LDS Hymn #55

Hymn #55 - Lo, the Mighty God Appearing!

This section of songs is definitely one of my personal lesser-sung hymns. Apparently I have played this in my early organ lesson days. Looking over the tune, I know I have heard MoTab sing this a few times as well. SUCH a fun tune. I may have even sung it a couple of times growing up. But for such a fun hymn, we don't sing this nearly enough. (And that moving bass part in the last line! What poor bass would pass up that chance?!) I am not very familiar with the words. Should definitely memorize this. Too fun not to. Looking over the lyrics, it has great, poetic descriptions of the Lord coming and the world and the people of the world's reactions to it. They are very majestic descriptions as well as full of excitement, and that matches the tune perfectly.

From the history book
The author of the hymn based it on the first 6 verses of Psalm 50. The 1950 hymnal had this as a choir hymn. She said it is not one of our easiest hymns. Really?! There may be a lot of moving parts, but it doesn't seem as hard as some others I have seen. But for the current hymnal they did put it in a lower register and added in soprano and alto parts that weren't in a part of it. The 1950 hymnal had a another verse: "Gather first my saints around me, Those who to my covenants stood--Those who humbly sought and found me Through the dying Savior's blood. Blest Redeemer, Dearest Sacrifice to God." I like those! And, this hymn was included in Emma's 1841 hymnal, and in the 1889 Psalmody this was paired with the present tune, by our fabulous Evan Stephens.

Lyrics

1. 1. Lo, the mighty God appearing!
   From on high Jehovah speaks!
   Eastern lands the summons hearing,
   O'er the west his thunder breaks.
   Earth behold him! Earth behold him!
   Universal nature shakes.
   Earth behold him! Earth behold him!
   Universal nature shakes.
2. 2. Zion, all its light unfolding,
   God in glory shall display.
   Lo! he comes! nor silence holding;
   Fire and clouds prepare his way.
   Tempests round him! Tempests round him!
   Hasten on the dreadful day.
   Tempests round him! Tempests round him!
   Hasten on the dreadful day.
3. 3. To the heav'ns his voice ascending,
   To the earth beneath he cries.
   Souls immortal, now descending,
   Let their sleeping dust arise!
   Rise to judgment! Rise to judgment!
   Let thy throne adorn the skies.
   Rise to judgment! Rise to judgment!
   Let thy throne adorn the skies.
4. 4. Now the heav'ns on high adore him
   And his righteousness declare.
   Sinners perish from before him,
   But his Saints his mercies share.
   Just his judgments! Just his judgments!
   God, himself the judge, is there.
   Just his judgments! Just his judgments!
   God, himself the judge, is there.
5. Text: William Goode, 1762-1816
   Music: Evan Stephens, 1854-1930