(black text is the original lyrics; all yellow highlights are things I am commenting on;All blue text are my thoughts and are my opinions only and do not represent the official position of the speaker, author or the church.)
I am going to include a study of the hymns that are sung in each meeting. Here are some excerpts from the preface to our hymnal that explain why music is so important. (I invite you to read the entire preface...)
First Presidency Preface to Hymns
Music in Our Church Meetings
Inspirational music is an essential part of our church meetings. The hymnsinvite the Spirit of the Lord,
create a feeling of reverence,
unify us as members, and
provide a way for us to offer praises to the Lord.
Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. Hymns
move us to repentance and good works,
build testimony and faith,
comfort the weary,
console the mourning, and
inspire us to endure to the end.
Music in Our Homes
Music has boundless powers for moving families toward greater spirituality and devotion to the gospel.Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music.
Ours is a hymnbook for the home as well as for the meetinghouse.
We hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes.
The hymns can
bring families a spirit of beauty and peace and
can inspire love and unity among family members.
Teach your children to love the hymns.
Sing them on the Sabbath,
in home evening,
during scripture study,
at prayer time.
Sing as you work,
as you play, and
as you travel together.
Sing hymns as lullabies to
build faith and testimony in your young ones.
Music in Our Personal Lives
In addition to blessing us as Church and family members, the hymns can greatly benefit us as individuals. Hymns canlift our spirits,
give us courage, and
move us to righteous action. They can
fill our souls with heavenly thoughts and
bring us a spirit of peace.
Hymns can also help us withstand the temptations of the adversary.
We encourage you to
memorize your favorite hymns and
study the scriptures that relate to them. Then,
if unworthy thoughts enter your mind, sing a hymn to yourself, crowding out the evil with the good.
Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the Spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives.
Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment.
Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, “and it shall be answered with a blessing upon [your] heads.”
The First Presidency
Opening Hymn: General Relief Society Broadcast
Redeemer of Israel
Redeemer of Israel, He who has come to save us
Our only delight, "thou shalt have no other Gods before me"
On whom for a blessing we call, "the song of the righteous is a prayer..."
Our shadow by day "shelter, protection"
And our pillar by night, "chief supporter"; imagery of Children of Israel/Moses
Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all! our chief authority; the one who frees us from sin
We know he is coming I love this line. This is one of our most sung hymns at stake and general conference. Everyone has this hymn memorized. We sing this line over and over, year after year. Why does it seem then, like we do not act like a people who know he is coming? Are we looking for the signs? Are we ready always?
Our only delight, "thou shalt have no other Gods before me"
On whom for a blessing we call, "the song of the righteous is a prayer..."
Our shadow by day "shelter, protection"
And our pillar by night, "chief supporter"; imagery of Children of Israel/Moses
Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all! our chief authority; the one who frees us from sin
Pres. Kimball in his book, "The Miracle of Forgiveness" wrote,
“Do we lose faith, do we lose patience, do we lose hope, do we get
weary in waiting, because the day is long and the event delayed?
It is difficult to be prepared for an event so long delayed. Many have
found it too difficult and they slumber without due preparation.
Hundreds of thousands of us today are in this position. Confidence has
been dulled and patience worn thin. It is so hard to wait and be
prepared always. But we cannot allow ourselves to slumber...
I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of
Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world. All of the virgins,
wise and foolish, had accepted the invitation to the wedding supper;
they had knowledge of the program and had been warned of the
important day to come. They were not the gentiles or the heathens or
the pagans, nor were they necessarily corrupt and reprobate, but they
were knowing people who were foolishly unprepared for the vital
happenings that were to affect their eternal lives. They had the saving,
exalting gospel, but it had not been made the center of their lives.
They knew the way but gave only a small measure of loyalty and
devotion. I ask you: What value is a car without an engine, a cup
without water, a table without food, a lamp without oil? The foolish
asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual and temporal
preparedness cannot be shared in an instant. The wise had to go;
else the bridegroom would have gone unwelcomed. They needed all
their oil for themselves; they could not save the foolish. The
responsibility was each for himself. This was not selfishness or
unkindness...The foolish virgins were not averse to buying oil.
They knew they should have oil. They merely procrastinated, not
knowing when the bridegroom would come. The day of the marriage
feast approaches.
The coming of the Lord is nigh. And there are many among us who
are not ready for the great and glorious event.”
