• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

FAIR

2022 FAIR Conference Tickets are on sale now!

  • Find Answers
  • Blog
  • Media & Apps
  • Conference
  • Bookstore
  • Archive
  • About
  • Get Involved
  • Search

Music

A Snapshot of the Church in the DR Congo (The Church in the DR Congo: A Personal Perspective, Part 2)

October 28, 2018 by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

In a presentation at the 2018 FairMormon Conference,[i]I shared stories of some of the faithful Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa). In this series of presentations, I would like to speak from a more personal perspective, reflecting on the meaning of that experience for Kathleen and me, and pondering some of the dynamics of numerical and spiritual growth of the Church in that country.

The series is organized into eight parts:

  1. Prologue: What brought us to Africa?
  2. Snapshot of the Church in the DR Congo
  3. The missionaries
  4. What attracts people to the Church?
  5. Building from centers of strength — Kisangani
  6. Building from centers of strength — Wagenya and elsewhere
  7. The temple: A light to the world
  8. “The labourers are few”

Part two begins with a description of some interesting and little-known facts about the DR Congo today, followed by a brief account of the beginnings and amazing growth of the Church in the country. Remarkably, even with the large number of baptisms in the mission, the retention rate of new converts is very high. Almost half of the entire membership are holders of the Melchizedek priesthood. The presentation closes with audio selections illustrating the marvelous musical talents of the people, born of their deeply felt faith, joy, and gratitude.

This video presentation is available on the FairMormon YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSIS3U0g3cI

 

[i]The video version of the entire FairMormon presentation is available on the FairMormon YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJl9FvLKmjw. The seven segments of this presentation, in an edited and somewhat expanded form, are available for reading at Meridian Magazine(www.ldsmag.com) and the website of The Interpreter Foundation(https://interpreterfoundation.org). For more articles and videos by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, see www.templethemes.org.

Filed Under: Conversion Tagged With: Alexander B. Morrison, ANUNGA Shako Marceline, Biaya Shambuyi, Brother Mayele, Church in Africa, David M. Kennedy, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ginette Baehrel, Hervé Baehrel, Jean Hutchings, Joni Koch, Jr., Judith McConkie, Kinshasa, Lendo Van Dam, LIETE Bausu Shekina, LIETE Bien Venu Bolame, LIETE Ondelio Jeancy, LOKPO Hugues Anicet Madou, LUKUSA Ngangu Peter, Mansiku Mawangi, Marvin J. Ashton, Mbuyi Nkitabungi, Mbuyi Régine Banza, missionaries, missionary work, Mobutu Sese Seko, Mpunga Bofanga, Muciuko Banza, Music, Naomi Pitchou, NTUMBA Kadima Nene, OMBA Miriam, Oscar W. McConkie, R. Bay Hutchings, SHAKO Jonathan, UMBA Claudine Nkulu, Virgil Jon Parker, Wiyombo Ethendji

What Was the Religious Role of Music in the Life and Times of David? (Gospel Doctrine Lesson 22A)

June 13, 2018 by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

Lyrist from the tomb-painting of Khnumhotep II, Beni-Hasan, Egypt. Twelfth Dynasty, ca. 1900 BCE

An Old Testament KnoWhy relating to the reading assignment for Gospel Doctrine Lesson 22: “The Lord Looketh on the Heart” (1 Samuel 9-11; 13; 15-17) (JBOTL22A)

Question: What was the religious role of music in the life and times of David?

Summary: From the earliest times, music has played a central role in religion. The book of Samuel is a good example. Before Saul became king, music enabled the Spirit of the Lord to come upon him in the company of prophets; afterward, in Saul’s misery, David’s harp — or, more accurately, lyre (Hebrew kinnôr) — invited the Spirit into his palace once more. Later, in likeness of other nations in the ancient Near East, music and dance became an inseparable part of the institution of kingship in Israel. The Psalms, in a tradition that stretches back to David, contain some of the most significant prophecies of scripture and became the backbone of temple liturgy. In this article, we will explore all these themes and will finish with examples of how the combination of inspired singing and playing continue as important mainstays of the religious life of the Saints today.

The full article may be found at the Interpreter Foundation website: KnoWhy OTL22A — What Was the Religious Role of Music in the Life and Times of David?

Filed Under: Bible, Lesson Aids, Questions, Resources, Temples Tagged With: David, Gospel Doctrine: Old Testament, Harp, Lyre, Music, Samuel, Saul, Solomon

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner


RSS-Icon RSS Feed (all posts)

Subscribe to Podcast

Podcast icon
Subscribe to podcast in iTunes
Subscribe to podcast elsewhere
Listen with FAIR app
Android app on Google Play

Pages

  • Blog Guidelines

FAIR Latest

  • The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 68
  • Come, Follow Me Week 32 – Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46
  • FAIR Conference Podcast #81 – Craig Foster, “What Under the Banner of Heaven Gets Wrong”
  • Reflections on Abuse, Reporting, and the Church
  • Come, Follow Me Week 31 – Job 1–3; 12–14; 19; 21–24; 38–40; 42

Blog Categories

Recent Comments

  • Stw on The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 68
  • Adam on Reflections on Abuse, Reporting, and the Church
  • Kody on Reflections on Abuse, Reporting, and the Church
  • Lori on Reflections on Abuse, Reporting, and the Church
  • Kirk on Reflections on Abuse, Reporting, and the Church

Archives

Footer

FairMormon Logo

FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our Friends

  • BYU Religious Studies Center
  • BYU Studies
  • Book of Mormon Central
  • TheFamilyProclamation.org
  • Interpreter Foundation
  • Wilford Woodruff Papers Project

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • iTunes
  • YouTube

Donate to FAIR

We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.

Donate Now

Donate to us by shopping at Amazon at no extra cost to you. Learn how →

Site Footer

Copyright © 1997-2022 by The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

No portion of this site may be reproduced without the express written consent of The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, Inc.

Any opinions expressed, implied, or included in or with the goods and services offered by FAIR are solely those of FAIR and not those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR) Logo

FAIR is controlled and operated by the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR)