#244 "Come Along, Come Along"

This isn't one of my favorite hymns and I've only used it once in sacrament meeting.  I find it monotonous for some reason.  The message is nice, but the tune seems to just go on and on.

#243 "Let Us All Press On"

This is another classic and fun song to sing.  I love the alto part in this hymn!  The typical congregational singer just sings the melody line, so it's really fun to use this with choir so you can hear all the parts in the chorus.  We sing this one often in our ward.

#242 "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow"

A classic hymn!  I like to use this in the month of November (around Thanksgiving) or whenever the sacrament meeting topic is "Gratitude".
T.T. Noble has a free accompaniment to this hymn that would be nice to use.

#241 "Count Your Blessings"

This is one of my favorite hymns because of its message and tune.  I schedule this one several times a year, but always in November--near Thanksgiving. 

#240 "Know This, That Every Soul Is Free"

The notes at the bottom of the hymn mention that it was included in the first LDS hymnbook in 1835.  However, in the 1927 hymnal, the tune was changed because it wasn't sung very often.  The same thing happened in the 1950 hymnbook.  For the 1985 hymnbook committee, another tune change was made because it still wasn't widely known or sung.  I'm afraid that is still the case.  The words and message are wonderful, but no one seems to sing it.  I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it is just unfamiliar to the general congregation so it isn't chosen for sacrament meeting.  Maybe if the Mormon Tabernacle Choir recorded a version of it, it would become more popular.

#239 "Choose the Right"

This is a well-loved hymn that just happens to be the "Hymn of the Year" for Primary this year (2012).  It will be featured in our annual Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation later this year.  I've sung this song since I was in primary and have always liked it. 

#238 "Behold Thy Sons and Daughters, Lord"

This hymn was new to me.  I have markings in my book from a time I attended a Church Music Workshop at BYU, but I've never sung or played it in a sacrament meeting or a baptismal service.  It is meant to be sung at a confirmation after a baptism, so there aren't that many opportunities to sing it.  The words are lovely, however!

#237 "Do What Is Right"

This classic song is always a fun one to sing.  The 1950 hymnal was marked to show that you sing the chorus staccato on the words "Do what is right; let the consequence follow" and then it was to be sung smoothly on the rest of the chorus.  The 1985 hymnal doesn't show the staccato markings, but I always play it in the style in which I learned it as a youth.

#236 "Lord, Accept into Thy Kingdom"

The words of this text would work well at a baptismal service--that is, if anyone was familiar enough with this hymn!  Although it was present in the 1950 hymnal, it was new to me.  I've never sung it or played it until today!  It's a nice tune--and when I saw that Alexander Schreiner wrote the music, I knew why!

#235 "Should You Feel Inclined to Censure"

The tune for this hymn, LOWER LIGHTS, is the same as #335 "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy".  It would work nicely to interchange the words so that a full SATB choir could sing the words of #335 with the SATB arrangement of #235.  Both tunes are by Philip Paul Bliss. 

#234 "Jesus, Mighty King in Zion"

Although this hymn's footnote states that it was included in the first LDS hymnbook in 1835, it wasn't familiar to me.  The words of the second verse are perfect for a baptismal service, however, since most congregations aren't familiar with it either, it would be a challenge to sing it. 
I have a note in my personal hymnal to sing this hymn and then directly go into Hymn #238 "Behold Thy Sons and Daughters, Lord", which is about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Since neither of these hymns are very familiar to the average congregation, it would be nice to find a quartet to sing these two hymns at a baptismal service.

#233 "Nay, Speak No Ill"

This hymn always shows up during a Relief Society lesson on gossiping.  The text teaches us to choose "the kinder plan".  The change in time may be tricky for those not familiar with the hymn.

#232 "Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words"

I like the version of this song that is in the 1985 hymnal because it says "Duet" in the verse and "Harmony" in the chorus part.  The 1950 version was more difficult to play, too.  I am glad the committee for the 1985 hymnbook made the changes.

