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The Church has announced a new hymnbook and has asked us for feedback. I was super excited about it, but there hasn’t been as much discussion as I had hoped. There have been some great posts, but I wanted to go further in depth on different areas of improvement. I have started a web site that I hope can be a place where collectively, we can find ways to make sacrament meeting a more positive experience for everyone. Here is the web site: (
Admin Note): If anyone is interested in the actual website Joshua has created, send him a PM and talk about it privately. It is NOT anti-Mormon, but is is an organized effort that we cannot endorse officially here at this site.We have had our last hymnal for 34 years. There is a lot of work that goes into putting one together and it will help shape the Church for decades to come. Many people are brought into the Church through the power of hymns but others leave because of problems with the hymns. The Church is asking for our feedback, and if we respond with ways to improve the spirituality of the hymns, it will help strengthen people’s testimony and help the Church to grow.
Let me give you some background on why I am doing this. There were days that I just didn’t feel comfortable at Church. Some of the things I heard and saw didn’t sit well with what I believed. There were times I felt the spirit so strong in class and in quorum that I could almost feel God wrap his arms around me, but there were other times I felt cold and detached unable to reconcile what I was hearing with the truth I knew to be true.
As I began my soul searching in earnest, I began to realize many of the things I had the hardest time with was not about the doctrine, but the culture. In fact, sometimes the culture went in direct opposition to the revealed doctrine. Many of people continued to pass on what they were taught as children and didn’t bother reading the church’s new essays where they specifically disavowed the idea that interracial marriage is a sin, that skin color indicates divine favor, or that our race predetermines us for specific blessings. I still had to sit through lessons where they talked about how Isaac married Rebecca or Jacob married Rachael because interracial marriage is a sin.
So I began to look into what was could be done to change the culture to be more in line with the doctrine. I realized a lot of our culture is enshrined in our hymnbook, which hasn’t been updated since the Church has disavowed these theories. Even in the last priesthood session of General Conference (April 2019) the choir and congregation sang about heathen nations and the chosen race. There are songs about the wickedness of Israel, how Ephraim will be crowned with special blessings, how the gift of women is to be gentle, and how those who fight against Zion will be smitten. This isn’t the gospel of inclusion that I know God wants it to be. Our hymnbook should be free of racism, sexism, and violence.
There is a committee in charge of the changes. They specifically said they want songs that fix some these issues, but it is impossible for them to understand how the hymns affect everyone. That is why they need to hear our stories. They need to hear how we have been affected by the hymns.
Has anyone else been affected by the hymns? What did you do about it? What would make it better? What would we change so that other people don’t have to go through what we have been through?
This can be a good topic, focused on specific hymns that concern us – but I would suggest balancing it with specific hymns that we want to remain in the new hymnbook and why. I was very frankly surprised at how few people had responded to the survey of favorite hymns, hymns they’d like removed, and hymns they’d like added. This article in church news said that only 400 had responded (I saw it recently and I think there was an accompanying Deseret News article I can’t find at the moment): https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2018-07-02/we-asked-what-songs-you-want-included-in-the-hymnal-and-over-400-responded-47492 ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2018-07-02/we-asked-what-songs-you-want-included-in-the-hymnal-and-over-400-responded-47492 https://www.lds.org/music/new-music?lang=enghttps://www.lds.org/music/new-music?lang=eng” class=”bbcode_url”> Yes, Joshua, I have been affected both ways by hymns. There are times when I have looked around the room and thought “I can’t believe we’re singing this, much less with non-members here.” I am one of the “louder” singers in our small ward. Nowadays if I don’t like a hymn I simply don’t sing it (sometimes I “go to the bathroom” sometimes I don’t – usually not now that rest hymns are more rare). My family and closer friends and associates know which hymns I don’t like and why. Back when the initial announcement was made in June of last year we had a thread on the subject here:
http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9029 ” class=”bbcode_url”> http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9029 Most people are not aware of this survey and no deadline has been given. I have never heard it announced. Also it only applies to the English hymnbook. SamBee wrote:
Most people are not aware of this survey and no deadline has been given. I have never heard it announced. Also it only applies to the English hymnbook.
Same here — anything to make Sacrament meeting more interesting is on my list of things to do. I never heard about the survey either.
SamBee wrote:
Most people are not aware of this survey and no deadline has been given. I have never heard it announced. Also it only applies to the English hymnbook.
About a year ago it was in church news and was prominently on the website. It’s still on the site but you have to look for it. Here’s a link to the original announcement, which also contains links to the survey and submission of your own music:
https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng DarkJedi wrote:
I was very frankly surprised at how few people had responded to the survey of favorite hymns, hymns they’d like removed, and hymns they’d like added. This article in church news said that only 400 had responded (I saw it recently and I think there was an accompanying Deseret News article I can’t find at the moment):https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2018-07-02/we-asked-what-songs-you-want-included-in-the-hymnal-and-over-400-responded-47492 ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2018-07-02/we-asked-what-songs-you-want-included-in-the-hymnal-and-over-400-responded-47492
Wow. I made up nearly a quarter of a percent of all respondents.
