"Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it by word and example with a family, a member, neighbor, or the stranger? Aren’t we something less than a friend if we have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and are unwilling to share it?" - Marvin J. Ashton
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow him in faith. I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll honor his name. I'll do what is right; I'll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim.
Like the previous hymn this is one that I'm not sure how I am familiar with it, but I am. It's a fairly easy one to play on the piano, except for the two sharps. :-) Actually, two sharps really isn't that bad. This does have the slightest bit of a Utah reference ("stands will hills surrounded"), though one really should choose to see the symbolic part of being surrounded by an Almighty fortress that confounds our foes no matter how awful things could get (friends leaving, mothers abandoning). Which leads to that beautiful line "But no changes Can attend Jehovah's love." Brings to mind the time when Joseph was in Liberty Jail and the Lord tells him that though it seems all have left him, he isn't because the Savior is always there. Verse 3--marvelous!! The best part of the entire song. It is one that could go with a different, slower tune to really draw out its meaning. Looking at the hymn meters, I think Hymn #96 (Dearest Children, God is Near You) would do that. I may have to consider this for the choir!
From the history book
And, like the previous hymn, this was written by a man who likely never heard of the LDS Church in his lifetime. I need to stop being so quick to assume Utah references. ;-) He used scripture references of being protected by surrounding hills, yet was still a bit prophetic that the early Saints literally found that protection. The tune was first combined with the text in a hymnal published in 1883.
Hmm. I have no idea how I know this hymn as well as I do. Words aren't memorized, but I could hum about 60% of it correctly if asked on the spot. I don't remember it from childhood. I have no memories of it in college or experience with it in my organ lessons. But somewhere I have sung/heard/played it enough to be decently familiar with it. It is an upbeat hymn with a little syncopation to keep it from getting to chord-y. The text refers to the great joy for the Gospel being restored. That which has been foretold has come, dispelling darkness. Verse 3 may be a nod to the Utah-ness, but I like to look at it, along with verse 4, as a worldwide description--that all throughout the world in desert, on sea, on mountains, etc. can raise their voices in praise for bonds being broken free.
From the history book
J. Spencer Cornwall described the hymn having "exclamatory gladness." Perfect description. Oh my word--the author Thomas Hastings is not LDS! Like the book's author (Karen Lynn Davidson) mentions, LDS often link the restoration of the Gospel with the symbol of the dawn breaking. But Thomas liked the image of the coming of day, and used it in at least two other hymns that are not in our hymnal. So now I know it is not a Utah reference and definitely about the world. The author did not think of missionary work application in the words, but we can see it! Wow--I am even more impressed with the lyrics of the hymn matching so closely to our beliefs and sentiments about the Gospel, the Restoration and missionary work. The composer was LDS, and his tune and the text first appeared in the 1889 LDS hymnal. In the current hymnal, tenor and bass parts were added to the 3rd line.
Lyrics
1. Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning!
Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain!
Hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning.
Zion in triumph begins her glad reign.
2. Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning,
Long by the prophets of Israel foretold!
Hail to the millions from bondage returning!
Gentiles and Jews the glad vision behold.
3. Lo! in the desert the flowers are springing;
Streams, ever copious, are gliding along.
Loud from the mountaintops echoes are ringing;
Wastes rise in verdure and mingle in song.
4. Hark! from all lands, from the isles of the ocean,
I always thought this was a fairly well--known hymn. But a few years ago I had a friend who seemed surprised to see it in our hymnal, thinking it was from some other Church-related event and not knowing it had been in the very first LDS hymnal written by the first Bishop of the Latter-day church). I was decently familiar with it. Then I remember in college the boy I had a crush on singing it as a duet at Ward Prayer. Kind of permanently stuck in my mind after that. ;-) I very much love the hymn, for its own sake and not my memory's.
The tune is joyous and excited--perfect for the words about the Gospel being restored and shared throughout the world, and especially praising our King, whose Gospel it is. The third verse sings of the Millennium, and the glorious experience we shall have to be there with our Savior. My favorite lines in the whole hymn are the last two:
A thousand years, oh, glorious day! Dear Lord, prepare my heart To stand with thee on Zion's mount And nevermore depart.
From the history book
There were originally 7 verses. First and second verses are the same; verses 3, 4, and 5 have been omitted because they focused mostly on the frightening events preceding the Second Coming. I am OK with that change. As much as it is good to know what those events will be, I don't really want to sing about them. Especially with such a joyous tune (which didn't actually get paired with this text until the current hymnal). The original 6th verse is not the 3rd and final verse in our hymn. But the original 7th continued with after the Millennium, fighting the adversary one more time before we spend eternity in the celestial world. Yes, I am very happy with the hymn as it is today and the German tune they picked for it.
Lyrics
1. Let Zion in her beauty rise;
Her light begins to shine.
Ere long her King will rend the skies,
Majestic and divine,
The gospel spreading thru the land,
A people to prepare
To meet the Lord and Enoch's band
Triumphant in the air.
2. Ye heralds, sound the golden trump
To earth's remotest bound.
