#135 "My Redeemer Lives"

This simple hymn is special because the words were written by President Gordon B. Hinckley.  We've used this as a congregational hymn and choir number. 

#134 "I Believe in Christ"

I love this hymn!  When the 1985 hymnbook came out, it was mentioned that this hymn came from a text by Bruce R. McConkie, who died in April 1985, I believe.  He spoke at April conference and he bore a strong testimony about knowing that in the coming days he would see the Savior.  I took a recording of his final testimony and played his actual words with this hymn being played in the background.  "I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world.  He is our Lord, our God, and our King.  This I know of myself independent of any other person.  I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.  But I shall not know any better then than I know now that his is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."  This was in the old Baldy Mesa Branch choir.  It was very emotional to hear his testimony combined with this hymn.
When I was the stake music director for the Hesperia Stake, I used an arrangement of "I Believe in Christ" which was written by Frank Turner, the director of the Southern California Mormon Choir, for our stake conference.  The visiting authority complimented me and the choir on our singing.  He asked about the arrangement we used, and I told him where I got it.  Later, when I joined the choir in 2007, I was able to sing Brother Turner's arrangement under his direction.  This hymn will always have a special place in my heart.

#133 "Father in Heaven"

I like the lowered key (compared to the old hymnal) in the 1985 edition of the LDS Hymnbook for this hymn.  As an alto, it is much easier to sing the melody.  I have a note in my personal hymnbook about conducting this hymn.  It came from a class I took at the Church Music Workshop at BYU.  My notes say to use "little or no ictus on beat 2".  I also have notes written above the beginning of measures 1, 2, 4, and 8 to use a "melded gesture" with the right hand.  Another note reads, "Conduct the music, not just the beat!"  I think these are all good suggestions!  This new edition changes wording on verse 2 and adds the word "and" before the word "joy" on measures 6 and 7.  This allows the word "joy" to come on the down beat.
Karen Lynn Davidson's book "Our Latter-day Hymns" states that this hymn was originally written in 1811 for men's voices.  I would love to have access to that arrangement.

#132 "God Is In His Holy Temple"

I don't really care for this hymn. I believe I may have sung it once during a special Sunday School lesson about the temple.  I remember that no one knew it and there was barely anyone singing.  I guess the words are nice, but I don't enjoy singing the melody or harmony on this song.

#131 "More Holiness Give Me"

I love the message of this song.  The word "more" is in the hymn 24 times!  My favorite line is the last one: "More, Savior, like thee."  It's a great tune and text combination.  I have a note in my personal hymnbook that "Hymnal Plus" (volume 1) has an arrangement of this hymn.

#130 "Be Thou Humble"

I love the message of this hymn and like the tune.  There are some weird accidentals, but I was able to play this hymn.  The words of this hymn are perfect for reminding us that when we serve in our church callings, we will be led by the Lord.

#129 "Where Can I Turn for Peace?"

I love, love, love this addition to the 1985 hymnbook!  We have used it as a choir number and a congregational hymn.  One year, when I went to the BYU Church Music Workshop, a class was taught by the choir director of the BYU Singers.  He used this hymn in conjunction with a song called "Christ, Whose Glory"--I have the music somewhere, but I don't want to look for it right now.  Anyway, he had us sing verses one and two of "Where Can I Turn for Peace?" and then we went right into "Christ, Whose Glory".  The words of that song fit so perfectly with the hymn.  Then we came back to the third verse of the hymn and added a coda using the last line: "Constant he is and kind, Love without end."  It was also in that class that he taught us to pronounce the /th/ of "without" with the second sound of the phonogram--as in "there".  He told us that it is a much more pleasing sound to pronounce the voiced /th/ for singing because you can keep a pitch on it.  The sound of /th/ as in "bath" cannot be sung, so I always try to remind any choir that I conduct that you should use the second sound of /th/ in the words "with" or "without".
If I ever have the opportunity to conduct a stake choir again, I would like to try this arrangement.