D&C 25:11 “And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church.” — Joseph Smith revelation for wife Emma — Harmony, PA, July 1830
Today we’re taking a look at what members of the LDS Church have sung over the years. An essay in Dialogue Journal is a must read to understand how the Church has softened the blow of its true self. To read the article in full, see Changes in LDS Hymns: Implications and Opportunities Douglas Campbell.
For the sake of brevity I’ve only highlighted a few hymns, however, these examples are just a drop in the bucket of what they’ve done. Mr. Campbell investigated what, if any, changes had been made the Church’s hymn books since its inception in 1830, and admitted he was ‘surprised’ by his findings.
Long story short, 90 hymns were published in the first LDS hymnal. When they revised it in 1927, only 55 remained. With the next revision in 1948, they were down to 30 of the original 90 hymns, and the 1985 edition contained a mere 26 hymns.
Mr. Campbell categorized the changes into 3 classifications: ‘doctrinal, linguistic, and cultural metaphors’. The changes he said, are of two types: ‘good neighbor policy and temple imagery’. He also noted some songs were being used arbitrarily by various wards throughout the Church. In order to have everything fall into conformity, they announced the new and approved hymnal in 1927.
With all that behind us – whew – the following is a small example of the changes. The one thing I can’t stop thinking about is, what my grandparents must’ve thought as they were singing these things…
1.Praise to the Man
Everyone today knows this song to be an adoration mantra for Joe Smith. While that was true in the original setting as it is today, back then it also cried out for revenge. Mr. Campbell classified this song under the ‘good neighbor policy’. [All emphasis below are mine.]
“W. W. Phelps’s hymn “Praise to the Man”, vs. 2 –
“Long may his blood
which was shed by assassins
Stain Illinois
while the earth lauds his fame.”
“George D. Pyper1 has remarked: “When the Latter-day saint Hymn book was compiled in 1927, in order to be in harmony with the ‘good neighbor’ policy of the Church and nation, the second line was changed to:
‘Long may his blood
which was shed by assassins
Plead unto heaven
while the earth lauds his fame.’”
2.Oh, Ye Mountains High
Truth: this hymn was changed in order to divert attention away from LDS participation in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Here’s what Mr. Campbell reported –
“Verse 3 of Charles W. Penrose’s “Oh, Ye Mountains High” originally read:
“In thy mountain retreat
God will strengthen thy feet
On the necks of thy foes
thou shalt tread,”
and verse 4 originally read:
“thy oppressors shall die
the gentiles shall bow beneath thy rod.”
“Considering the Old Testament” … “and the events surrounding the Mountain Meadows Massacre, Pyper observed: “It occurred to many of our own people that two lines in the third and fourth stanzas should be revised.”
They now read:
“In thy mountain retreat
God will strengthen thy feet
Without fear of thy foes
thou shalt tread,”
and verse 4 reads:
“thy oppressors shall die
thy land shall be freedom’s abode.””
3. Racism
“In 1835, [hymn#] 67:3, baptism appeared to affect skin color literally: “And wash the Ethiopian white.” The hymn was omitted before 1927.”
While this is a very concise look at what the Church has done, we also know it’s an accurate one. There’s no excuse for hiding the doctrinal beliefs of true Mormonism when they still parade them around in 2019, nor is there any excuse for racist ideologies. The other hymns Mr. Campbell examined had to do with gender neutrality, self worth, and geographical topics.
We’re praying that while members are busy looking up their genealogical records, Jesus would prompt them to wonder what those ancestors were doing at the time.
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
References:
1.George D. Pyper was the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands: Serve the Lord will gladness, come unto his presence with singing. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:1,2,4). Go to sacrament meeting and ask yourself, how glad and joyful is the singing? Look around sacrament meeting and witness the enthusiasm, gladness, joy and praise emitting from the mouths of those in attendance. What I have seen on a typical Sunday morning sacrament meeting, is that half the people don’t sing at all, another quarter of the congregation just sort of mumble the words and a fourth actually make an effort to sing. Mormons don’t understand the purpose of singing in the Lords courts. It is to offer praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father. When you don’t sing with enthusiasm, you are not enthusiastic for the Lord
Well put! I had a conversation with a neverMo yesterday about the difference in singing as a born again person in church to the Mormon way…..it truly is night and day. My heart thrills when I hear the church rejoicing with full voice and heart, praising God, eyes not buried in hymnals. Oh, that they could all see the lie.
A-MEN 1,000x over!