If people want to be healthy, they should watch their diets - their musical diets.
"Music is the one of the most powerful teaching tools we know of," said Jack Christianson, seminary teacher and lecturer, at a recent Orem Council PTA forum."Music affects the circulatory, respiratory, hormonal and skeletal systems. Athletes know all about the effect of music. They wouldn't prepare for a big game by listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and they wouldn't prepare for a religious service by listening to Motley Crue.
"Can you imagine what would happen if a dentist played heavy metal music in the waiting room? There's a reason they don't."
Many people claim to choose music for the beat but don't realize the beat will reinforce the message in the lyrics, Christianson said. Whether they know it or not, listeners will remember and be affected by the words, he added.
Rock music that sends negative messages and talks of Satan, parent hating, drugs, human degradation and suicide is also remembered, he said.
"Some of us would never dream of saying the things we sing.
"I'm not saying all rock 'n' roll is bad; I'm just saying it's so powerful, we have to choose carefully what we want in our minds."