#231 "Father, Cheer Our Souls Tonight"

This hymn was new to me.  I like the message and the tune.  This could work as a closing hymn--especially if it was sung in the evening.

#230 "Scatter Sunshine"

This "sunshine" song is the last one in the "Sunshine Medley".  I like the happy tune and cheerful nature of this song.  The triplets are a little tricky for me, but other than that it was easy to play.

#229 "Today While the Sun Shines"

This song's message is "Get it done TODAY!"  The word "today" is sung 28 times in this song.  There has been a phrase change in the 1985 edition.  The last line used to read: "There is no tomorrow, but only today."  To better express what the message actually means, the last line now reads:  "Prepare for tomorrow by working today."

#228 "You Can Make the Pathway Bright"

I've sung this song for years and have always enjoyed the happy message.  It goes along great with the other "Sunshine" songs on pages 226-230.

#227 "There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today"

In the old hymnbook it was titled "There's Sunshine in My Soul Today" and the first two notes were slurred.  It makes more sense to use the first two notes with "There is".  I am disappointed that the 1985 version doesn't have the fun bass and tenor line where they repeat and sing in the chorus.  I do have to say that the 1985 version is easier to play!

#226 "Improve the Shining Moments"

I have happy memories of my dad humming this song as he shaved as he got ready for church on Sundays.  I especially remember him singing the second verse:  "Time flies on wings of lightning; We cannot call it back."

I have a note in my personal hymnal to sing a "Sunshine Medley" by singing the first verse of the hymns on pages 226, 227, 228, 229, and 230.  Each song is in the key of G, so you could sing each one without an interlude between the hymns. 

I also have a note that you can switch the words and music of hymns #226 and #251:  "Improve the Shining Moments" and "Behold! A Royal Army".  I don't think I've actually tried it in a church setting, but I sang it in my mind and it works!

#225 "We Are Marching On to Glory"

This hymn has a catchy rhythm.  You truly feel like you are marching as you sing it.  I don't have any markings in my personal hymnal, so I can assume that I've never played it for a church service.  I am familiar with it, however.  I haven't scheduled it for a sacrament meeting, but if the theme of the meeting was about the second coming, I think this hymn would work nicely.

#224 "I Have Work Enough to Do"

This song wasn't too familiar to me.  I don't particularly like it or dislike it.  I don't think I'd ever played it prior to today, but I have heard it before.  I probably wouldn't schedule it for a sacrament meeting unless the theme of the meeting specifically applied to the message of this hymn.

#223 "Have I Done Any Good?"

I like the addition in the 1985 hymnal of a word change in the second verse that reads, "Only he who does something helps others to live.  To God each good work will be known."  The old verse said "Only he who does something is worthy to live, The world has no use for the drone."
The new hymnal doesn't include the tempo markings.  I find that I still play the hymn with the ritard at measure 12: "Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?" and then a tempo at "When they needed my help was I there?"
Another thing I liked better in the old hymnal was the bass and tenors had the words, "your mansion above" as kind of an echo at measures 19-20.  It isn't written like that in the 1985 hymnal.

#222 "Hear Thou Our Hymn, O Lord"

This is a simple tune and text, but I like it.  It was kind of funny this morning when I went to play my "Hymn of the Day" and without paying attention to the words, I just played the notes and in my mind I sang the words to "We Give Thee But Thine Own" and they fit perfectly!  Then I checked the back of the hymnbook where it lists the meters of the hymns, and sure enough--both hymns are listed under "Short Meter (6 6 8 6)".
I've used this hymn as a choir prelude musical number--back when our bishop wanted the choir to sing prelude before sacrament meeting.  We haven't been asked to sing prelude for several years now, so maybe the ward choir isn't supposed to do that anymore.