Go spread the news from pole to pole
In all the nations round:
That Jesus in the clouds above,
With hosts of angels too,
Will soon appear, his Saints to save,
His enemies subdue.
3. That glorious rest will then commence
Which prophets did foretell,
When Saints will reign with Christ on earth,
And in his presence dwell
A thousand years, oh, glorious day!
Dear Lord, prepare my heart
To stand with thee on Zion's mount
And nevermore to part.
Text: Edward Partridge, 1793-1840. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
This song is both ridiculously hard and absolutely delightful to play. And was almost impossible on the organ--thank heavens my teacher did not ask me to learn pedal on it.
NO.
WAY.
This is as far from the chord-chord-chord set up as you can get, including an incredible part for bass singers (quite rare). The tune goes perfectly with the text about arising and shining into a world of darkness, with nothing to fear in spite of trials and temptations because this is God's work and we are His people.
Favorite lines:
*Arise and shine in splendor Amid the world's deep night, For God thy sure defender, Is now they life and light.
*With the redeemed shall, singing, To Zion come again
*All of Verse 3, especially But patient, firm endurance, With glory in our view
*Oh, grant, Eternal Father, That we may faithful be
*To him be glory given Whose blood did us redeem
So much joy and hope and determination in the words. How can you not want to sing it exuberantly as the music indicates? It is so fun and beautiful, we'll even ignore the Utah reference in Verse 2. :-)
From the history book
This hymn was written 2 years after the Saints came to Utah. So, yes, the author was referring to Utah as Zion. The 1985 hymnbook committee decided to make this more applicable to all the Church, since Zion is worldwide. So they deleted 3 of the 4 verses that were "within the rows" in the 1950 hymnal and substituted 3 of the little-used "extra" verses printed below the hymn. Ah--those poor, unsung verses. See how amazing they can be? :-) The removed verses are really good, too, but definitely Utah-centric. Would be nice to be sung in a DUP meeting or some celebration of Utah history. Nothing said about the marvelous tune. :-( But it is by George Careless--who has written nine of our hymns' tunes.
This is not one I could call the tune to mind if asked. But looking at the hymn, I can figure it out. It has some fun running parts for the women. The text is to all the Saints of Zion (meaning all the Church). It is a pleading to all of us of what to do because of the great blessings and reasons we haev to rejoice with the Gospel being restored in our day.
From the history book
It mentions that 2 parables are referenced in the hymn. That would explain the familiarity of some of the text. The text was in existence when the tune composer provided the musical setting, giving it a bit of a march quality. The hymn used to be called "O Sons of Zion," which likely got mistaken to be a Priesthood hymn, so it was not sung as much. Thus the change for the 1985 hymnal.
Lyrics
1. O Saints of Zion, hear the voice
Of Him from courts on high.
Prepare the pathway of the Lord;
His reign on earth is nigh.
Prepare the supper of the Lamb;
Invite the world to dine.
Behold, the mighty Bridegroom comes
In majesty divine.
2. Entreat the Lord in humble prayer
That all the sons of men
His righteous kingdom will receive
And shout the glad "amen."
The sacred keys are now restored;
Declare the gospel plan.
Make known the wondrous words of truth
Revealed again to man.
3. Behold, the glory of the Lord
Sets Zion's mount aglow,
For Zion is an ensign pure;
All nations to her flow.
O Saints of Zion, tread the paths
Your faithful fathers trod.
Lift up your hearts in gratitude
And serve the living God!
Text: Ed M. Rowe, 1878-1951. (c) 1948 IRI
Music: Robert P. Manookin, 1918-1997. (c) 1948 IRI
This hymn first came to my attention from the LDS pioneer movie Legacy. A woman begins singing it as a solo at the cornerstone ceremony for the Nauvoo temple in the film. At the time I didn't realize it was in the hymnbook. The song was one of countless melodies that stuck in my head (I am fairly good with tonal memory, thus, countless.....). And then one day I was looking in the hymnbook. I saw the title of that one and the melody immediately came to me. It's weird to realize you know a hymn without knowing you do! Of course, I didn't have the words memorized. Just the first couple of lines. And I still don't have all 4 verses memorized. But I am familiar that it is a hymn of the restoration and proclaiming the Gospel to the world, thus gathering Israel which has great reasons to rejoice. It is not one that is sung often in congregations today. So many of those.... :-(
From the history book
The first and last verse are to those who have heard the gospel. The second and third are to those who are searching for truth. It used to be a hymn for the men, with the first line being "Come all ye sons." But the word was changed so it was move inclusive for congregations to sing it.
Lyrics
1. Come, all ye Saints of Zion,
And let us praise the Lord;
His ransomed are returning,
According to his word.
In sacred song and gladness
They walk the narrow way
And thank the Lord who brought them
To see the latter day.
2. Come, ye dispersed of Judah,
Join in the theme and sing
With harmony unceasing
The praises of our King,
Whose arm is now extended,
On which the world may gaze,
To gather up the righteous
In these the latter days.
3. Rejoice, rejoice, O Israel,
And let your joys abound!
