#274 "The Iron Rod"

I remember singing this song in my youth, but something that happened at the Alhambra Ward Early Morning Seminary class during my senior year sticks with me.  We were studying Lehi's Dream in 1 Nephi 8 and President Teddy M. Waters (East Los Angeles Stake President and my seminary teacher) asked what the iron rod represented.  I raised my hand and answered "the word of God".  He was impressed and asked how I knew that since we hadn't read the interpretation of Lehi's Dream yet.  I replied, "Because of the song about the iron rod.  It says 'the iron rod is the word of God'."  Thanks to this hymn,  I knew the answer!

I like the tune and words to this hymn.  I especially like it when congregations sings all five verses so that the full message is presented and sung.

As a side note, I have been collecting pictures from the Ensign magazine since 1996 about Lehi's Dream.  I have a notebook with all I've collected.  So far, there are about 30 different pictures by LDS artists in my collection!

#273 "Truth Reflects upon Our Senses"

This hymn has a very nice message about not judging others.  I've always liked the thoughtful message and the tune that goes with it.  It is easy to play and sing, too!

#272 "Oh, Say, What Is Truth?"

I first remember singing this hymn when I attended my cousin's (Dennis Benton) missionary farewell in the Santa Susana/Simi Valley area.  It was a hymn that I don't recall singing prior to attending his sacrament meeting.  I remember liking the words and the tune.  I've used this hymn a few times in our ward for the congregation.

#271 "Oh, Holy Words of Truth and Love"

I didn't realize the meaning of this hymn until I read all five verses in the 1985 hymnal.  With General Conference coming up in just a little over a week, I realize that our belief in continuing revelation is central to our creed.  The "holy words" refer to the scriptures of old, and the new messages from our prophet and other church leaders.

This hymn first appeared in the 1892 Deseret Sunday School Song Book, and I could tell by the tune that it was from that time period.  The tune is okay, but the message (to me) deserves a better tune.  (Hey, this is my blog, so I can state my opinion!)

#270 "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go"

The Oak Hills Ward has had up to as many as eight missionaries out at one time during the past two years and this hymn was sung at each of their farewells.  Larice Music has an arrangement of this hymn in their series "Hymns of Worship, vol. 6".  I haven't used it yet, but it's nice to have as a resource.

#269 "Jehovah, Lord of Heaven and Earth"

I like the tune of this hymn.  The words in the 1985 LDS hymnal are different from the standard Protestant hymn that begins with "All hail the power of Jesus' name!  Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all."
T.T. Noble has a free accompaniment for this hymn.

#268 "Come, All Whose Souls Are Lighted"

This hymn title was changed from the 1950 hymnal.  The old title, "From Greenland's Icy Mountains", didn't explain the true message of the hymn.  I don't remember ever singing or playing this hymn before today.  I was surprised that there is a footnote stating that it was included in the original 1835 hymnal.  Apparently, other Christian denominations have been singing it for years, too.  The 1985 edition has put the third verse as the first verse and eliminated the second verse.  A few other word changes were made, too.  It was easy to play.  It would make a nice song for a missionary farewell.

#267 "How Wondrous and Great"

The music to this hymn was written by the classical composer, Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806). 
T.T. Noble has a free accompaniment written to this hymn.  Our ward choir used this hymn as a special musical number several years ago.  We added a tag ending after the second verse.

#266 "The Time Is Far Spent"

I laughed when I read that the tune to this hymn is a German drinking song called "Krambambule".  The tune certainly is lively!  However, the message of this hymn is that we need to spread the gospel quickly to all the world because Jesus is returning soon.   

#265 "Arise, O God, and Shine"

This is another new and wonderful missionary-themed hymn in the 1985 hymnal.  I have notes in my personal hymnal to use the words of "An Angel From on High" (Hymn #13) and "Rejoice, the Lord Is King" (Hymn #66).  It works very well to both!  I like the tune of this hymn.  It seems very majestic.  I think I first started to like it when I heard it sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  They have a very nice arrangement of "Arise, O God, and Shine".  Our ward doesn't seem to be very familiar with it, but as long as I keep scheduling it, they will soon be more assure of themselves when they sing it.

#264 "Hark, All Ye Nations!"

This hymn was new to the 1985 hymnal, but apparently the Saints of Austria/Germany/Switzerland were familiar with it.  (See "Our Latter-day Hymns", by Davidson.)  Maybe that's why I enjoy its message and tune--my Swiss roots!  This is such a great missionary hymn, but it doesn't seem to be well-known in the congregations of the United States.  I will have to be sure to schedule it more often so that the congregation can learn it.

#263 "Go Forth with Faith"

This hymn is new to the 1985 edition of the hymnbook.  I loved reading in Karen Lynn Davidson's book, Our Latter-day Hymns,  about the story behind this hymn.  It was originally written by the author and composer for their own son's missionary farewell.  The original title was "Go Forth, My Son".  It would be very effective to change the hymn's words for a missionary farewell and sing "Go Forth, My Son".  I like the message and tune of this hymn.  I would use this in sacrament meeting, as well as for a choir or soloist. 

#262 "Go, Ye Messengers of Glory"

When I first played this hymn today, I thought it was new to the 1985 hymnal.  I was surprised to find out that the words were written by John Taylor (3rd President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)  I don't think I've ever sung or played this song before.  It is a missionary hymn, so it would be nice for a missionary farewell.

#261 "Thy Servants Are Prepared"

This would be a great missionary hymn.  It's new to the 1985 hymnal, which includes a Men's arrangement on Hymn #329.  It seemed fairly easy to sight-read this hymn today.  I've never used it for a choir or a congregational hymn, but it wouldn't be too difficult to teach it to the ward choir and have them introduce it to the congregation.