#221 "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd"

I love the message of this hymn!  I like the author of the text made sure (in verse 3) that the "ninety and nine" were also "Dear to the heart of the Shepherd."  I like the sentiment that the Good Shepherd made sure the "ninety and nine" were safely in the sheep fold before he went out to search for the lost sheep.  I like how in the last verse, the words in the chorus change focus and it reads, "Off to the rescue we'll hasten, Bringing them back to the fold."
I have a funny story about this hymn that happened in my sister's (Denise) early-morning seminary class in 1974-75.  Her freshmen class thought they'd play a trick on their teacher.  They planned to take up as much time as possible with the opening hymn and opening prayer.  The person who was in charge of the devotional that morning, looked through the list of hymns available (we used records and record players back then) and looked on the back of the album cover to find the longest hymn.  Because of the four verses and slow tempo, "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd" was the longest song.  (I guess we didn't have the option of all seven verses of  "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" or "How Firm a Foundation" back then!)  I think my sister said it was about a six-minute song.  Then, they asked (the day before) the girl who was going to say the opening prayer to say a really long one.  I guess she prayed for about four minutes--which is pretty long for a teenager in an early-morning  seminary class!  The last part of the students' joke included asking lots of questions of the teacher.  I wish I could have been a fly on the wall that morning!

#220 "Lord, I Would Follow Thee"

I love this new addition to the 1985 hymnal.  The text and music work so well together.  I have notes in my personal hymnbook to use it as a choir number like this:

Verse 1:  SATB with piano accompaniment as written in hymnal
Verse 2: Tenor II and Baritones sing melody; Tenor I sings tenor; Bass II sings bass; women "ooh";
(piano plays verse an octave lower)
Interlude by piano (last four measures, an octave higher)
Verse 3: SSA Women; Soprano I sings tenor an octave higher (piano plays verse an octave higher)
Verse 4: SATB (A capella) Choir repeats last two measures slowly for a TAG ending.

Measures 1-2 are just a reverse of measures 9-10. 

#219 "Because I Have Been Given Much"

This hymn was a new addition to the 1985 hymnal.  I don't know of anyone who isn't touched by the message of this hymn.  I just wish it was easier to play.  I think I've pretty much got it down, but it's a little tricky for me.
I love the message of this hymn!
Someone wrote the following words (to be used at a missionary farewell) to the tune of this hymn:

Because of thy life's mission, Lord, I too will serve.

I'll leave the comforts of my home to teach thy word.

I'll seek thy sheep who've gone astray

And those who've never know the way.

I will make thy works my works today.

#218 "We Give Thee But Thine Own"

This is a nice hymn that has a great message--that all we have comes from the Lord--and we should give back to Him through our tithes and offerings.
I have a note in my personal hymnbook for the following arrangement:

Verse 1:  SATB
Verse 2 & 3:  skip verse 2; instead, go to Hymn #125, "How Gentle God's Commands", and use the music of #125 with the words of Verse 3
Verse 4: Go back to the tune of #218 and sing the words of this hymn as written--SATB.

I don't know if I've ever used that arrangement, but I had it written out in my hymnal.

#217 "Come, Let Us Anew"

I really like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's version (by Mack Wilberg) of this hymn.  I like how they start softly and build throughout the song.  If it weren't for their version, I probably wouldn't care for this hymn very much.

#216 "We Are Sowing"

This isn't one of my favorite hymns.  I'm not sure why, since the message is one that we all need to hear.  Verse three mentions that we can sow blessings or scatter strife by our words, thoughts, and actions.  I don't think I've sung this one very many times in my life.

#215 "Ring Out, Wild Bells"

This is the best hymn to use for a New Year's Day celebration, and I usually schedule it for the first Sunday in January to go along with the theme of resolutions.  I like how the third verse ends with the tenors singing an F# and bringing the hymn to a major chord after all the minor sound for the first three verses of the hymn. 

#214 "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"

This hymn originally was a seven-stanza poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  The omitted verses were about the Civil War.  I am glad that in the 1985 edition of the LDS Hymnbook, they made sure that the last verse ended with a feeling of faith and optimism.  The fourth verse, "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:  'God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, goodwill to men.'" is my favorite because of its happy message.