Editor’s note: Though some of the terminology used is outdated, the principles can be applied as easily today as when they were first spoken.
Now what of the entertainment that is available to our young people today? Are you being undermined right in your home through your TV, radio, slick magazines, rock records? Much of the rock music is purposely designed to push immorality, narcotics, revolution, atheism, and nihilism, through language that often has a double meaning and with which many parents are not familiar.
Parents who are informed can warn their children of the demoralizing loud, raucous beat of rock music, which deadens the senses and dulls the sensibilities—the jungle rhythm which inflames the savagery within. (1)
Evidence of the dastardly work of evil forces is increasingly evident. On every side we see the sad and heart-rending results. The devil-inspired destructive forces are present in our literature, in our art, in the movies, on the radio, in our dress, in our dances, on the TV screen, and even in our modern, so-called popular music. Satan uses many tools to weaken and destroy the home and family and especially our young people. Today, as never before, it seems the devil’s thrust is directed at our youth…
Music creates atmosphere. Atmosphere creates environment. Environment influences behavior. What are the mechanics of this process?
Rhythm is the most physical element in music. It is the only element in music that can exist in bodily movement without benefit of sound. A mind dulled by drugs or alcohol can still respond to the beat.
Loudness adds to muddling the mind. Sound magnified to the threshold of pain is of such physical violence as to block the higher processes of thought and reason. (And turning down the volume of this destructive music does not remove the other evils.) . . .
Repetition to the extreme is another primitive rock device. . . .
Gyrations, a twin to rock rhythm, are such that even clean hands and a pure heart cannot misinterpret their insinuations. . . .
Darkness [and dimmed lights] is another facet of the rock scene. It is a black mass that deadens the conscience in a mask of anonymity. Identity lost in darkness shrinks from the normal feelings of responsibility.
Strobe lights split the darkness in blinding shafts that reduce resistance like the lights of an interrogator’s third degree or the swinging pendulum of the hypnotist who would control your behavior. . . .
The whole psychedelic design is a swinging door to drugs, sex, rebellion, and Godlessness. Combined with the screaming obscenities of the lyrics, this mesmerizing music has borne the fruit of filth. Leaders of the rock society readily proclaim their degeneracy. . . .
And the most diabolical deceit of this infamy is that it denies evil to be an absolute. Our religion is one of absolutes and cannot be rationalized into a relativistic philosophy of the “liberal Mormons.” We cannot safely rationalize away righteousness. (2)
The Lord said, “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me. . . .” (D&C 25:12.) It was pleasing unto the Lord where in Third Nephi in the great Book of Mormon we read: “. . . they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God. . . .” (3 Ne. 4:31.) It was pleasing unto Satan when, in First Nephi, Lehi’s children and the “sons of Ishmael and also their wives began to make themselves merry, insomuch that they began to dance, and to sing, and to speak with much rudeness. . . .” (1 Ne. 18:9.)
And now a music scholar points to a new direction in the rock-drug culture [which is] hailed by many ministers and the music industry as a silver lining in the clouds of gold. Religious rock is climbing up the “Top Ten” charts. The growing resistance to the rock-drug scene is being diverted by this wholesome-appearing retreat from the new morality. But a review of religious rock materials unmasks an insidiously disguised anti-Christ. By reducing revealed religion to mythology, rock assumes the mantle of righteousness while rejecting the reality of sin. Without sin the new morality can continue in its Godless revel behind the pretense of religious robes. By reversing the roles of Jesus and Judas, one fast-selling album fits perfectly the warning of Isaiah [5:20]: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” (Richard Nibley.) (3)
May I quote from a musician who for many years has observed the influence of music on behavior:
Satan knows that music hath charms to sooth or stir the savage beast. That music has power to create atmosphere has been known before the beginning of Hollywood. Atmosphere creates environment, and environment influences behavior—the behavior of Babylon or of Enoch.
Parents who retch at the radio and records reverberating in psychedelic revolt would do well to inventory their own record collection before complaining. If it is small, undiversified, and unused, the complaint must rest on the parent. Seeds of culture are best sown in the fertile ground of infant imitation. No amount of criticizing in the teen years can substitute for the young years of example that are lost. A parent who lost his chance to be a hero-image left a gap for a teen hero. (Richard Nibley.)
