Via Formspring:
Are LDS hymns all uniquely LDS or do you sing ones you will also find in other Christian denominations?
There are a few universal Christian hymns, bust I think most of them are original. I actually don’t know which ones other people sing and which ones are uniquely LDS. You can listen to the LDS hymn book here if you’d like. A few of my favorites include:
Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy (I cry every time this song is performed, it has such a beautiful message and the harmonies are very moving)
On Sundays I try to avoid secular things, and focus on hymns and podcasts that will help me draw closer to God. I’m always looking for something new to add to my Grooveshark playlist. What are some of your favorite hymns? (I’d love YouTube links so I can go listen to them myself!)
January 15th, 2012 on 8:35 am
I love the Prayer of Saint Francis.
Reply
Jenna Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Grooveshark has Sarah McLachlan version of this that is so beautiful!
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 9:13 am
I believe I looked up that there are close to 60 hymns in the LDS hymnal that are shared throughout other Christian churches. It may be more, that was what I found doing some internet searching. I do love that Nearer To The, but I think the group who originally created and performed that arrangement, Vocal Point, does the song so much more justice, the lyrics are incredible. Plus I kinda feel like I’m watching the first Twilight movie with those camera angles. When I first joined the church, it was a great comfort to hear many familiar hymns throughout the meetings.
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 9:41 am
Our ward music dude has a propensity towards traditional Christian hymns so we sing a looottttt of those. Some favourite Sunday podcasts are the BYU round table discussions of the scriptures (because they remind me a lot of the material in my old BYU religion classes) and of course favourite old conference talks. Also, if you haven’t already, I think you’ll love the Lord, I Would Follow Thee episode of the History of Hymns podcast. I’ve listened to it probably 50 times. I can’t even help it… the hymn is so lovely and the lady who wrote the hymn is so adorable!
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 10:11 am
I love old southern hymns. I’m learning to play them on the piano. My favorites are
I’ll Fly Away,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GtXjUl5tO4&feature=related and
It Is Well With My Soul
Reply
Jenna Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
It Is Well is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with me.
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 10:12 am
How Great Thou Art is another popular favorite that we share with other Christian churches. Carrie Underwood does a great version of it (I’m a big Carrie fan!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk
But my favorite hymn is Because I Have Been Given Much – didn’t find a good Mormon Tabernacle Choir clip, but here’s a good little quartet singing it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X23r4ATlUA
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 12:56 pm
That Brightly Beams our Father’s Mercy song is beautiful.
This is my current favorite: Holy is your Name. We didn’t sing it growing up but do at our current church fairly often. It’s based on the Magnificat, the prayer that Mary says when she finds out she is carrying the Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgwAuycxxes
I do have 2 questions about LDS hymns. We always listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Christmas morning because NPR would play it then. I am confused about two things:
1) Why do they sing the Ave Maria? (Which is the Hail Mary put to song) I assume it goes against LDS theology?
2) Why do they sing Handel’s Messiah? I also would think that would go against LDS theology particularly the line “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” since LDS do not believe in the trinity? (since it is saying the child *is* the Father?)
Reply
Katy Reply:
January 15th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
My best guess – without a real ‘official’ answer – is that those are traditional songs sung of the Savior – reverent, meaningful, and beautiful, even if the exact message isn’t 100% in line with doctrine per se. I’ve never heard anyone raise any objections before – if I had, I would have told them they were crazy and just be quiet and enjoy the music.
Like me, I assume most don’t pick apart the song necessarily but appreciate the beautiful music, worship-filled intent, and history of the piece(s).
Reply
Jenna Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
In the 13th Article of Faith it says “If there is anything praiseworthy or of good report, we seek after these things” and I think that’s the answer. Those are beautiful works that inspire and uplift, and I believe all things that are inspiring/uplifting come from God in some way. And we celebrate those things.