“Do we lose faith, do we lose patience, do we lose hope, do we get
weary in waiting, because the day is long and the event delayed?
It is difficult to be prepared for an event so long delayed. Many have
found it too difficult and they slumber without due preparation.
Hundreds of thousands of us today are in this position. Confidence has
been dulled and patience worn thin. It is so hard to wait and be
prepared always. But we cannot allow ourselves to slumber...
I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of
Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world. All of the virgins,
wise and foolish, had accepted the invitation to the wedding supper;
they had knowledge of the program and had been warned of the
important day to come. They were not the gentiles or the heathens or
the pagans, nor were they necessarily corrupt and reprobate, but they
were knowing people who were foolishly unprepared for the vital
happenings that were to affect their eternal lives. They had the saving,
exalting gospel, but it had not been made the center of their lives.
They knew the way but gave only a small measure of loyalty and
devotion. I ask you: What value is a car without an engine, a cup
without water, a table without food, a lamp without oil? The foolish
asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual and temporal
preparedness cannot be shared in an instant. The wise had to go;
else the bridegroom would have gone unwelcomed. They needed all
their oil for themselves; they could not save the foolish. The
responsibility was each for himself. This was not selfishness or
unkindness...The foolish virgins were not averse to buying oil.
They knew they should have oil. They merely procrastinated, not
knowing when the bridegroom would come. The day of the marriage
feast approaches.
The coming of the Lord is nigh. And there are many among us who
are not ready for the great and glorious event.”
To gather his sheep "we believe in the literal gathering of Israel..."
And lead them to Zion in love, "...that Zion will be built..."
For why in the valley Of death should they weep spiritual separation from God
Or in the lone wilderness rove? Do not wander alone...come to Zion!
How long we have wandered As strangers Even though we have covenanted to follow Him, we act as one not belonging to his fold when we sin
in sin
And cried in the desert for thee! Without the shepherd, we lack the "water" of life and "thirst" for relief!
Our foes have rejoiced When our sorrows they've seen, Satan and his minions glory in our sufferings
But Israel will shortly be free. There will be sorrow...but keep your eye on the Savior...He is coming to free us from all pain and sorrow and suffering.
To gather his sheep "we believe in the literal gathering of Israel..."
And lead them to Zion in love, "...that Zion will be built..."
For why in the valley Of death should they weep spiritual separation from God
Or in the lone wilderness rove? Do not wander alone...come to Zion!
in sin
And cried in the desert for thee! Without the shepherd, we lack the "water" of life and "thirst" for relief!
Our foes have rejoiced When our sorrows they've seen, Satan and his minions glory in our sufferings
But Israel will shortly be free. There will be sorrow...but keep your eye on the Savior...He is coming to free us from all pain and sorrow and suffering.
As children of Zion, As members of the church, we have an inherited right to be in Zion. Whether or not we have developed our natures so that we can dwell there is up to us
Good tidings for us.The tokens already appear. "signs"; There are appearing...
Fear not, and be just, "guided by truth"
For the kingdom is ours. Children of Zion belong to the Kingdom of God on earth
The hour of redemption is near.We know not the "hour" but we know it is "near". How do you live/act/speak when something you have long anticipated is near?
(These two verses not sung in the
meeting)
Restore, my dear Savior, The light of thy face; come!
Thy soul-cheering comfort impart;
And let the sweet longing For thy holy place Long for Zion
Bring hope to my desolate heart.
He looks! and ten thousands Of angels rejoice,
And myriads wait for his word; He speaks! and eternity,
Filled with his voice, Re-echoes the praise of the Lord.
Related scriptures:
Exodus 13:21-22Good tidings for us.The tokens already appear. "signs"; There are appearing...
Fear not, and be just, "guided by truth"
For the kingdom is ours. Children of Zion belong to the Kingdom of God on earth
The hour of redemption is near.We know not the "hour" but we know it is "near". How do you live/act/speak when something you have long anticipated is near?
Thy soul-cheering comfort impart;
And let the sweet longing For thy holy place Long for Zion
Bring hope to my desolate heart.
And myriads wait for his word; He speaks! and eternity,
Filled with his voice, Re-echoes the praise of the Lord.
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: This leaves no hour of the day that He is not there with you
22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
1 Nephi 22:12
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