The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns

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This article is about church hymns in general, for the book, see Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)


The singing of hymns is an important part of worship in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Latter-day Saint hymns come from many sources, and there have been numerous hymn books printed by the church.

Contents

[edit] First LDS Hymnal

According to The Doctrine and Covenants, a few months after the church was organized, Emma Smith was instructed to compile a book of sacred hymns to be used in the church. (Doctrine and Coventants section 25). This compilation was completed and printed in 1835.

[edit] Writers and Composers

The church has been quick to adopt hymns from the general Christian world which are seen as suitable. Many of the authors and composers of pieces found in the LDS hymnals include:

Many of the hymns were also written or composed by church members, including some from the leadership. Some of the LDS writers or composers whose works are found in the hymnals include:

The tunes for several hymns were taken from European folks songs.

[edit] 1948 Hymnal

In 1948 The Church published a hymn book. This book was reprinted numerous times throughout the following decades. A few hymns were added or removed, but the basic format didn't change.

[edit] Contemporary Hymns

Many Latter-day Saint hymns of the hymns are well known traditional christian hymns; others deal with items of doctrine unique to the doctrine of the church such as the preexistence, the Latter-day prophets, and the Book of Mormon. Others draw their subject matter from the history of the church, including themes such as the restoration and the pioneer experience. Some of the unique Latter-day Saint hymns such as "Come, Come Ye Saints" are gaining popularity in the repotoires of other Chrisitan choirs.

In 1985, the church issued a new hymn book entitled Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Some new hymns were placed in this book, which had not been used by the worldwide church up until this time, including contemporary favorites such as "Called to Serve" and well as familiar songs that have been used in the primary such as "I Am A Child of God", "Teach Me To Walk In The Light" and "Families Can Be Together Forever".

Others were left out of the book. The church did not give particular reasons for leaving out any particular hymn, just sayng that the spirit was followed in the selection and there were too many hymns to be included into one book. For example, some of the hymns were about Utah and it mountains, which, while meaningful to church members living there, would not be as appealing to a worldwide church. Others such as "Give Me Back My Prophet Dear" were sorely missed by many members.

The primary has its owns songs, which are gaining popularity with adults as well.

Some songs which are occasionally sung by choirs, although not included in the hymn book (though usually not by the whole congregation in a meeting) include "O Divine Redeemer", the Christmas carol "O Holy Night" and "Faith in Every Footstep" a song specifically written for the 150th anniversary of the Mormon Pioneer journey, and came about after the hymn book was published.

Congregations also sing patriotic hymns of their respective countries, as they may or may not be included in the language specific edition of the hymn book.

[edit] List of some hymns

Below is a sampling of some of the LDS hymns that are not included in the 1985 hymn book.

  • All Hail the Glorious Day
  • Arise, My Soul, Arise
  • As Swiftly My days Go Out On the Wing
  • Author of Faith, Eternal Word
  • Awake! O Ye People, the savior is Coming; words by W.W. Phelps
  • Beautiful Zion for Me; by Charles W. Penrose
  • Blessed Are They That Have the Faith
  • Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light
  • Bring, Heavy Heart, Your Grief to Me
  • Captain of Israel's Host
  • Come All Ye Saints and Sing His Praise; by Lorin F. Wheelwright
  • Come, Dearest Lord
  • Come, Go With Me, Beyond the Sea
  • Come, Hail the Cause of Zion's Youth
  • Come, Lay His Books and Papers by, (a song written to the memory of Karl G. Maeser)
  • Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
  • Down by the River's Verdant Side
  • Each Cooing Dove
  • Farewell, All Earthly Honors
  • For Our Devotions, Father
  • From Greenland's Icy Mountains
  • Give Us Room That We May Dwell
  • Glory Be to God in the Highest
  • Hark! Listen to the Trumpeters
  • Hark, Ten Thousand Thousand Voices
  • Hushed Was the Evening Hymn
  • I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath; by Isaac Watts
  • Land of the Mountains High; by Evan Stephens (This song is also known as Utah, We Love Thee, it was the official state song of the State of Utah for many years, until it was replaced as such by Utah, This is the Place, at which time it was redesignated as the official state hymn.)
  • Let Each Man to Know Himself
  • Lift Thine Eyes to the Mountains
  • Lo! On the Water's Brink We Stand
  • Lord of All Being, Throned Afar; by Oliver Wendell Holmes
  • Lord, Thou Wilt Hear Me; by Isaac Watts
  • M.I.A., We Hail Thee
  • 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces
  • Not Now, But in the Coming Years
  • O Awake! My Slumbering Minstrel; words by Eliza R. Snow
  • O Happy Homes Among the Hills
  • O Happy Home! O Blest Abode
  • O'er the Gloomy Hills of Darkness
  • Oh Give Me Back My Prophet Dear; (This song laments the deaths of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith), written by John Taylor with music by George Careless
  • On the mountain's Top Appearing
  • One Sweetly Solemn Thought
  • Rest, Rest for the Weary Soul
  • Sacred the Place of Prayer and Song; by Evan Stephens
  • Shall We Meet Beyond the River
  • Sister, Thou Wast Mild and Lovely; words by Samuel F. Smith
  • Stars of Morning, Shout for Joy
  • Sweet Is the Hour When Thus We Meet; by Evan Stephens
  • Take Courage, Saints, and Faint Not by the Way
  • There is a Land Whose Sunny Vales (This song is about Utah)
  • The Seer, Joseph, The seer; words by John Taylor
  • Think not, When You Gather to Zion Your Troubles and Trials are Through; words by Eliza R. Snow
  • The Lord Imparted from Above; (This song is about the Word of Wisdom words by Eliza R. Snow, music by George Careless
  • Thou Dost Not Weep Alone; words by Eliza R. Snow
  • Though in the Outward Church Below
  • Unanswered Yet? The Prayer
  • Up! Arouse Thee, O Beautiful Zion
  • When Christ Was Born in Bethlehem
  • When Dark and Drear the Skies Appear
  • When First the Glorious Light of Truth; words by William Clayton
  • We'll Sing the Songs of Zion
  • What Voice Salutes the Startled Ear?
  • When Christ Was Born in Bethlehem; words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • With All The Power of Heart and Tongue; by Isaac Watts
  • Ye Children of Our God; words by Parley P. Pratt
  • Ye Chosen Twelve, To You are Given; words by Parley P. Pratt

[edit] See also

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