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 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 on 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 the thoughts of our young people. It told how they search 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 in 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 voice 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.
Other Experiences
Scores of people from every district of the Church have also testified to the personal joy and comfort these songs have provided in their lives. The following are just a few of the many experiences received over the years:
Over twenty years ago, a brother I loved very much passed away and I was so sorrowful. This man had been like a father to me. I prayed and asked God if I could see him. In a dream that night the Lord told me, “I’ll let you see him, but you can’t go to where he is.” I beheld this brother directing a choir. The singing was so beautiful. Beside him stood Brother William Cadman all dressed in white. Bro. Will did not speak; he just stood there with such a look of authority. Then the brother directing the choir turned around and said “These are The Songs of Zion.”
When I awoke I asked my husband, “What are The Songs of Zion?” My husband said, “I don’t know, our church doesn’t have The Songs of Zion.” It was almost twenty years later when I heard the songs had come forth in our church. Then I recalled my dream.
This vision took place the first time The Songs of Zion were sung in the Michigan-Ontario District. The twelve apostles were meeting there, and a special meeting was planned for Sunday. Bro. Eugene Amormino had been asked if he could prepare the choir for a few selections for the Sunday Service. He had just been to the Imperial Branch once or twice and the first few songs had been put on paper. He got the choir together on Thursday night (their only practice), and told them he had two new songs he would like them to learn for Sunday. The two songs were Come All Ye That Thirst and Sing Hallelujah.
On Sunday, when the choir began to sing, I heard bells ringing. I thought someone in the choir must be ringing these bells. But, I thought, our church doesn’t use bells in their choirs. I couldn’t see anyone with bells. Then I noticed the bells were playing the melodies of the two songs they were singing and I heard a voice say, “Ring the bells of heaven, there is joy today.”
Sister Arlene feels that the bells of heaven were ringing because The Songs of Zion were being sung for the first time in this district.
This vision was given to a sister the first time The Songs of Zion were sung in the Pennsylvania District. When the Imperial Branch went up to sing at a conference, the music that they were singing sounded so beautiful to me. I closed my eyes to relax and listen to the singing. When I opened my eyes, the ones that were singing had long white gowns on, and where Bro. Eugene sat playing the piano, I could only see a halo of smoke where his head was. It was the most beautiful sight anyone could ever see. I couldn’t believe what I saw; I was amazed. I was shaking my head, thinking I was seeing things, but this is what I really saw. At this time I did not know the songs they were singing were The Songs of Zion.
A brother elder had an experience while listening to The Songs of Zion for the very first time: As I was sitting there listening to the music of these songs, the Holy Spirit was speaking to me and it began to enlighten my mind. As each song was being played by Bro. Eugene on the piano, I paid attention to the melody.
As he would play a song, I would say to myself, Oh, that’s a French melody, or that’s a Spanish melody or that’s a southern melody or an English melody or that one has a little Oriental flavor to it or an Italian flavor or some other.
I went home and pondered these things, and my first thought was that somehow these songs had been drawn together with these various melodies and flavors to represent the nations of the world, and perhaps somehow this beat came to Sister Arlene and maybe this is why she wrote it down.
Then the Holy Spirit corrected me and said, “No, these songs weren’t drawn from these countries; these songs have these melodies and these particular flavors because I’m going to use these songs to introduce my gospel to these countries.” I thought, “What a beautiful way to do it. Everybody loves music. Music speaks to every soul, and if they’re familiar with the beat or the melody, imagine how quick it will catch on. There’s a glorious future!”
A sister had an experience after hearing the President of the United States make the statement, “If you want a know a people, listen to their music.” It struck her so forcibly, it kept going over and over in her mind. She thought how true it was, the different peoples that came to America, how they were known for their music: Italians for their great opera singers; Africans singing of their plight and longing for freedom; and now today how our teenagers are known for their loud music. Even they have something they want to say, and they want to voice it.
So it is with The Songs of Zion. These songs are telling about God’s people — where they came from, what our expectations are, and where we are going. These songs are going to set the people of God apart from all others. We, too, will be known by our songs.
This sister felt such an outpouring of the Spirit of God that she lost her strength and she couldn’t even speak for a time.
I awoke from this dream at four o’clock in the morning. I dreamed Sister Arlene Buffington was standing in front of a building and there were a lot of people standing around. They had baseball bats and pieces of wood in their hands, as if they wanted to hit Sister Arlene. They were saying that they wanted The Songs of Zion and that they would pay her whatever she wanted for them.
Sister Arlene said, “I can’t sell those songs, they belong to the Church.” The people answered back and said, “We will pay any amount of money you want. There is no reason you can’t sell them.”
This kept up for a while. It was at this time that the people became so angry because she kept refusing to sell them the songs. They came toward her like they were really going to hurt her. I became very frightened. At this point I heard God speak. I heard God’s voice—I actually heard God speak in a loud voice, saying, “She can’t sell you those songs, they belong to The Church of Jesus Christ and that’s My Church.”
When all those people heard that voice, it seemed like it scared them; they started running every which way. They disappeared so fast, and Sister Arlene was left standing there, thanking God that He had come to her rescue.
