Meetings, meetings, and more meetings

During the Kirtland years of the Church, Saints attended a Sunday morning sermon and another in the afternoon. It was the Thursday Fast and Testimony meeting that was out of the usual, at least by today’s standards. How many hours did the fast and testimony meeting last?

a.      3 hours

b.      6 hours

c.       2 hours

d.      1 hour

Yesterday’s answer:

a.      Singing School

One Monday, January 4, 1836, Joseph Smith wrote in his journal that he “met this evening at the Temple, to make arrangements for a singing school. After some discussion, a judicious arrangement was made, a committee of six was chosen to take care of the singing department.”

An early journal describes congregational singing and the need for singing instruction:

“Church music was taught at singing schools. No one ever thought of taking his song book to church. After the reading of the hymn the leader pitched the tune and started off. The congregation—all that could sing—would join in, some a note or two too high, others as much too low, and most of them a little behind the leader. Uncultivated people did not mind the discord, and the congregation dispersed feeling spiritually refreshed. They had heard a good sermon, taken part in the worship, and were ready for the week’s labors, anticipating a good time next Sabbath in airing their musical talents.”

Joseph Smith’s Kirtland, Karl Ricks Anderson (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1989), 190-191.