:thumbup: nibbler wrote:
DarkJedi wrote:
I was very frankly surprised at how few people had responded to the survey of favorite hymns, hymns they’d like removed, and hymns they’d like added. This article in church news said that only 400 had responded (I saw it recently and I think there was an accompanying Deseret News article I can’t find at the moment):https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2018-07-02/we-asked-what-songs-you-want-included-in-the-hymnal-and-over-400-responded-47492 ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2018-07-02/we-asked-what-songs-you-want-included-in-the-hymnal-and-over-400-responded-47492
Wow. I made up nearly a quarter of a percent of all respondents.
:thumbup:
I think (and hope) there were actually more than 400 responses, the date on that article would indicate it was recycled. Nevertheless, it is apparently possible to answer the survey more than once. I may have to do some more to get my favored addition (Here I Am Lord) on the list.
DarkJedi wrote:
I may have to do some more to get my favored addition (Here I Am Lord) on the list.
The lord can find people’s car keys no prob but has to have hints to find you.
:angel: :angel: nibbler wrote:
DarkJedi wrote:
I may have to do some more to get my favored addition (Here I Am Lord) on the list.
The lord can find people’s car keys no prob but has to have hints to find you.
:angel: :angel:
Ever seen the TBS series Miracle Workers? Just reminded me of some really funny scenes, I think first or second episodes. (Yes, lost car keys are involved.)
I answered the hymn book survey. Three songs that I suggested be taken out are song I really like but I don’t believe they are appropriate for the hymn book. One is Called to Serve. To me it sounds like an irreverent rally song more appropriate for the MTC than for sacrament meeting. Two others are We Ever Pray For Thee (Our Prophet Dear), and Praise To The Man. Both are singing praises to the prophet rather than praises to God. Again, great songs but not in my view appropriate for sacrament meeting.
DarkJedi wrote:
SamBee wrote:
Most people are not aware of this survey and no deadline has been given. I have never heard it announced. Also it only applies to the English hymnbook.
About a year ago it was in church news and was prominently on the website. It’s still on the site but you have to look for it. Here’s a link to the original announcement, which also contains links to the survey and submission of your own music:
https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng
I have never heard it mentioned in my ward ever. Nor have I seen it on Facebook or the website (may well have been on there, it passed me by). The only reason I’m aware of it is because of here.
SamBee wrote:
DarkJedi wrote:
SamBee wrote:
Most people are not aware of this survey and no deadline has been given. I have never heard it announced. Also it only applies to the English hymnbook.
About a year ago it was in church news and was prominently on the website. It’s still on the site but you have to look for it. Here’s a link to the original announcement, which also contains links to the survey and submission of your own music:
https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.lds.org/church/news/church-announces-plans-for-new-hymnbook-and-childrens-songbook?lang=eng
I have never heard it mentioned in my ward ever. Nor have I seen it on Facebook or the website (may well have been on there, it passed me by). The only reason I’m aware of it is because of here.
I don’t recall ever hearing it mentioned in my ward, either. But then again I’m not dependent on my ward/bishop (or stake/SP) to keep me apprised of every little change or news item in the church. If I want to keep up on what’s happening it’s up to me to keep up on what’s happening. I don’t look at the daily or even weekly, although most weeks I probably do hit it. I do consistently look here, at a few other sites where news is likely to be discussed, and at both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune. The latter are usually how I find out about things, and I generally then follow up with the primary source (often the church website).
They didn’t do a very good job publicizing it. I remember when the survey was first announced, it was some music-geek friends who shared it on Facebook. I wouldn’t have known about it otherwise. I think I’ll take it again. I’ve taken it twice already. I had long lists of songs to add or keep, and fewer requests for removal. In Our Lovely Deseret is the only one that I remember really wanting taken out. It feels Utah-centric and paints this cartoonishly perfect image of how children in the church should be raised. I like the chorus, but the rest of the song is frustrating and pedantic. I know I had a couple of others when I looked through my hymnbook. But I really do like most of the hymns, so I was much more vocal about additions than removals.
I had lots of requests for more Christmas hymns. There are so many beautiful Christ-centered Christmas songs that I would love to sing. If we had more options, hopefully we would sing them for longer in December than just two weeks. I think the ones I suggested included What Child is This?, Do You Hear What I Hear?, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, O Holy Night, and Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel. (One of the times I took it was around Christmas, so I went a bit crazy.
My top favorites match up with the summary article’s top 10 pretty closely and I probably voted on at least 8 of those. Since I did respond fairly early, I would guess they got me counted in these 400… A lot of my suggested additions came from songs on EFY CDs and from the TABCATS repertoire.
The new hymnal is finally getting some traction. Quote:The gradual release of the new global hymnbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has begun with the release of 13 new songs. This new music may be accessed digitally through the Sacred Music and Gospel Library apps and in the online Church Music Library at music.churchofjesuschrist.org.
Small batches of new music will continue to be published digitally in preparation for the full hymnbook release, currently expected in print and digital formats by the end of 2026 in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. The hymnbook is anticipated to be available in 50 languages by the end of 2030.
Here’s a link to the 13 songs that were just released.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/music/collections/hymns-for-home-and-church?lang=eng
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