Favorite Hymn(S) And Why.

[urroner]

Dr. Dan Petersen in his recent article "R. Douglas Phillips, My Teacher" reminded me of a favorite hymn of mine that I had kind of forgotten since my ward doesn't sing it very often. It's "Abide With Me, Tis Eventide" and most of our meets are in the morning.

I first loved singing this song because of the bass line. I love the moving bass line. "Though in the Outward Church Below" (in the old hymnbook) and "Praise to the Man" are another couple of great bass parts.

But, when I went though my first and worst depression bout ever, this was one of the songs that pulled me through some very difficult time, especially the fourth verse.

I would come home to a dark and cold house, with nobody there to greet me, my first wife had left me and moved back to Australia with our three sons. I would just sit down and sob because of the loneliness I felt, but I would either put on this hymn or sing the last verse until I felt better.

Abide with me; 'tis eventide,

And lone will be the night

If I cannot commune with thee

Nor find in thee my light.

The darkness of the world, I fear,

Would in my home abide.

[ksfisher]

"The Time is Far Spent" is my favorite closing hymn.

[blackstrap]

I like " Come,Come, Ye Saints " played in a minor key. Also,I always liked the 'you who' hymn.

[urroner]

I like " Come,Come, Ye Saints " played in a minor key. Also,I always liked the 'you who' hymn.

I've always enjoyed the "All is swell, all is swell" parts. The choir director had always encouraged us to kind of slur the words together, but she wasn't at all appreciative when we did it here. Of course, it was the bass section.

Of course, there is the sacrament song that partly goes "and let us in" and as a youth, to be obnoxious, I would sing "let us sin." A good dope slap up the back of the head by dad stopped that real quick.

[blackstrap]

I confess to being less than happy with the way we sing in church. I reflect on the hymns that were sung by the missionaries in the training mission center. I found nothing better than a joyous rendition of " We Thank Thee,Oh God for a Prophet " voiced by 500 men ( and a few ladies) who were ready to tackle the world.

[urroner]

When I first entered the mission home, it was still in SLC at the time and then I went to the LTM (Language Training Mission) is Provo, I remember the first time we say "High on the Mountain Top" and a young sister missionary, a newbie, directed us. At the very beginning, with all the young men singing bass and very few singing the melody, she started to laugh. The pianist stopped so she, the director, could stop laughing. At least she was prepared with we sang "Ye Elders of Israel: which was the next song.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Dr. Dan Petersen in his recent article "R. Douglas Phillips, My Teacher" reminded me of a favorite hymn of mine that I had kind of forgotten since my ward doesn't sing it very often. It's "Abide With Me, Tis Eventide" and most of our meets are in the morning.

I first loved singing this song because of the bass line. I love the moving bass line. "Though in the Outward Church Below" (in the old hymnbook) and "Praise to the Man" are another couple of great bass parts.

But, when I went though my first and worst depression bout ever, this was one of the songs that pulled me through some very difficult time, especially the fourth verse.

I would come home to a dark and cold house, with nobody there to greet me, my first wife had left me and moved back to Australia with our three sons. I would just sit down and sob because of the loneliness I felt, but I would either put on this hymn or sing the last verse until I felt better.

Abide with me; 'tis eventide,

And lone will be the night

If I cannot commune with thee

Nor find in thee my light.

The darkness of the world, I fear,

Would in my home abide.

Because I have been given much...because I have.

Amazing Grace...because it is

(and)

See BCSpace sig line...f-a-n-t-a-s-t-I-c.

[Verum]

Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Not only do I think its has such a great melody, but I think it has a profound message once you understand its background. You can read about here.

The lyrics tell a story of a few sailors struggling in a stormy sea on their ship trying to find their way home. The lower lights are the lights coming from the homes along the shore which were often candles lit in the windows of each home to indicate to the struggling sailors that land is near and to guide them to it. To me, the song is about reaching out to the one. It's love and concern of many people, an entire town almost, about the needs and well-being of one. I particularly like the last verse which stands as an invitation to us all:

• Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
  Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
  Trying now to make the harbor,
  In the darkness may be lost.
  

[Gillebre]

I've got a lot of hymns that I absolutely love. Lately I've really been listening to a lot of the hymns we usually hear during the ordinance of the Sacrament.

I really like How Great the Wisdom and the Love

check it out:

[media=]

Edited October 1, 2012 by Gillebre

[Nathair/|\]

My overall favorite hymn approved for use in church is "We'll bring the world his truth. (Army of Helaman)." My favorite one in the green hymnbook is "If you could hie to Kolob.) I have others that are not Christian-specific, but I don't know if that's appropriate for this thread.

[thesometimesaint]

[swfarnsworth]

I confess to being less than happy with the way we sing in church. I reflect on the hymns that were sung by the missionaries in the training mission center. I found nothing better than a joyous rendition of " We Thank Thee,Oh God for a Prophet " voiced by 500 men ( and a few ladies) who were ready to tackle the world.

I've found that I sing louder during Priesthood session when all the songs are in my vocal range and everyone else in the room has at least one note in my vocal range.

My favorite hymn remains "If You Could Hie to Kolob" for both the music and the lyrics. It's both cryptic and in E minor!

[urroner]

[media=]

I love "Come Thou Font" I knew it's "Fount," but I've heard too many say "Font."

I especially love the second verse:

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,

Till released from flesh and sin,

Yet from what I do inherit,

Here Thy praises I'll begin;

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Here by Thy great help I’ve come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Okay, the question about this verse that I love to ask, who out there knows what this "Ebenezer" is that is mentioned in this song? Is it someone trying to raise Scrooge who raised the three ghosts in "A Christmas Carol?"

Edited October 5, 2012 by urroner

[EllenMaksoud]

More Holiness Give Me as sung by Jenny Phillips.

[blackstrap]

Thanks for the suggestion,urroner.I looked it up and was rewarded with the story of Samuel raising the 'stone of help' as a reminder to Israel of the Lord's help.

That's another thing I learned today.

[RobertAC]

I'm not well-versed in hymns, but I have always enjoyed a boisterous rendition of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" sung by a stout choir. It's not just the rousing tune that gets me, but also the image of God coming down to kick some wretched posterior and take some names in the process that gets my adrenaline pumping.

[altersteve]

My favorite hymns are Christmas ones. I love "O Holy Night" especially. It's so calming and peaceful.

[sheilauk]

I love singing the hymns and my ward is usually in good voice. One of my favourites is 'How Great Thou Art' because He is. It simply says what I feel.

[boblloyd91]

I must say #114 is my favorite (Come Unto Him) It is one of those that isn't played in most wards, but my home ward played it all the time and the lyrics and words are very beautiful!

[Damien the Leper]

"Oh My Father" by Eliza Snow simply for the mentioning of the Mother.

[Thunderfire]

This is one of my most beloved songs: Redeemer of Israel

Redeemer of Israel,

Our only delight,

On whom for a blessing we call,

Our shadow by day

And our pillar by night,

Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all!

We know he is coming

To gather his sheep

And lead them to Zion in love,

For why in the valley

Of death should they weep

Or in the lone wilderness rove?

How long we have wandered

As strangers in sin

And cried in the desert for thee!

Our foes have rejoiced

When our sorrows they've seen,

But Israel will shortly be free.

As children of Zion,

Good tidings for us.

The tokens already appear.

Fear not, and be just,

For the kingdom is ours.

The hour of redemption is near.

Restore, my dear Savior,

The light of thy face;

Thy soul-cheering comfort impart;

And let the sweet longing

For thy holy place

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.

Text: William W. Phelps

[Kenngo1969]

Love a lot of the ones already mentioned ... If You Could Hie to Kolob, How Great Thou Art, Abide With Me, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Called to Serve ... I would like the fifth verse of How Firm a Foundation as the epitaph on my headstone (It's probably too long and will probably be too expensive, but oh, well):

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.

The flame will not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

Edited October 11, 2012 by Kenngo1969

[urroner]

Love a lot of the ones already mentioned ... If You Could Hie to Kolob, How Great Thou Art, Abide With Me, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Called to Serve ... I would like the fifth verse of How Firm a Foundation as the epitaph on my headstone (It's probably too long and will probably be too expensive, but oh, well):

Read verse 2:

"Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,

for I am your God and will still give you aid;

I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,

upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

Now read Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

I noticed this way back when I was a wee lad of 25. I was reading Isaiah 41 one day and when I read this verse, I knew I had heard it from somewhere. It took a couple of weeks to figure it out when the ward sang this song as the opening hymn for Sunday School. This was before the three hour block.

[Damien the Leper]

I would like this on my tombstone:

You told me yes

You held me high

I believed when you told that lie

I played soldier, you played king

And struck me down when when I kissed that ring

You lost the right to hold that crown

I built you up but you let me down

So when you fall, I'll take my turn

And fan the flames

As your blazes burn

[volgadon]

This is one of my most beloved songs: Redeemer of Israel

Redeemer of Israel,

Our only delight,

On whom for a blessing we call,

Our shadow by day

And our pillar by night,

Our King, our Deliv'rer, our all!

We know he is coming

To gather his sheep

And lead them to Zion in love,

For why in the valley

Of death should they weep

Or in the lone wilderness rove?

How long we have wandered

As strangers in sin

And cried in the desert for thee!

Our foes have rejoiced

When our sorrows they've seen,

But Israel will shortly be free.

As children of Zion,

Good tidings for us.

The tokens already appear.

Fear not, and be just,

For the kingdom is ours.

The hour of redemption is near.

Restore, my dear Savior,

The light of thy face;

Thy soul-cheering comfort impart;

And let the sweet longing

For thy holy place

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.

Text: William W. Phelps

My favourite.