The New LDS Hymnbook: Changes and Possibilities

Recently, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that they were going to prepare a new hymnbook and children’s songbook for use in the worldwide Church. Specifically, the goal is to create unity in hymn numbers and selections that reflect the needs of a global organization. This is the first time in over thirty years that the official hymnbook for the Church has changed, and it is a matter of no small excitement for Mormon musicians and general membership. The current hymnbook is wonderful, but change can always bring new opportunities and improvements. Part of the excitement is that there is an unprecedented amount of involvement of general membership being made possible through online surveys and song submission opportunities.

Salt Lake Tabernacle Organ, image courtesy Wikemedia commons

Based on trends within the Church, the history of hymnbooks in Mormonism, and the statements that have been made about the forthcoming books, what might the new hymn and song books look like? There are a number of faucets to examine in considering this question, including continuity with past hymnals, new LDS music available for use, what might be removed and changed, and the hymnbook and songbook’s relationships to the general Christian tradition of music, and the tunes being used. Let’s look at each of these in turn.

Continuity

During the latter half of the twentieth century, hymnbooks in the LDS tradition have been kept around the same physical size. The major consideration has been the size of hymnbook holders in the pews of Mormon chapels. Thus, the current hymnbook is quite a bit smaller than most comparable Christian hymnbooks (often about half the size), but this is not likely to change. Rather, it is likely that the forthcoming hymnbook will be similar in size, with a core portion of hymns remaining while others are switched out for new inclusions.

Title page of the 1840 Manchester hymnal

Having a core selection of hymns that are passed on from hymnbook to hymnbook has always been the way of things. For example, 26 of the original 90 hymns included in the original 1835 hymnbook are still included in the current hymnbook, such as “The Spirit of God”, “O Say What Is Truth,” “Redeemer of Israel,” and so forth. The relatively large 1840 Manchester hymnbook compiled by the Quorum in the Twelve in England under Brigham Young’s direction served as the primary hymnbook of the Latter-day Saint tradition in Utah during the 19^th century and is the direct ancestor of the current hymnbook. There were 78 hymns retained from the 1835 hymnbook, with 193 hymns added. This served as the official hymnbook of the Church until 1912. Music of the music used in the 1985 hymnal we currently use was written for use with the Manchester hymnbook and compiled in the late 1800s. Thus, it is likely that the core hymns Mormons sang and wrote in the 1800s will continue to be the core of the future hymnbook, with newer hymns that have gained a foothold in Mormon congregations becoming a part of this core.

Currently, LDS hymnbooks for non-English speaking regions of the world are compiled by beginning with a core group of approximately 100 hymns mandated for all LDS hymnbooks, then a regional committee is given the opportunity to select around 100 more hymns for the remainder of the hymnbook. The list has never been officially released, but may be guessed by seeing what all LDS hymnbooks have in common. I’ll list the full selection as an appendix to this post, but many of the favorite and significant hymns in the English hymnbook are included, such as “All Creatures of Our God and King,” “Come, Come, Ye Saints,” and “Love at Home.” It is a distinct possibility that this core group of approximately 100 hymns will serve as the backbone for the forthcoming hymnal, with other favorites from the current hymnbook and new additions being added around the core group.

Hymnbooks in different languages

Another form of continuity will be the addition of hymns from the current Primary Songbook and LDS hymnbooks in other languages to the forthcoming hymnbook. We already have a few pieces from the Primary book in the hymnal, most significantly “I Am a Child of God.” Other pieces in the Primary Songbook, such as “Beautiful Savior,” “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and “Stars Were Gleaming” are included in other Christian hymnbooks and may find their way into the LDS hymnbook in the future. Often, when LDS hymnbooks have been compiled in other languages, the committees working on them select a few hymns not included in the English hymnal. A few Christmas carols that serve as recognizable examples include “What Child Is This” (Russian), “Christmas Comes Anew,” (French) and “Lo How a Rose E’re Blooming,” (French and German). Including Spanish hymns like “Placentero nos es trabajar” will probably also be a priority due to the growth of the Church in Latin America. It is very possible that some of these hymns that are already included in the international LDS tradition will be included in the general international LDS hymnbook.

Subtractions

Based on the assumption that the current and future LDS hymnbooks will be similar in size, it is likely that any new additions will be in place of hymns that have been dropped from the current hymnal. The Church has already indicated that patriotic songs will not be included in the forthcoming hymnal due to its international nature (though they will still be made available through digital resources). More hymns will have to be trimmed to make room for new hymns, however, and there are some candidates that are likely to not make the cut.

