeping track of our progress for myself and the sisters.

I started the first week with the familiar, using an opening song that was a favorite among our sisters. The practice hymn, however, was something none of the sisters knew. We stumbled through and I assured them learning to sight‑read would come with time, practice, and patience.

Each week we laughed together over the fumbles we made, but none of us could think of a more secure place to make mistakes, and we soon began to recognize we were improving. We tried the unfamiliar as opening, practice, and closing songs in the program.
Slowly we made our way through the book.

Three years later, we accomplished the goal. The Relief Society had sung every song in the hymnal, including songs that needed male voices, practiced during combined Relief Society and Priesthood meetings.

The benefits are obvious. Now, the sisters aren’t afraid to tackle a difficult song, even in sacrament meeting. We discovered beautiful songs that we had overlooked before. We have felt of the spirit of these songs and understand more clearly why they are included for us to sing.

The experiment was a success. The challenge was met, and we give that challenge to you. You’ll be enriched through the experience.