The voice of God shall reach you
Wherever you are found
And call you back from bondage,
That you may sing his praise
In Zion and Jerusalem,
In these the latter days.
4. Then gather up for Zion,
Ye Saints thruout the land,
And clear the way before you,
As God shall give command.
Tho wicked men and devils
Exert their pow'r, 'tis vain,
Since He who is eternal
Has said you shall obtain.
Text: William W. Phelps, 1792-1872. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
Hymn #37 - The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close
(For those not familiar with this tune, this arrangement is a little tricky though nice. The melody begins at 40 seconds.)
I believe I sang this one time in all my growing up years. But I remember it being "the long song." (Not from Doctor Who. :-) ) There are longer ones, but at sight, this seems very long. It is long by lines--using all 8. AND it is 4 verses in all those 8 lines. It also is not very fast. Ironically, leading the 2/2 time makes it, for the chorister, feel a bit fast. A lot of arm movement. Even though I only sang it once in those years (that I recall), I must have heard the MoTab choir sing it enough because it was one that I could hum most of the tune out of memory if asked. Then I spent many months with the hymn as one that my organ teacher wanted me to play, so I became much more familiar with its notes and chords. The words I do not know by heart, but they are lovely. Very poetic. And by an apostle! Verse 1 and 2 paint such a beautiful picture of nature that really anyone who has seen or can dream of winter can envision. Verse 3 and 4 refer more to the early Saints finding refuge in and later taming and shaping their mountainous, sheltering home--where I can vouch there are many wintry days!
I had our ward congregation sing this hymn earlier in the year. It was winter season. But we were 9am meeting time, so the counselor in the bishopric pointed out that even though the day was not closing, we were going to sing this beautiful hymn. It helps that he and his wife (the organist) are very musical and appreciate that I don't stick with the "oversung," only sung hymns. I am determined that if they went through such an effort in all the hymnal revisorings (my word), we might as well sing the 341 hymns put in there, and not the same 75 over and over again!
Favorite lines:
*Invites all wearied nature to repost
*Pale through the gloom the newly fallen snow Wraps in a shroud the silent earth below As tho 'twere mercy's hand had spread the pall, A symbol of forgiveness unto all.
*While, like the twinkling stars in heaven's dome, Come one by one sweet memories of home.
*Where hope and memory together dwell And paint the pictured beauties that I tell?
*The templed cities of the Saints now stand
*There is my home, the spot I love so well, Whose worth and beauty pen nor tongue can tell.
That last line, though there be truth in me having found a home in these often wintry mountains, brings back so much nostalgia and memories of the home(s) that I grew up in with my family. The tune for this song is the perfect one for recalling sweetness, tenderness, beauty, and memories. So though Verse 3 and 4 may be even more specific about a place, I do not find it taking away from the memories of the places I called home. Especially during the winter times that drove our family indoors and brought us together for many family-building moments.
I also liked writing about this after a couple of snowy days this week--the early snow days in early winter, before I've gotten sick of it!
From the history book:
Written by the apostle who also wrote the text for one of my favorite hymns (#112), Pres. Packer praised Elder Whitney as a "gifted and inspired poet." Thoughts that this hymn of nostalgia was included in hymnody because it is also about thankfulness for peace and blessings. This poem was first printed in 1899. The poem is written in nostalgia, as if someone is away from home and recalling it--in a way that only a place we love so dearly can be remembered. (Hence my beautiful memories of home when I was growing up.) This hymn was in the choir section of the 1950 hymnal, but congregations liked to sing it, too. (Not so much these days. "It's long!" ) They did change the word "savage" to "fearless" in verse 3--wise choice.
Lyrics
1. The wintry day, descending to its close,
Invites all wearied nature to repose,
And shades of night are falling dense and fast,
Like sable curtains closing o'er the past.
Pale through the gloom the newly fallen snow
Wraps in a shroud the silent earth below
As tho 'twere mercy's hand had spread the pall,
A symbol of forgiveness unto all.
2. I cannot go to rest, but linger still
In meditation at my windowsill,
While, like the twinkling stars in heaven's dome,
Come one by one sweet memories of home.
And wouldst thou ask me where my fancy roves
To reproduce the happy scenes it loves,
Where hope and memory together dwell
And paint the pictured beauties that I tell?
3. Away beyond the prairies of the West,
Where exiled Saints in solitude were blest,
Where industry the seal of wealth has set
Amid the peaceful vales of Deseret,
Unheeding still the fiercest blasts that blow,
With tops encrusted by eternal snow,
The tow'ring peaks that shield the tender sod
Stand, types of freedom reared by nature's God.
4. The wilderness, that naught before would yield,
This is a blog where I share inspirational/explanatory quotes, pieces of my testimony, and various things/events/experiences that have strengthened and will continue to increase that testimony. I am not officially called of my church to keep this blog. I share these things because they are the core of my very existence. And every part of me wants to proclaim it to all the world. So, I'll start here. I hope all who read my "spiritual ramblings" may know with a surety that I know and believe these things with all of my heart and with complete assurance.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I would love to talk more with readers, though I do reserve the right to not discuss or respond to anything inappropriate or that I am not comfortable with.