First, there are a lot of hymns that are rarely, if ever, sung in Mormon meetings. I have been known to joke about the sealed portion of the hymnbook with the 40’s, 50’s and mid-200’s in mind. A survey by SingPraises.net revealed that there are around 50 hymns that were rarely reported in sacrament meeting, with “O Home Beloved,” “Rise Up, O Men of God” and “See the Mighty Angel Flying” appearing most rarely.[1] I would imagine that the committee working on the current hymnbook is aware of this survey or will conduct a similar one themselves and that many of these rarely-sung hymns will end up on the chopping block when push comes to shove. Based on the survey, this will likely mean the reduction or removal of the specific “women” and “men” sections with only a few favorites like “As Sisters in Zion,” “Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy,” and “Ye Elders of Israel” remaining.

There are also a few hymns that no longer align with the Church’s image or carry some historical baggage that isn’t necessary to perpetuate. Hymns of praise to Utah don’t have a place in a global church. While most of these were removed for the current hymnbook (i.e., “Utah, We Love Thee”), there are a few remnants, like “Our Mountain Home So Dear,” “O Ye Mountains High,” and “The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close.” The hymns “Up Awake, Ye Defenders of Zion” and “Sons of Michael, He Approaches” both stand out as hymns with historical baggage, with the former being connected to anti-American feelings during the Utah War in the 1850s and the latter being connected to the Adam-God doctrine that the Church has disavowed since the late 1800s. Incidentally, “For the Strength of the Hills” carries both of these problems, but via the words are usually taken metaphorically for temples as a refuge from conflict with worldliness rather than using mountains as fortresses against invading armies, as was the case in Switzerland (its country of origin) and Utah when was adopted for use during the Utah War. As such, it remains popular in Mormon circles (though I was always amused when it was used in sacrament meetings in the flat lands of the Midwest). In addition, since the Church switched to a 3-hour block, singing hymns in Sunday School has become rare. Hymns specifically for use in Sunday School like “Come Away to the Sunday School,” “Thanks for the Sabbath School” and “We Meet Again in Sabbath School” have fallen out of common use as a result. Thus, there are several hymns that will likely be dropped for being obsolete in the current Church.

Hymns written to praise Utah as Zion or rendered obsolete through changes in Church practices will likely be omitted

New LDS Music

In the past 30 years, there have been some significant additions to LDS Church music that are likely to be incorporated in the new hymnbook. The Church has sponsored an annual hymn writing and music arranging competition for decades now that has resulted in a large pool of options that can be drawn from. In addition, music recorded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, performed in general conference or other significant LDS settings, and published in the Church’s official magazines have gained a foothold that makes them likely to be included in the new hymnal.

There are several important examples of the last phenomenon. “Faith in Every Footstep” has been recorded on Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs, performed in general conference, published in the Ensign, and has even been sung from time to time in LDS sacrament meetings within the last few years. President James E. Faust’s hymn “This is the Christ” enjoys similar status in Mormon culture, though it has not been noted as being sung in sacrament meetings.[2] Other, less visible examples of new Mormon hymns include President Gordon B. Hinckley’s “What is This Thing that Man Calls Death,” sung at his funeral and published in the Ensign, John S. Tanner’s “I Love the Lord,” and David Zabriskie’s Advent hymn “Come, Lord Jesus, Come,” from the Savior of the World musical performed on Temple Square and made available through LDS.org. There are also a number of songs written for use in Primary that are popular and will likely be included in the new children’s songbook (i.e., “Scripture Power”). I would expect that most of these newer hymns and songs will be included.

New LDS hymns, particularly those already being performed in general conference and sacrament meetings, are likely to be added to the newhymnbook.

Hymns of Christian Heritage

When Emma Smith compiled the first LDS hymnbook in 1835, she relied heavily on both hymns recently written by Mormons and hymns from the broader Christian tradition that she was familiar with. Every LDS hymnbook since then has been a mix of hymns drawn from other Christian groups and Mormon hymns. I would expect that Christian hymns that are well known to Mormons and a few other new ones that the committee is aware of will become part of the LDS hymnbook. The prime example is “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” which has become incredibly popular since Mack Wilberg’s arrangement was released in the 1990s. Based on its current popularity among Mormons, inclusion in past hymnbooks and the fact that it is being sung in general conference and LDS congregations, I have no doubt it will make a return. A couple other significant hymns that have been in previous Mormon hymnals that are very popular in Christian circles include “Amazing Grace,” and “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” both included in the 1841 Nauvoo hymnal. I have heard many individuals express a desire to include “Amazing Grace” in the LDS hymnbook over the years, and would imagine that it will be considered as a possible addition in the future.

