#341 "God Save the King"

This is the last hymn in the 1985 hymnal.  It is the national anthem of Great Britain.  Apparently, other English-speaking countries can add their national anthem to their respective hymnals.  I don't have access to their hymns, but according to Our Latter-day Hymns: The Stories and the Messages, by Karen Lynn Davidson.  Hymn #342 in Australia is "Advance Australia Fair"; in New Zealand, #342 is "God Defend New Zealand"; and in Canada, #342 is "O Canada".

I have really grown as a pianist/organist during 2012 as I played a hymn each day and blogged about it.  It forced me to practice the piano daily.  In other years, it amazed me how quickly the week would go by -- all of a sudden it was Sunday again and I hadn't practiced the hymns for church.  However, this year, because of playing just one hymn each day, I found myself taking the time to run through the hymns for the upcoming Sunday on a daily basis -- well, most of the time!  I have enjoyed this journey during 2012.  Should I continue and play a primary song every day in 2013 and blog about it?

#340 "The Star-Spangled Banner"

My favorite patriotic song!  This song came to mean so much to me when I sang with "The Grand Land Singers" in 1976-77.  I can't explain the feelings I had as I sang this song on stage in front of the huge flag we used as our backdrop. 

Bottom row, second from left.  June 10, 1977 at the East Los Angeles Stake Center

My last concert

(June 10, 1977)

Bottom row, second from left.  My last concert on June 10, 1977 at the East Los Angeles Stake Center.  This was the night I met my first husband, Michael Frank Ramsey.

My favorite verse of our National Anthem:

Oh, thus be it ever, when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto:  "In God is our trust!"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

#339 "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"

This is another favorite song of mine.  I like the third verse because of its reference to music, but my favorite verse is the fourth verse where it reads: "Long my our land be bright with freedom's holy light."

#338 "America the Beautful"

This patriotic hymn is one that we sing several times a year:  President's Day in February; Memorial Day in May; Independence Day in July; and Veteran's Day in November.  The words of the third verse are very moving--especially on Memorial Day or Veteran's Day weekend.

Oh, beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved,

And mercy more than life!

America!  America!  May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness, 

And every gain divine.

#337 "O Home Beloved"

This song for men's choir doesn't appear in the congregational section of the hymnal.  It has nice harmonies, but the text doesn't lend itself to something that would be sung in a sacrament meeting.  It is more of a nostalgic song that one might sing when they've been away from home for quite awhile. 

#336 "School Thy Feelings"

This hymn was new to me.  I was touched by the story in Karen Lynn Davidson's book, Our Latter-day Hymns, that told of what prompted the author to write the words.  Although this arrangement is for a men's choir, the last verse adds these words: "School they feelings, sister, brother; Train them in the path of right" making it appropriate for the women of the church to sing.

#335 "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy"

I really like this song.  Just recently, a male quartet sang this in the Oak Hills Ward sacrament meeting.  It was very effective.  On the last verse, they sang the hymn a capella.  I liked learning about the "lower lights" being the responsibility of the church members and Our Father will keep His mercy "brightly beaming".