When I awoke I was so happy, and I felt that it was the Church she was standing in front of in the dream. I awoke with such a blessing and I was so happy all day that I couldn’t stop crying. I had to call Sister Arlene and tell her. I just felt so good with the words, “She can’t sell you those songs, they belong to The Church of Jesus Christ and that’s My Church.”
I saw Sister Arlene standing in her living room in front of her fireplace by her sofa. There was a fire burning brightly in it, and I felt such a warmth in the room. Jesus appeared in the living room face to face with Sister Arlene. He was only a few feet from her.
I could not see Jesus’ face, as He was looking at Sister Arlene, but He had on a white cloak. He had a scroll in His hands, and He handed it to Sister Arlene. He spoke in a very soft voice to her and said, “Hold on to this scroll, for it contains The Songs of Zion that were sung many years ago.” Then, in an instant, He was gone.
Sister Arlene opened the scroll, and as she did I saw that every song in our Songs of Zion book at church matched the scroll exactly: titles, words, notes, everything exactly the same.
This sister had never been in Sister Arlene’s home, but described her living room exactly as it is.
A sister had this experience while listening to Vessels of Gold on her tape recorder. When it came to the end of the song, she shut the recorder off, but she could still hear the last two lines being sung over and over:
“He says they have to be gold, into the furnace they go,
He says they have to be pure to do His work here below.”
She checked the tape, and saw that it was not playing. She even shook the recorder, wondering what was going on. Then she realized that the singing was not coming from the recorder; it sounded far off like angels singing.
This experience was given at the time when a book of the first 65 Songs of Zion was being put together.
A brother had come to visit the Imperial Branch at this time, and knowing how dear these songs had become to him, Sister Arlene gave him one of the three original copies as a gift. He had told her many times previously how through the night hours when he was unable to sleep because of his afflictions, he would read the words of the songs and feel the blessings of God.
He thanked Sis. Arlene for the book and began to look through it. Being a very fine musician himself, this brother thought that with his training he could perhaps improve upon The Songs of Zion as they had been written. He knew this book was about to be presented to the General Church for their approval and use, and he took a pencil and began to make corrections, starting with song No. 1 and continuing on through song No. 11.
He worked for many hours on the songs, thinking that he was making improvements. He was busy working on song No. 11 when he heard a voice saying, “Touch not that which God has blessed.” When he related this experience to Sister Arlene, he told her, “I will never try to improve upon what God has given again.” He was crying as he told her this experience.
Sister Arlene understood that his intentions were of the very best. He was doing it out of his love for the songs; he thought he was helping. She was later told that on his deathbed in the hospital he testified of this experience again just a day or so before he passed on.
A sister from Brother Eugene’s branch came to visit him. She had her mother with her, who was visiting from North Carolina and was not a member of the Church. Bro. Eugene thought he would sing them four or five of The Songs of Zion (they had never heard of them before) to see their reaction.
After singing and playing the piano to these few songs, he turned around to them and asked what they thought of the songs. Immediately the sister began to speak in tongues. Brother Eugene said he only understood in English the last part: “It’s sealed! It’s sealed!” He did not understand the rest, but the sister’s mother understood all of the tongues in English. The interpretation is as follows:
“These songs have been sealed by the Lord. You have been anointed in this work by God, and no one can take it away from you. The words and music are from God. Anyone who hears these songs will be blessed. It’s sealed! It’s sealed!”
A few years ago, a brother and his wife had occasion to visit another church. While waiting for the service to begin, this brother thought he would look through their hymnal to see what type of hymns they sing. Looking through their hymnal, he recognized many of their hymns from our church’s Saints Hymnal. He said to his wife, “They have our hymns.” It was then that he heard a voice saying, “That is why I have caused The Songs of Zion to be written.”
A brother and sister were singing There’s No Rainbow Can Shine Like Jesus at a General Church Conference. The Word of the Lord was spoken as follows “These have been written for My glory, saith the Lord.”
An Indian brother had a dream before he knew of The Songs of Zion. In a dream, he saw a group of people singing. He was standing with his arm around his wife, and said to her, “They’re singing our songs, The Songs of Zion.” About three months later, Brother Eugene came to this brother’s mission to teach the songs there for the first time. The Indian brother related the dream to Bro. Eugene at this time.
No matter where she travels, the Native American Indian people all tell Sister Arlene the same thing: They say that they have heard these songs somewhere before—so far back. It seems like they heard them when they were children. An Indian chief once told her, “Do you see how quickly our people pick these songs up? They just hear a few lines and they can sing the song.” The Indian people say, “The Songs of Zion are ours.”
An Indian sister from Canada was listening to a tape of The Songs of Zion when she heard a voice saying, “These are the songs that were sung in the days of Nephi.”
A Chippewa sister dreamed that the Choice Seer came to her home early one morning and when her husband opened the door, the Choice Seer was standing there singing The Songs of Zion so beautifully. She was amazed that when he came, he already knew the Songs.
We hope and pray that you will also feel spiritually edified by The Songs of Zion presented in this collection. As the songs are sung, the Spirit will bear witness to the truth of these experiences and testimonies. They do not all speak of Zion, but they all contain the Spirit of Zion — the spirit of a better day, a greater hope, and a vision of Latter-Day Glory.