#281 "Help Me Teach with Inspiration"

This hymn was new to me, but the message about teaching the gospel is very appropriate for me as someone who teaches second grade children as a career.  In a church setting, we need to teach with inspiration and with the spirit of the Lord.  This hymn is short, but the original hymn contained two more verses, according to Our Latter-day Hymns: The Stories and the Messages by Karen Lynn Davidson. 

#280 "Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning"

This song was one of my favorites to sing during Sunday School as a youth growing up in the old Monterey Park Ward.  I liked the cheery message and tune.  Even though I didn't understand music theory as a youth, I knew that something changed during the song that piqued my interest.  As an adult, I understand the change of key from "C" to "G" and back to "C" makes the song interesting. 

#279 "Thy Holy Word"

This simple hymn has a powerful message about the scriptures.  The eighth notes at the beginning of each measure is unusual enough that it kind of catches the singer off guard--but I like it!

#278 "Thanks for the Sabbath School"

Even though this song sounds very old-fashioned, I still really like it!  I remember singing it many times in the old Monterey Park Ward Sunday School.  Now that there isn't a separate service for Sunday School, this song has lost its popularity.  I haven't scheduled it in a very long time.

#277 "As I Search the Holy Scriptures"

When this hymn was added to the 1985 edition of the LDS hymnbook, it became a favorite.  I remember that it wasn't long after its inclusion that it was part of the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation.  I was the Primary Music Director the year it was included in the annual program.  This short hymn packs a powerful message about doing more than just reading the scriptures--we need to search them.  This is a hymn that I have used many times for primary and sacrament meeting.  It is a timeless message and a perfect match with the tune.  I will continue to use this hymn over and over.

#276 "Come Away to the Sunday School"

I remember singing this song many times in the Sunday School Meeting when I was growing up in the Monterey Park Ward.  Now that we don't have a separate service for Sunday School, this song is rarely sung.  I love the rhythms and tune of this hymn.  I especially like the chorus where the men echo the women in "Then away, haste away!" and "Then away, do not delay!"  It was fun to sing this song in my youth.

#275 "Men Are That They Might Have Joy"

This hymn was new to me.  It was included in the choir section of the 1950 hymnal, and I don't think I'd ever heard it before playing it today.  The tune is nice and the words speak of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.  It would be the perfect song to sing when studying 2 Nephi 2:25.