#260 "Who's on the Lord's Side?"

This is another song I've sung since I was a youth.  It's fun to sing and not too difficult to play.  We've sung this a few times since I've been the ward organist.

#259 "Hope of Israel"

This is another great hymn that I have sung since I was a kid.  I like the message and the tune.  I've played it enough times that it is easy to play, too.  My favorite line is "Onward, onward, youth of Zion; Thy reward the victor's crown."

#258 "O Thou Rock of Our Salvation"

This is a classic hymn that I have been singing since my youth.  I like the powerful feeling that the chorus evokes.  I especially like how the fourth verse changes in the chorus:  "Then, O Rock of our salvation, Jesus, Savior of the world, Take us from our lowly station; Let our flag with thee be furled."  (Notice that the author of the text capitalized "Rock".)  This is very similar to the words of the first verse.
I will continue to schedule this hymn for use in sacrament meeting.

#257 "Rejoice! A Glorious Sound Is Heard"

This hymn seemed new to me.  In earlier editions of the LDS Hymnbook it was titled "Oh Hark! A Glorious Sound Is Heard", but it still didn't seem familiar to me.  When I played it, I could tell how the words could easily be sung to the tune of #256 "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days".  Today's hymn was easy to play, but I think I prefer the tune of #256.  There should be a way to use the three verses of #257 to the words of #256 and have a really nice message about missionary work and the youth of the church.

#256 "As Zion's Youth in Latter Days"

I first heard this melody at a BYU Church Music Workshop that I attended years ago in Provo, Utah.  The song was "Thy Word is Like a Garden, Lord" and the Workshop Choir learned it for their concert.  Someday I want to use that arrangement with the words to this hymn.  (I need to learn to play the special arrangement first!)
This is such a wonderful match of text and tune.  I really want to have the youth in my ward learn this and love it as I do! 
The "Thy Word is Like a Garden, Lord" arrangement we used was by Benjamin Harlan by Shawnee Press, #A-6869.

#255 "Carry On"

This hymn brings back memories of me being at Girls' Camp at Cumorah Crest in the San Gabriel Mountains as a youth.  I guess because the first line is "Firm as the mountains around us..." it was often chosen as a morning devotional song at camp.  That is where I first learned to love this song.  When I learned to sing alto, I loved the harmony in the chorus--especially since the notes of the melody line were too high for me to sing properly.  I usually schedule this hymn around Pioneer Day (July 24th).

#254 "True to the Faith"

This is such a fun song to sing, but it is a bear to play the chorus!  As a youth, I remember purposely singing "Yes!" at the part where you are supposed to sing "No!" and "No!" where you are supposed to sing "Yes!"--right before the chorus.  I guess if that's as rebellious as I got, that would have been okay.

Although I have a difficult time playing it properly, I will continue to schedule this hymn for sacrament meeting. 

#253 "Like Ten Thousand Legions Marching"

Until today, I had never heard or played this hymn before.  In fact, I had to go to the church website and listen to it once before I attempted to play it.  I read in Karen Lynn Davidson's book, Our Latter-day Hymns,  that the text is about missionary work going forward like a Roman legion.  The tune was a little tricky for me because of the dotted rhythms in the soprano line, but it seemed like it would be easy enough for a ward choir to learn.  I don't know if I would schedule this hymn for sacrament meeting because of its unfamiliarity.  I would have to teach it to a choir first, and then have the congregation join in on the last verse.

#252 "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel"

This is a great song!  Our ward choir made a medley using it with the children's song "Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked".  It worked well!  I love to play and sing this song.  It has a great message that everyone needs to help and work. 

#251 "Behold! A Royal Army"

Another "military" song that has a good marching tempo!  The chorus of "Victory, victory, Thru him that redeemed us! Victory, victory, Thru Jesus Christ, our Lord!" is even more powerful because of its unison setting.  Then it repeats those same words, but in harmony.  I think that makes it very effective.

#250 "We Are All Enlisted"

This is a fun one to sing and play.  I like to sing the chorus, "Happy are we!"  The message reminds us that we don't just need to "endure to the end" with somber faces, but to be happy about it.

#249 "Called to Serve"

This is a favorite hymn for missionary farewells at church and for the primary children to sing.  I love it!  I remember learning it in primary as a youth.  There are a few word changes, and when I read Karen Lynn Davidson's Our Latter-Day Hymns, I recognized the old words that I learned as a child. 

This song will always be a favorite of many people.My favorite memory of this song is of seeing and hearing it sung at General Conference by a chorus of missionaries from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.  It was very inspiring!

#248 "Up, Awake, Ye Defenders of Zion"

This tune is "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean".  The words were written about the problems the Saints had in Missouri with the mobs threatening them.

My favorite memory of this song is from 1986 when I directed the Baldy Mesa Branch's Roadshow called "The Wonderful World of Spices".  We used this tune and changed the words for our finale about "Salt" being the hero of the day.

#247 "We Love Thy House, O God"

This simple hymn has a nice message about God's house being a house of honor, joy, prayer, peace, and comfort.  It is easy to play and sing.  I've used it as both a choir hymn and a congregational hymn.

#246 "Onward, Christian Soldiers"

The "march" quality of this hymn makes it a favorite of many.  I like the chorus--especially the tenor line.  This hymn is a little tricky for me to play, but I still like to schedule it for sacrament meeting.

#245 "This House We Dedicate to Thee"

I don't recall ever having sung this hymn, but my personal hymnal has the date "6-30-96" written on it, so apparently our ward choir sang it that day in sacrament meeting.  Because of its message as a church building dedicatory hymn, it isn't sung very often.