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 1:08 pm
I Stand All Amazed
Lord, I Would Follow Thee
There is Sunshine in My Soul Today
Have I Done Any Good in the World Today
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 3:05 pm
This is the “Hymn for the Mother of God.” I find myself listening to this a lot. (Skip to about 1:25 where the singing starts)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7vvPXz-Qes&w=420&h=315
I am new to Orthodoxy so I can’t name hymns by name yet, but the hymns sung after Communion and there is a great one during Lent that I can’t remember either!
Reply
Stephanie C Reply:
January 15th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
apparently my embedding didn’t work, just try the link!
Reply
Jenna Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
This is very haunting in a lovely way. Thank you!
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 9:10 pm
I have always loved “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”
Reply
c.e.l.i.n.a. Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Isn’t it sad that it is not in newer editions of the hymn book? I love that song.
Reply
Senora H-B Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
It was not included in the 1985 version for two reasons: 1) the arrangement was horrible; 2) people weren’t singing it. Michael Moody gives full credit to Mack Wilberg for re-popularizing the hymn among LDS. (My source is a Sunday School he gave in my ward in Boston.)
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 10:31 pm
The quickest way to check if a hymn is LDS or not is to look at the date at the bottom of the page. If it predates when the church was formed most likely it isn’t LDS, although there are some that are after. There is also a great book you can get at any church bookstore that talks about the history behind each hymn chosen for our hymnal. We actually had an institute class around it!
My favorite song which is not in the hymnal is “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” which is sung SOOOO beautifully by the BYU choir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUhU0HgTq94
Warning it might make you cry.
Also “My Kindness Shall not depart from thee” is wonderful!
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 10:33 pm
I second “Come Thou Fount” and “How Great Thou Art!” I also love “All Creatures of our God and King.” And, although I’m not LDS, I love listening to “If You Could Hie to Kolob.” There is something to hauntingly beautiful about it.
Reply
January 15th, 2012 on 11:06 pm
A few months ago my husband and I attended the baby blessing of a friend’s son. One of the hymns sung was very familiar to us as one commonly sung in mass, except we noticed the word “world” was changed to “worlds” in the LDS version. It was an interesting catch. I wish I could recall the name of the hymn.
Reply
Jenna Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
I think it’s “How Great Thou Art”: http://mormonmatters.org/2009/05/07/botched-hymns/
Reply
Marissa C Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Yes–that’s it! That’s what I thought it was, but when I looked up the lyrics I couldn’t find the phrase I was looking for. Odd.
Reply
January 16th, 2012 on 11:14 am
Have you heard Sufjan Stevens’ version of “Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing” ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1bSlS6OWTs
And, “How Great Thou Art” is my favorite hymn. It speaks to finding awe at God’s greatness when you’re out in nature. It comes to my mind every time I look up at a starry sky.
Reply
Jenna Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
I feel this same way in nature as well! I used to go out on my trampoline as a kid and look at the stars and think about God.
Reply
Senora H-B Reply:
January 16th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Oh, Once and Again, I first heard that version in an episode of Friday Night Lights. I sobbed through it and immediately downloaded it. It has gotten me through a lot of hard times in the last year.
Reply
January 16th, 2012 on 8:19 pm
LOVE this post, Jenna!! I lost my dad 2 years ago and we’re noot LDS, but he LOVED the Mormom Tab. Choir. His favorites were Come, Come Ye Saints (also found in some Protestant hymnals) and The Morning Breaks. Just writing that makes me misty-eyed… I love listening to those 2 and thinking of him. My favorite hymn that is in both the LDS hymnal & my hymnal growing up is “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.”
Because the message is so beautiful to me, my all-time favorite hymn is “Jesus Paid It All.” The harmony in this arrangement is really beautiful!! http://youtu.be/jr3yoUJg7SU
Reply
January 17th, 2012 on 12:12 am
I love the songs The Piano Guys are coming out with. The cello is beautiful.
It’s so hard to choose a favorite hymn.
I love This is the Christ
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1047793527032103437
Reply