RE T H

O
A
N
M

M
BY HILLARY HOLBROOK
Music is important for Grant Gibbons and his family,
but theres something even bigger.

G
rant Gibbons does not live in a quiet home. No, he doesnt
live next to an airport or a set of train tracks. Instead, he
and his siblings make their own music all the time. The four
siblings still living at home are constantly singing and playing the piano,
guitar, trumpet, ute, and other instruments. In fact, Grant and his two
older brothers, Guy and Michael, just released a new CD. Music is a big
deal to 16-year-old Grant and the other members of his family, but serv-
ing the Lord is more important.

Passing down musical talent

Everyone in Grants family is musical, and they love to perform, espe-
cially together. When Grant was a child, he saw how music about the
Savior could touch others lives. The very rst time we were asked to
perform as a family was for the Church, says Lucie, Grants mom. We did
our rst show on Temple Square, in Salt Lake City, and had a very spiri-
tual experience. A man came off the street who had never heard of Jesus
Christ. A sister missionary, who was acting as a hostess, took our children
aside and said, This man was introduced to Jesus Christ by you kids.
Lucie says that from that point on, Grant and his siblings were
hooked on touching other peoples lives through gospel music. But
they certainly arent the rst ones in their family to be devoted to music.
IC
Grant comes from a long line of musicians. His grandfathers on MUS U
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both sides of his family were music educators and music store own- g
e son
ad th

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ers. His mom, Lucie, has a father who focused his career on band and n lo e
ow by th
choir. Grants dad, Barry, has a father who spent many years performing r an dpa
G y at
ns famil
in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And together Lucie and
Gibb o .org.
E ra.lds
Barry own a recording studio in Utah where Ne w visit
ca n also
You
PHOTOGRAPHS BY HILLARY HOLBROOK

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NEW ERA JANUARY 2009 17

 M
usic is a Choosing a mission over music safe, appropriate, and upbeat music to
major part Grants musical talent started to show listen to. But the brothers will have to put
of their lives, when he was only ve years old. Because future goals of making another CD on hold
but the Gibbons his four older siblings would play the piano for a couple of years because Guy Richey,
siblings also know and sing all the time, he decided that he who goes by both his rst and middle
that they have wanted to join in the fun. Although Grant names, recently left to serve a full-time mis-
to balance other was only in kindergarten and could not yet sion in Toulouse, France. In this family of
important aspects read music, he says, I started playing the musicians, serving the Lord is more impor-
such as their belief piano by ear and would pick out melodies tant than music.
in gospel truths on the piano. Even if we had a top record in America
and keeping their Michael, his brother, adds, One thing right now, we would still go and serve the
family united. Grant is good at is that he can listen to a dif- Lord. We know that serving is the most
cult piece of music and be able to pick out important thing, Michael says.
all the parts on the piano. Making the mission a priority is an
Not only does Grant play the piano, but example to Grant, who says that his brothers
he also plays the trumpet and the gelhorn, and dad have paved the way for him. Grant
and, of course, he sings. Such a wide variety wants to serve a mission, too. Michaels
of talent was great to have when Grant, Guy, decision process to go on a mission started
and Michael started to record their rst CD. with our father, who went on a mission. We
The three brothers had dreamed of making look up to our father so much. Hes such a
a CD but waited until Michael returned from great example to us that we have all felt that
his mission in Geneva, Switzerland, to start. going on missions was the right thing to do,
Michael says that before he served a Grant says.
7
e, 1 mission there was never a temptation Michael gives Grant his best advice for
A lys
n
An se to stay home and record music. I serving a mission: Go out with a smile every
n n Aly
A r- received assurance through prayer day and talk to as many people as you can.
v e s pe
lo in that my mission call was going to Be seless and bring joy into other peoples
r m ing l
fo hoo be right for me, Michael says. lives. If youre concerned about other
ig h sc She
h ls. When I got my call, I knew peoples needs, the stresses and sacrices
u sica She
m . it was what the Lord wanted of serving a mission will not be a big deal.
ute nd
th e s p el a for me. In three years, when it comes time to
p lays the go lessed
d s b
s an side has m When he got home two serve a mission, Grant will have no doubt
sing hat be thing usic. I s years later, the three boys that giving up his musical career for two
st o
ly, n ch as m all ki
nd
say m i n
fa u by sio worked together, using years to serve the Lord is the right thing
her fe as m ched he pas
li o u f t . their vocal and instru- to do. He is already preparing for that by
her antly t use o sh ares
st ca ly mental talents to pro- following the Holy Ghost and building
con sic be e fami m n is
u o l h y s
of m y wh vorite es Our duce a CD. Their his testimony.
t m fa c h ) goal in releasing
tha ses at Tou o. 293 t
n n Aly t h s, n r fec it, Michael says, Attuning the spiritual ear
A ife ymn are pe ess-
a c hL ( H
E cs bl was to give Although Grant can play by ear a song
G ood he lyri t the ds.
fo r t u
e bo ien youth and he hears on the radio, hes also working on
aus el a d fr
bec w I fe ily an young training something elsehis spiritual ear.
ho m
for f my fa adults When I feel spiritual promptings, I follow
o
ing
18
 el, 22 y on
Micha
s to ja zz awa
l lov e itars.
Michae a c o ustic gu
an d y
electric and pla
lik e s to sing e
He also favorit
n o . M ichaels
the pia French
is o u t of the ed
hymn a n d its call
oo k , nglish
hymnb i, w h ich in E
ns-to favor-
Souvie e m b er. His
Re m at the
means w a s a time
o r y
ite mem e ant wh
en his
P a g about
Nauvoo rm e d a song
perf o es
family T h e song go
.
tioneer to perf
orm
an auc is fu n
st and the
quite fa t s o m etimes
r, b u ays
togethe ll a p a rt, he s
ould fa st have
a
solos w W e ju
laugh. h its
with a
e r e ve n thoug
geth
blast to fect.
ays per
not alw

