Introduction

What are "The Songs of Zion"? They are the songs that belong to a new time: they belong to a new era: they belong to our people. They are songs sent from the throne of God as a gift to The Church of Jesus Christ. The world does not have these songs. They are our new songs of the joys to come and the dreams of this great Zion, bathed in the Latter-Day Glory of the Restoration.

Experience of Sister Margaret (Heaps) Henderson, Pacific Coast District

On October 10, 1974 I had the following dream: I saw a very large building and I saw multitudes of people in the building. Within the multitudes of people in the building. Within the multitudes of people were many of the saints' children. I knew and felt that the saints' children should not be among them.

I thought to myself, "What can I do to get our children out of this condition and out of this group?" Then I said, "I know what I'll do; I'll sing them a song." I began to sing a hymn and pretty soon all of the people of the world that were there picked up on the hymn because they knew it, and they started singing the song just like everyone else. The children of the saints, not seeing the difference did not move.

Then these people of the world started serving beautifully prepared meats and sweet fruit, but I would not partake of it. I pondered in my mind, "What can I do? I'll sing them another song."

I began singing another hymn, singing it loud and clear. Soon all of those that were in the building picked up that song and our young people knew not the difference. I began to sorrow in my heart and wondered what I could do to draw our people from among them. The Lord spoke to me and said "Sing them The Songs of Zion. The world does not know these songs."

Experience of Sister Arlene Buffington, Pennsylvania District

On September 13, 1976 I was thinking about the children of the saints and wondering why many have not obeyed the Gospel as yet. I was wondering what goes through their minds, seeing that they know this is the true Church, and many have a desire to serve God and have expressed this desire, yet they put it off.

As I was thinking about this, the power of God fell upon me such as I had never experienced in all my years in the Church, and the words of a song were given to me. It was a song entitled My Place, and it told of the thoughts of our young people. It told of how they searched the world for satisfaction, trying to find their place in life, then finally they come to realize that "without God there is no joy in living." The last line of the song says, "Oh wondrous grace, God found my place for me."

I did not realize that the experience given me this day was the bestowal of a gift. My body shook with the power of God all that day and all the next. Then the songs began to come to me fairly often, many of them given in the same manner as the first. From that day till now there have been given over one hundred songs.

Quite a few of the songs were given to me during church services, especially fasting and prayer meetings. I never know when God will give me a song or what it will be about. Sometimes I am awakened from my sleep singing a new song.

I have no talent as a poet, musician, or singer. I was never a person that was able to get up in front of people. When the song Send Hunters and Fishers was given to me in October of 1977, the Spirit of God prompted me to get up and sing it for the congregation of my branch. I knew that if God wasn't with me I couldn't even carry a tune, but the Spirit kept prompting me to get up. I said, "Lord, please don't shame me in front of my people." As I stood up to sing, the Spirit of God fell upon me, and I know everyone there felt a blessing.

From that time, whenever God gave me a song, I would sing it once for my branch, then put it on my piano until it was put down on paper. Although I could hear the songs clearly in my mind, I did not know how to put the notes on paper for our people to sing.

Many of the brothers and sisters have had experiences relating to The Songs of Zion. Our branch had been praying that God would send someone to help me write the songs down. On Sunday evening March 9, 1980 we had a special prayer offered for this cause, and we felt the prayer ascend to heaven. The next day Bro. Eugene Amormino called me on the phone, offering his help with the songs. He related an experience of how the Lord had prompted him to call me at this time. Our prayers were answered.

On March 28, 1980 Bro. Eugene flew in from Detroit and arrived at my home at 9:00 p.m. We knelt in prayer before we began working on the songs, praying that God would let him "hear what I hear," that the songs might be written down correctly. We felt as though the Lord was standing there at the piano with us. We could feel the prayers, as we knew many of the brothers and sisters were praying in our behalf.

A song entitled My Father Does His Perfect Work had been given to me the morning after Bro. Eugene called. One line says God, "Removes the cloud that we might see/His perfect work more perfectly." By sending Bro. Eugene, God has allowed the songs to be written in perfection, as they had been given. These are songs of hope, joy and deliverance--songs of Latter-Day Glory. They are The Songs of Zion.

Experience of brother Eugene F. Amormino, Michigan-Ontario District

On the afternoon of March 10, 1980 I received the following experience:

Upon arriving home from work, I saw in my mind the face of Sis. Arlene Buffington. A voice within me said, "Call Sister Arlene." I shrugged it off as mere impulse, and attempted to continue my daily routine. However, this event repeated itself, and I could not remove Sis. Arlene's face from my mind. After the third time I saw her face, the spoke and said, "Call her now."

Finally I yielded to the Spirit's direction, phoned her, and explained the circumstances prompting my call. Sister Arlene then related how some of the brothers and sisters had gathered in her home the previous evening (March 9, 1980). A prayer was offered in her behalf that God would choose and send "someone" to help Sis. Arlene with the music she had received.

We both felt the Spirit of God while speaking on the telephone. Now I realized that the Holy Spirit had brought her to my remembrance, and she knew that the prayer of the previous evening had been answered.

Soon after this, I visited Sis. Arlene in her home. I did not know how I could help her arrange The Songs of Zion on paper for our brothers and sisters to enjoy. I could not deny what had already transpired. I made the decision to prove the work of God and step out in faith. If this truly was the work of the Lord, then He would supply what I needed to perform the task before me. The expectancy of being used in His service thrilled my soul, trusting in God to bring all things together for His honor and glory.

After kneeling in prayer for direction, Sis. Arlene and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit fall on us like a mantle from heaven. As she related the experiences surrounding each song. I requested her to sing the song as she received it. After a short time, I could conceive the total structure and form of each composition, transcribe the music onto paper, play the harmony on the piano, and sing each composition back to Sis. Arlene.

In all of my musical experience in the world and in the Church, I have never encountered a situation like this. Having studied music professionally, I know how many beautiful songs, with talent, skill, and inspiration have been authentically written. However, Sis. Arlene has no musical background, except for a few piano lessons. To my knowledge and observation she displays no innate musical talent or ability. She has no literary skill to write poetry or verse. Were you to ask her to write a song with words about a certain topic, she would be unable to do so. She does not preconceive the music or words with any forethought or planning.

What Sis. Arlene has received is a gift. The Spirit of God has given her the melody, the rhythm, and the words. She remembers every song that she has received; the words and music are written in her heart and mind. On various occasions, I have purposely tested her by playing notes and rhythms incorrectly. She could discern the errors and would reply, "Brother Eugene, that is not what I heard." I would then play it correctly and she would answer, "Now that is what I heard." Sis. Arlene is simply singing back to me a song that was given to her by the Spirit of God. She is not a musician, but she can recall the words and music of these songs without hesitation.

I realized that many brothers and sisters would ask my opinion of her music. I had to be sure in my own heart and soul that The Songs of Zion were truly inspired and given of God. We read in God's word that he is no respecter of persons, that His ways are not our ways. He gives good gifts to His children, because He is a loving Father. According to the scriptures, we can test a gift by its fruit. Since my family and I have been acquainted with The Songs of Zion, we have experienced joy and happiness to a greater degree. The blessings, our spiritual fruit, have become more abundant, and the blessed hope of Jesus Christ, more profound.

These experiences are found in the introduction of The Songs of Zion hymn book, they are the property of the individuals that had them. No part may be reproduced without permission.