The 1835 hymnbook. LDS hymnbooks have always been a blend of general Christian and uniquely Mormon hymns

There are of course, other Christian hymns that are candidates for inclusion. “Take Time to Be Holy” has been sung in general conference and arrangements are available through LDS.org for use in church services. In fact, my wife was surprised to find that it wasn’t in the current hymnbook when we pulled it out recently for our ward’s choir. Popular Christmas and Advent songs like “O Holy Night,” “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” and the Sussex carol may be considered for inclusion. There are also many newer Christian hymns that worthy of use. A personal favorite of mine is “God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens,” which incorporates modern understandings of astronomy and society into praising God’s creations. The primary issue will be one of licensing. There are thousands of hymns available for use that reflect a commitment to Christ that can be used in Mormon worship services.

A big part of the new hymnbook is a push for more hymns in local and international styles. We are behind the curve in producing uniquely Mormon hymns in diverse styles. I have no doubt that there will be some submitted for consideration (there were 6,000 hymns submitted last time there was a general call, and the Church is much larger today, with opportunities for submission around the world), but there has not been enough time after the Church has indicated an interest in this field of hymns to develop the tradition fully. Thus, it is likely that for now, we will have to partially rely on efforts by other Christian churches who have produced hymnbooks for use in global church communities in recent years for hymns based outside of European and United States traditions.

The LDS Church is growing into and ever-more international Church. Image courtesy LDS.org.

One of the most significant exclusions in previous LDS hymnbooks is African-American spirituals. Such hymns, however, are known and often well-enjoyed in Mormon circles, such as “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” “Rise Up Shepherds and Follow,” “Were You There,” “This Little Light of Mine” and “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit.” I have even had friends suggest that they should add “Battle of Jericho” or other more upbeat spirituals to the new hymnbook. President Dallin H. Oaks indicated that the past 40 years have been a time of fading prejudice against individuals of black African descent in the Church, and it is possible that the new hymnbook will reflect this lessening of prejudice.

Music

Prior to the 1985 hymnbook, the hymn “If You Could Hie to Kolob” was rarely sung due to a difficult, bright melody designed more for a trained choir than a congregation. For the current hymnbook, however, the beautiful minor-key tune Kingsfold was paired with the text. The result has been increased popularity for a previously undervalued hymn. Similar changes may be made for hymns currently in the hymnbook by changing hymn tunes. In the broader Christian tradition, the hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” is often sung to Parry’s tune Aberystwyth, which is a personal favorite of mine. If the change was made in future LDS hymnbooks, the hymn may follow the path of “If You Could Hie to Kolob” in becoming more popular. Other hymns that I would consider worth keeping, but with a different tune, include “’Twas Witnessed in the Morning Sky” and “Savior Redeemer of My Soul” (which could be used with an adaptation of the Robert Gardner setting from Joseph Smith the Prophet and 17 Miracles).

Historically, minor-keyed hymn tunes were generally excluded from LDS hymnals and tune books to emphasize the joyous nature of the gospel. A few minor key hymns were included in the current hymnbook, however, such as “If You Could Hie to Kolob,” “That Easter Morn,” and “Ring Out, Wild Bells.” These hymns are, to me, some of the most beautiful hymns that we have. More tunes from traditional Christian hymns could be used, such as Aberystwyth, Wondrous Love, I Am a Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger, and many others. Original compositions will also provide other minor-keyed hymn tunes for consideration. There is opportunity to include more minor keyed hymns for their contemplative and beautiful nature in the new hymnbook.

Conclusion

The forthcoming hymnbook and its companion children’s songbook will likely be a fine-tuned blend of old and new. It is likely that a core of hymns currently included in the hymnbook will carry over, with obsolete and rarely-sung hymns being omitted and new hymns from both the LDS and mainstream Christian faiths being added. Current hymns included may face some changes in tune to improve their chances of being sung. Each one of us has the opportunity to give input by visiting the Church site for the new hymnbook and filling out the survey or submitting hymn texts and music. The 1985 hymnbook was a triumph for the Church in many ways as a usable and beloved hymnbook. I would expect the new hymnal to excel even more as a hymnbook worthy of the gospel in the global Church.

