October 23, 2025, 4:00 AM MDT
Editor’s note: To support individual and family gospel study, Church News is publishing articles about the October 2025 general conference messages. In addition to checking out these resources, we encourage you to listen and read the entire address.
About this talk
Click here for the full message. Click here for a summary of Sister Browning’s message.
overview
Although Sister Browning did not grow up in Primary, she says the Spirit immediately taught her the sacredness of the song. Primary is one of God’s instruments for planting seeds of testimony in children. Parents, leaders, and teachers feed that seed by sharing their testimonies and inviting their testimonies to their children. Primary songs become children’s first spiritual language and have the power to stay with them throughout their lives of discipleship.
Teach the Doctrine of Jesus Christ Through Songs
Primary songs can be powerful doctrinal tools that tell the story of the Savior’s life and ministry, teach His attributes, and testify to His Atonement. These songs can become a treasure trove of faith-filled sermons, inviting the Holy Spirit to confirm eternal truths and inviting others to follow Christ.
engrave the truth in your heart
Songs learned in early childhood “have the power to stay with you and bring you back decades later.” Even adult members look to Primary songs for continued conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit can use music to impress eternal truths on the hearts of children, so that in time they can choose to align their hearts and lives and point them toward Jesus Christ.
Remember Covenants and Prepare for Ordinances
Music can connect the Savior’s doctrine to a child’s memory and connect that memory to discipleship. Primary music can teach with joy, doctrinal understanding, and the Spirit, including helping children recognize the feelings of the Holy Ghost. These can be prepared for sacred ceremonies.
final testimony
Primary songs teach eternal truths and doctrines that lead all people to Jesus Christ and his gospel. These eternal truths include: God is our heavenly Father, He sent His Son to earth to provide a way home, and His holy temple is His home here on earth. Sacred music has the power to “illuminate the light of Christ on the listener” and “pouse it into the hearts of the singers.”
reflection questions
“How do the Primary songs learned in childhood become the spiritual language that children use to witness throughout their lives?”
“How does singing gospel truths help children remember the Lord and prepare for His ordinances as part of their covenants?”
“How can the Primary songs help impress God’s law on the hearts of these youngest disciples?”
What is your favorite Primary song? What eternal truths does it teach?
How can you incorporate more Primary songs into your life or the lives of your loved ones?
speaker’s words
“Primary songs can be a child’s first spiritual language because their simple, memorable melodies express gospel truths. These songs stay with children throughout their lives and become part of their discipleship. “These songs have the power to become a natural and normal way to testify of the Savior.” “These songs provide a treasure trove of faith-filled sermons that help lead children to the Savior and develop a commitment to His gospel.” “Through singing sacred music, the congregation of. God’s children have the opportunity to prepare their hearts for His sacred ordinances, to take His name, to remember Him always, and to keep His commandments.
Reference scripture
“For my soul rejoices in the songs of the heart; yea, the songs of the righteous are prayers unto me, and they shall be answered with blessings on their heads.” “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I have said to you.” “And when they had finished singing the hymn, they went out into the mountains.
invitation and promise
“Think about what fundamental truths are written in your heart through the simple teachings of these songs, and testify of those truths to the Savior’s youngest disciples as you teach the good news of the gospel through song.” “We testify that our efforts to teach and sing these Primary songs to children are not simply part of our religious tradition; they are a sermon to the disciples of Jesus Christ and a testimony to the faithfulness of the Restored One.” “Sacred music can illuminate the light of Christ in the listener and pour it into the hearts of the singers.”
story
One woman credits Primary music with fueling her continued conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ 20 years later. One man testified that Primary music planted the seeds of his faith in his youth and inspired him to return to church in his 30s.
From footnote
16. “Although the sacrament is for members of the Church, nothing should be done to prevent others from participating in it” (General Handbook, 18.9.3). It is especially appropriate for young children to receive the sacrament before they reach the age of responsibility, in order to deepen their appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and prepare them to enter into a future sacred covenant with God.
additional resources
Music talks at recent conferences
Who is Sister Browning?
Sister Tracy Y. Browning has served as second counselor in the Primary general presidency since August 1, 2022. She is the first black woman to serve in the church’s general presidency. The Browning sisters were born in New York and lived in Jamaica until the age of 11, then in New Jersey and New York.
