LDS Freedom Forum

Just received an email as follows:

Official Church Announcements
Give Suggestions and Submit Original Music for a Revised Hymnbook and Children's Songbook

Under the direction of the First Presidency, committees have been assembled to recommend revisions to the current hymnbook and children's songbook. When the revisions are complete, there will only be one hymnbook and one children's songbook, offering the same hymns and songs in all languages. The new collections will be created over the next several years to reflect the needs of members around the world.

Visit newmusic.lds.org to learn more about this effort. You can give feedback about the current music and submit new original hymns, children's songs, and lyrics to be considered for inclusion in the revised collections.

Visit newmusic.lds.org

This is exciting news to me! I've actually been looking forward to a new hymnal and hoping one of my favorite hymns would make a comeback - "Come Thou Fount"

What hymns would you like to see in the new hymnal and children's songbook?

We posted this at the same time! how funny.

Wow, this is going to be a tough thing to do. How are you going to make millions of people happy? I'm glad that they opened it up to people for suggestions though, it's a cool idea. It's probably time for a revision because I think there are a lot of hymns that just never get used; the music is boring or the lyrics are antiquated or uninspiring.

Having some new hymns to sing in church sounds great and can probably help breathe some new life into our worship services.

Some of my recommendations:

When First the Glorious Light of Truth by William Clayton. This one used to be in our hymnals and was said to have been Brigham Young's favorite. Relatively unknown, but would love to see it make a comeback.
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson. Certainly the most oft-sung hymn in our Church that isn't in our hymnal currently. I'd be surprised if it's not included in the new one.
Hark! Listen to the Trumpeters! by George Careless. A most beautiful and inspiring hymn, featured in the Church film about "Zion's Camp." Many years ago I once suggested it to my ward choir director but he felt it was "too militant" for Church. But of course hymns we sing all the time such as "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Onward Christian Soldiers," "We Are All Enlisted," "Behold! A Royal Army," and "Hope of Israel" aren't "militant" at all.

Honorary titles (probably not suited for a hymnal):

Be Thou My Vision by ?? May or may not be appropriate for a hymnal and some changes would need to be made to the text, but still one of my favorite songs of worship.
The Morning Trumpet by B.F. White. A fun and rousing song, which almost certainly excludes it from sacramental services.

I hope don't disappear:

For All the Saints, Hymn #82. Hidden gem that I never knew about until singing it once in ward choir some 20+ years ago. Never once heard it sung in Church since then, which is a shame as it's a beautiful and inspiring song. I fear it will be removed as it is currently all but forgotten and unused in our worship services.

Needs revision:

God is in His Holy Temple, Hymn #132. The tune desperately needs to be changed. Use the tune from "Truth Reflects Upon Our Senses" (Hymn #273) instead. Please, please, please! The lyrics are beautiful and marry perfectly (with a slight modification) with the tune of this other hymn. I think such a change would actually get us to sing and appreciate this hymn far more than we currently do. I would also like to see an additional verse or two composed for it.

I have been a member of this church for just over three years now, and I would like to say there is absolutely no need for a new hymn book. None.
That is to say I have only just scratched the surface of learning even a few of the hymns there.
So I hardly need a new book.

Further, it was asked if they were going to take out the anthems. The patriotic American songs. That would really be a bad idea.

However, I understand you all (y'all) have been at this, in many a case all your life, and therefore, you are all jaded, bored and tired of these songs (except for some).

So.

But let me state my preference.

NO CHANGES!!! Thank you.
dc

So now the rumour that EmmaLee shared a month ago has been confirmed:
www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=48380

Onsdag wrote: ↑June 18th, 2018, 11:55 am What hymns would you like to see in the new hymnal and children's songbook?

This Is the Christ

www.ldschurchnews.com has an article about the new hymn book. Here is quote:

The revision process will also:

• Fill doctrinal gaps.
• Resolve copyright issues from foreign translation restrictions.
• Improve the quality of translations.
• Provide more consistent digital access.

I think the first bullet point is interesting.

inho wrote: ↑June 19th, 2018, 11:01 am www.ldschurchnews.com has an article about the new hymn book. Here is quote:

The revision process will also:

• Fill doctrinal gaps.
• Resolve copyright issues from foreign translation restrictions.
• Improve the quality of translations.
• Provide more consistent digital access.

I think the first bullet point is interesting.

Very much so. It indicates not only that there are gaps to begin with, but that measures are actively being taken to correct any.

Maybe we will add a gay pride hymn?

Onsdag wrote: ↑June 18th, 2018, 11:55 am
What hymns would you like to see in the new hymnal and children's songbook?

In the Garden of Eden by I. Ron Butterfly

Add "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" back in.

LucianAMD wrote: ↑June 22nd, 2018, 12:16 pm

Onsdag wrote: ↑June 18th, 2018, 11:55 am
What hymns would you like to see in the new hymnal and children's songbook?

In the Garden of Eden by I. Ron Butterfly

inho wrote: ↑June 21st, 2018, 5:04 pm

Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord.
Fabulous hymn. Really moving.
Hope they include it, but don't think they will.

LDS Church Reveals First New Addition to Green Hymnal: Link

This is going to be the millenial hymn book folks.

You'll see it. If you think about the changes they proposed. They will be changes reflecting conditions of the Millenium. (Kingdom of Zion, lack of beast nations...and it so happens that nationality hymns are taken out for that reason.) Because it will be the hymn book prepared for the Millenium, you can think about what people would need in that era as you try to pray about what to suggest for this set.

Something about enmity gone would be interesting, and hopefully plenty of stuff on the gathering of Israel should be in there too.

gardener4life wrote: ↑July 4th, 2018, 7:31 pm This is going to be the millenial hymn book folks.

Personally I don't believe that Millenium is that close.
However, if the new hymnal will include this song, then it might actually be millenial hymn book:

98 Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song, saying:

99 The Lord hath brought again Zion;The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel,According to the election of grace,Which was brought to pass by the faithAnd covenant of their fathers.

100 The Lord hath redeemed his people;And Satan is bound and time is no longer.The Lord hath gathered all things in one.The Lord hath brought down Zion from above.The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.

101 The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength;And truth is established in her bowels;And the heavens have smiled upon her;And she is clothed with the glory of her God;For he stands in the midst of his people.

102 Glory, and honor, and power, and might,Be ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy,Justice, grace and truth, and peace,Forever and ever, Amen.

Well the current hymn book, the old one is what 30 or 40 years old? So even if you don't believe the Millenium is close...it still could be the Millenial hymn book. And later manufacturing and governments destabilizing would of course mean the book would have to be printed earlier.

It's all well and good having a new hymn book
But how are we going to learn new hymns?
I liked it when it was part of Sunday school

I would like to add Don't Stop Believing, for all those going through a faith crisis


Or maybe We Built this City, for those looking forward to building zion.



Or we can arrange Walk Like an Egyptian to say Write Like An Egyptian to teach about the Book of Mormon Scribes.


Or possibly It's the End of the World for those interested in eschatology.