Most of these heroes who are being glamorized today are no longer noble, accomplished, humble, or righteous. From reports in books, magazines, and newspapers—especially the youth sections—we learn that they are lewd, obscene, immoral, avaricious, and in some cases even cruel. It is the very life-style we are here to avoid that is paraded before our young people by their celebrated peers. To deflect the admiration of youth from these examples of the ugly life, we must start young. The care and feeding of children must include equal concern for their emotional lives as well as their physical, spiritual, and intellectual lives. (4)
Have you been listening to the music that many young folks are hearing today? Some of it is nerve-jamming in nature and much of it has been deliberately designed to promote revolution, dope, immorality, and a gap between parent and child. And some of this music has invaded our Church cultural halls.
Have you noticed some of our Church dances lately? Have they been praiseworthy, lovely, and of good report? “I doubt,” said President McKay, “whether it is possible to dance most of the prevalent fad dances in a manner to meet LDS standards.” And what about modesty in dress? When was the last time you saw a high school girl wearing a dress that covered her knees? The courageous address of President Spencer W. Kimball a few years ago entitled “A Style of Our Own” is certainly applicable today. (See Faith Precedes the Miracle, Deseret Book, 1972, p. 161.) (5)
A Principle to Judge
Now hear this test proposed by President George Q. Cannon:
If the breach is daily widening between ourselves and the world . . . we may be assured that our progress is certain, however slow. On the opposite hand, if our feeling and affections, our appetites and desires, are in unison with the world around us and freely fraternize with them . . . we should do well to examine ourselves. Individuals in such a condition might possess a nominal position in the Church but would be lacking the life of the work, and, like the foolish virgins who slumbered while the bridegroom tarried, they would be unprepared for his coming. . . . (Millennial Star, October 5, 1861 [vol. 23], pp. 645-46.) (6)
Footnotes:
1 – General Conference, October 1970
2, 3, 4 – General Conference, October 1971
5, 6 – General Conference, April 1969
I love rock and roll! So put another dime in the juke box, baby!
Sorry, one of my several vices.
But I also like the hymns. Oh, the duality of man, his double-mindedness. But wait. God made me this way. Oh, right. But I’m supposed to put off the natural man in order to make room for the Spirit. Well, I guess I still haven’t completely put off the natural man, because I still like rock and roll. (Where’s my dime?) Yet, I like the hymns too; so I guess I’m not a total loss…yet. The beat goes on…. I mean the fight goes on.
I don’t even know where or how to begin in commenting on this issue.
Media addiction is the most common form of idolatry in our LDS culture.
Media addiction is Satan’s most successful Weapon of Mass Destruction in our time.
I do not deny that the Media is compelling, cool, and entertaining. However, a love of media which does not promote faith in Christ is a very serious sin and spiritual liability.
Ha ha, we think it is funny or O.K. that we listen to and adore our Rock and Roll. It is not.
If media is a source of temptation for you, as it is for me, my advise is to prayerfully search your heart and speedily repent.
You will find that “great changes are easier than small ones.”
Jared
You need to find a sense of humor.
Those who know me know I have a terrific sense of humor. I just don’t think that modern forms of Baal worship are funny. Nor do I think that all the pain and horrors inflicted on families and societies because of Baal worship is funny. Maybe you think it is funny when marriages fail because of media addictions and infidelity in marriage; maybe you think that is funny; I think it is sick and wrong.
Coldplay = Porn addiction and cheating
7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
(2 Nephi 28:7 – 8)
9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark. 11 Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted. 12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up. (2 Nephi 28:9-12)
President Packer taught that when we see the term “churches” in the scriptures, we should replace it with “wards and stakes.”
It is imperative that we recognize the need for perfected faith and repentance. Dabbling in Media Idolatry is a very dangerous sin.
Jared,
Really appreciate your comments. They are right on. Media is something I need to stop taking lightly as if it’s no big deal.
Do you have a source for that statement by President Packer? I’d love to have the exact words.
Thank you.
Jennifer
I found this on a training for Stake Presidents on VHS video tape, published in the late 90’s. I found it when I was snooping about in my wife’s uncles library and watched it.
I am grateful that you chose this topic. Yours and President Benson’s etc remarks are well taken. I would add the following. We are instructed that all meetings, as well as all activities of any other kind, are to be governed by the Spirit. Therefore, whatsoever is offensive to the Spirit is to be avoided. Is all rock music offensive to the Spirit? Certainly not. One of my favorite CDs is by the Rightous Brothers, especially their version of “Unchained Melody”. When I’m away from home, and looking forward to getting back to my eternal sweetheart of 44 years, I can’t play it loud enough, and I sing along. It not only defeats drowsiness while driving, it also reminds me of all the love we have shared over the years. It is definitely not offensive to the Spirit.