Gr
I LY
A FAM ICIANS
an
Gra t, 16
S
OF MU
n
all very mo t love
ngs are rnin sm
his sibli

G
rant and v e to sing
and atte g
nds befor ic. Ev
us
Th ey lo a e sc ery
musical. . Heres also jazz
f ins truments : trum practi band ool, h
h
play a v
ariety o ach o e
n
a tion about e ce
ite pet da s the ractice
p e
of inform hym
little bit ily. pia
no . H
Firs n
t Pr s are
Gra
nts and e
Stil a t
14 l, M yer ( Joseph wo fa
rea, ng n vo
Aub playi say y o
s, Soul . 26) Smith r-
rted
ently
sta band two of t Il
he ove to o. 12 d Be
(n an s
e c chool a has
ea r h s r e de scri h loo 4
Aubr ior h
ig
ir . Au
b
E venti p
ym
n k
). G
r
r ju n c ho Tis
Nauv
oo tom tural r s, as w at the ant
u te in he s c hool it h Me; t h e o ef e e l ly
the the ew ded ts a ser ft re l as ri
in g in s Abid ily atten m e. I ves he pa nces the cs
si n g e i ti a g o
and On r fam rst ther he mis e.
Afte the b
n
h y mns. a n d he f o r the i n g toge w
col ants t sion, rG o
favor
ite n she ong pray ther le o ran t-
5) . Whe rd that s il ie s are . H er o mu ge an attend t
16 hea e fam rea says si d
(no. t , she all th b O God
,
wa c. He study
a n n d A u e , nts also
Page scen
e, a ays], The mu to t
y e r o n g pl T h ank
). sic ea
pr a e s e
is W t (no. 19 pro ch
h en th ym n e fess
[w ite h r a Proph ion
favor fo ally
.
NEW ERA JANUARY 2009 19
 that inappropriate music is
what Satan wants you to
listen to, and it doesnt
please Heavenly Father
when we dont listen to
uplifting things. We dont
always have to listen to
Church music, but it has
to bring a good spirit.
Michael agrees. Music is so spiritual,
and its so connected to our soul that when
them, Grant says. Because we listen to music that is
I follow them, Im able to recognize A POWE destructive, uses
R FOR
those promptings easier. I try to be GOOD O bad language, or
R E VIL
T
better at listening to the Spirit. even has a feeling
he For the
S

T
And why does he want to follow tr ength of that is inappropri-
Youth pam
he Gibbons have the Spirit? Because Grant has a p h le t tells ate, we know that
us why w
e should li
consistently testimony of the gospel. Ever since good mus s ten to its the wrong music
ic:
looked for the I was little, my parents have taught
Music is
to listen to, he says.
an im portant an
good in music and us about the gospel, he says. The powerful d Finding music that
part of life
are aware of the more I learn about it, the more I . It can be makes your soul and
an inuen
ce for goo
power songs can have know its true. My testimony is you draw d th at helps spirit feel good is
closer to
in affecting attitudes. always strengthened when Im Heavenly very important.
Father. Ho
wever, it c
They are particularly trying to live more like Christ. be used fo an also Grants mom, Lucie,
r wicked p
careful to avoid One way that Grant is able Unworthy u rposes. says that good music
music ma
inappropriate lyrics to live the gospel is by listening harmless, y s e em is always playing in
but it can
and offensive music to good, wholesome music. effects on have evil their home, and that
your mind
that can drive away When asked what advice he and spirit creates a loving atmo-
Choose c .
arefully th
the Spirit of the Lord. would give to teens who you listen e music sphere. Its never quiet
to. Pay att
struggle with inappropriate to how yo en ti o n in our home; somebody
u feel whe
music, he answers, are listenin n you is always singing or
g. Dont li
Just know music tha s te n to playing the piano, she
t drives aw
Spirit, enc a y th e says. As if on cue, the
ourages im
glories v m o ra lity, family sings Love at Home
iolence, u
ses foul o (Hymns, no. 294) in perfect
offensive r
language,
or pro- harmony. No, it is never
motes Sa
tanism or
other evil quiet in the Gibbons home,
practices
([2001], 2
0). but a spirit of love resides
there. Music is a big deal
to Grant and his family,
but serving the Lord always
comes rst. NE

20