#91 "Father, Thy Children to Thee Now Raise"

This is a hymn that we sing about once a year--around Thanksgiving.  It's a little tricky to play the rhythm of this hymn, but I still schedule it every November.

#90 "From All That Dwell below the Skies"

[First off, why would "That" be capitalized but not "below" in the title?  I just copied the title straight from the hymnal.]
In my personal hymnbook, I have a note that the words of "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" can be sung to the tune of this hymn.  I also have a note that T.T. Noble has a "free organ accompaniment" in his book of "100 Well-Know Hymn Tunes" for this hymn (called DUKE STREET) that looks like it isn't too difficult to play.

#89 "The Lord Is My Light"

This hymn is always a fun one to sing, but not that easy to play.  I haven't "mastered" it yet, but I can pull it off if I have enough notice.  We use this one in sacrament meeting on a regular basis.

#88 "Great God, Attend While Zion Sings"

After "attempting" to play this hymn, I can tell it is one that I've never sung or played before!  Sometimes I wonder why some hymns were put in the 1985 hymnbook.  This is one of those I wonder about.  It is difficult to play and sing.  I guess the message of the text (from 1719) is classic enough to warrant it.  I did not care for this hymn.  Sorry, Composer Joseph J. Daynes!

#87 "God Is Love"

Our Oak Hills Ward Choir just sang this on Sunday, March 24, 2012.  This is an easy hymn to play and sing.  It is effective to break before singing the line:  "God is love" in each verse.

#86 "How Great Thou Art"

What can I say about the hymn that was sung at my husband's funeral because it was his favorite?  When I used to be the music director for sacrament meeting, I would often ask Mike Ramsey (my first husband) what hymn I should chose for the upcoming month.  He would usually say, "How Great Thou Art" or "Abide With Me; 'Tis Eventide".  Sometimes he would suggest "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel".  When I was preparing the program for his funeral, I knew I had to include "How Great Thou Art".  Jill Conforti, a member of our Oak Hills Ward, has a trained soprano voice.  I asked her to sing this hymn as a solo at his funeral.  It was very comforting to me, but in the first few months following Mike's death, I couldn't choose this hymn as a sacrament meeting song because I knew I wouldn't be able to "hold myself together" and lead it properly.  It's been 14 years since Mike's death, and I can sing or play this hymn without getting too emotional.  "How Great Thou Art" will always have a special place in my heart.

#85 "How Firm a Foundation"

I love this hymn!  I have a special memory associated with it.  Many years ago (probably around 1989 or so) my first husband, Mike Ramsey, and I were traveling in our small Cessna airplane to Provo, Utah to attend the Church Music Workshop at BYU.  After we refueled at the St. George airport, and flew about an hour, we started to experience a lot of turbulence.  It was very scary.  The words of the third verse of this hymn came to mind:  "Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.  I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."  These words were very comforting to me as Mike battled the wind to keep our plane flying smoothly and straight.  We made it to Provo without any problems, but I will never forget the feelings of fear and then of comfort as I recalled this hymn.