Appendix: The core hymns

Count	Hymn Name	Number of Hymnbooks
1	A Mighty Fortress Is Our God	38
2	A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief	38
3	Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide	38
4	Abide with Me!	38
5	All Creatures of Our God and King	38
6	An Angel from on High	38
7	Angels We Have Heard on High	38
8	As I Search the Holy Scriptures	38
9	As Sisters in Zion	38
10	Away in a Manger	38
11	Be Thou Humble	38
12	Because I Have Been Given Much	38
13	Behold the Great Redeemer Die	38
14	Called to Serve	38
15	Choose the Right	38
16	Christ the Lord Is Risen Today	38
17	Come unto Jesus	38
18	Come, Come, Ye Saints	38
19	Come, Follow Me	38
20	Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice	38
21	Come, O Thou King of Kings	38
22	Come, Ye Children of the Lord	38
23	Come, Ye Thankful People	38
24	Count Your Blessings	38
25	Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd	38
26	Did You Think to Pray?	38
27	Do What Is Right	38
28	For the Beauty of the Earth	38
29	Gently Raise the Sacred Strain	38
30	Go Forth with Faith	38
31	God Be with You Till We Meet Again	38
32	God Bless Our Prophet Dear	38
33	God, Our Father, Hear Us Pray	38
34	Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah	38
35	Hark, All Ye Nations!	38
36	He Is Risen!	38
37	High on the Mountain Top	38
38	Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth	38
39	Hope of Israel	38
40	How Firm a Foundation	38
41	How Gentle God’s Commands	38
42	How Great Thou Art	38
43	I Am a Child of God	38
44	I Believe in Christ	38
45	I Know My Father Lives	38
46	I Know That My Redeemer Lives	38
47	I Need Thee Every Hour	38
48	I Stand All Amazed	38
49	I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go	38
50	Improve the Shining Moments	38
51	In Humility, Our Savior	38
52	In Memory of the Crucified	38
53	Israel, Israel, God Is Calling	38
54	Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King	38
55	Jesus, Once of Humble Birth	38
56	Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee	38
57	Joseph Smith’s First Prayer	38
58	Joy to the World	38
59	Keep the Commandments	38
60	Lead, Kindly Light	38
61	Let Us All Press On	38
62	Love at Home	38
63	Love One Another	38
64	Master, the Tempest Is Raging	38
65	More Holiness Give Me	38
66	My Redeemer Lives	38
67	Now Let Us Rejoice	38
68	Now the Day Is Over	38
69	O Little Town of Bethlehem	38
70	O My Father	38
71	Oh Say, What Is Truth?	38
72	Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful	38
73	Onward, Christian Soldiers	38
74	Praise to the Man	38
75	Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire	38
76	Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel	38
77	Redeemer of Israel	38
78	Secret Prayer	38
79	Silent Night	38
80	Sweet Hour of Prayer	38
81	Sweet Is the Work	38
82	Teach Me to Walk in the Light	38
83	Testimony	38
84	The Lord Is My Shepherd	38
85	The Morning Breaks	38
86	The Spirit of God	38
87	There Is a Green Hill Far Away	38
88	There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today	38
89	Though Deepening Trials	38
90	True to the Faith	38
91	Upon the Cross of Calvary	38
92	We Are All Enlisted	38
93	We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet	38
94	We’ll Sing All Hail to Jesus’ Name	38
95	While of These Emblems We Partake	38
96	Ye Elders of Israel	38
97	As the Dew from Heaven Distilling	37
98	Families Can Be Together Forever	37
99	Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains	37
100	Glory to God on High	37
101	God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand	37
102	Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	37
103	Help Me Teach with Inspiration	37
104	How Great the Wisdom and the Love	37
105	Nearer, My God, to Thee	37
106	O God, the Eternal Father	37
107	Rejoice, the Lord Is King!	37
108	Sing We Now at Parting	37
109	You Can Make the Pathway Bright	37

Information for appendix provided by singpraises.net

References

[1] http://singpraises.net/statistics/sacrament-meeting

[2] http://singpraises.net/statistics/sacrament-meeting

See also https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng for more information about the new hymnbook and children’s songbook