As an aside, but a very important one, some LDS will not watch “R” rated movies because Pres. Benson said not to, but they will watch all the “PG13” and “PG” movies that come down the pike. Yet I have watched some “R” rated movies that were not in the least offensive to the Spirit, such as “The Patriot” and “Braveheart”, while every single “PG13” and even some “PG” rated movies I have seen were in fact offensive to the Spirit. They invariably contain filthy language, blatant sexual impropriety, and anti-faith, anti-family values, none of which can be found in “Braveheart” or “The Patriot”. In fact, both movies, especially “The Patriot”, depict the highest ideals of courage, patriotism, and family values. So they used a little ketchup in making them. So what?
My last aside, I promise. I have read everything that Ezra Taft (“T”) Benson ever wrote or said. I have read his biography by Sherry Dew. I believe I am in a position to speak with some authority on what he meant about not watching “R” rated movies, or listening to “Rock” music. My values are his values. If it is offensive to the Spirit, which is to say, if I feel uncomfortable about it, or feel the absence of the Holy Ghost, regardless of how it’s rated or who says what about it, I avoid it. After all, if a movie were made about the Book of Mormon, depicting battle scenes as they actually happened, it would have to be rated at least “R”, if not “X”. Yet we are commanded to read the Book of Mormon every day, constantly seeing these mental images in our minds.
As a teenager a lot of these statements seemed far-fetched.
Growing up, however, I was in a performing/recording “rock band”, and so many of these statements are true! I couldn’t perform without dim lights and fog machines because I needed to lose my own identity to convey our message. Repetition was an amazing device because after a first exposure a “good” song could leave its message in the listeners mind. Repetitive instrumentation also created a “trance like” state that further enhanced our ability to seep into the audience’s mind and control them. We constructed songs with certain rhythms to induce specific thoughts or “moods”, and looking back, few of these moods or messages promoted the gospel. Thank you for printing this article.
I’ve been a big rock/heavy metal guy growing up, but more and more I see that this is true. . .but it is EXTREMELY subtle. That’s how I and many others have been deceived – it seems innocent. But you research it and you realize that its roots are often evil and occult.
Why did the Beatles’s include Aleister Crowley on their Sgt. Peppers album?
Why did Ozzy Osbourne dedicate a song to Crowley?
Why did the Rolling Stones write “Sympathy for the Devil”?
Is ACDC’s “Highway to Hell” really innocent?
A while ago, I was happy to listen to it bobbing my head. One day I woke up. And these examples are classic examples, newer rock is often more bold in attacking truth and Jesus (band Slayer comes to mind). Can I choose to listen to that smut and have a testimony of Jesus?
This is a great article. I have done some research on this issue as there are claims that the Illuminati (another secret combination) are in charge of the mainstream music scene and use satanic symbolism in it. Some music (not just rock n roll or metal) if played backwards has words thanking Satan and worshipping him. Some music artists have evenly claimed that they sold their soul to the devil to get where they got in the music industry. If anyone is interested, these videos are available through youtube titled “Music Industry Exposed”. It has opened my eyes to more truth and that we are vulnerable to Satan even without knowing it.
Aaron, those claims are true.
Not only was I an active player in the rock music industry for years, it had complete control over me. I was raised a member of the church but music carefully stole me away… and almost consumed me. I was also involved in the occult- studied magick under the Golden Dawn, and I saw things that would blow your mind! I thank GOD daily for finding me and pulling me out of hell… hell that began with the music I listened to, and led to more evil than I thought I would ever become involved with.
PLEASE, go through your music collections and destroy ANYTHING that is not worthy to be played in temple worship. It has a hold on you, and you may not even know it: give this a listen: http://www.illuminati-news.com/Audio/Todd6b.mp3
This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever read.
How about Christian rock and metal bands?
Benson addresses those here as well. Rhythm is important as well as lyrics. “And now a music scholar points to a new direction in the rock-drug culture [which is] hailed by many ministers and the music industry as a silver lining in the clouds of gold. Religious rock is climbing up the “Top Ten” charts. The growing resistance to the rock-drug scene is being diverted by this wholesome-appearing retreat from the new morality. But a review of religious rock materials unmasks an insidiously disguised anti-Christ. By reducing revealed religion to mythology, rock assumes the mantle of righteousness while rejecting the reality of sin. Without sin the new morality can continue in its Godless revel behind the pretense of religious robes. By reversing the roles of Jesus and Judas, one fast-selling album fits perfectly the warning of Isaiah [5:20]: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
I met my Eternal Companion at an LDS single adult dance. A group of people were twerking. I’ve also been to many adult and youth dances where members dance to YMCA, which the Village People say is about picking up teen boys for gay sex. Why do we have to emulate the world?