Shirley Temple singing “Get on Board, Lil’ Children” might be the ideal theme song for your ward’s missionary efforts. Give it a try!
(Turn your speakers down before clicking on the link.)
By the way, what’s your nomination for the next song to be added to the LDS Hymnbook? I don’t think “Get on Board” is it, but how about “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”? It was once in our hymnbooks, and I really miss it.
My absolute favorite hymn- why isn’t it in there anymore??
“Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by thy help I’m come”
I’ve heard more than once that this verse is a reference to drinking, which might do it. However, a bit of research showed otherwise, and added to my appreciation of the hymn.
The stone of Eben-ezer was a memorial raised by the Israelites after they miraculously won a major battle with the Philistines (see 1 Sam. 7:10-12).
One urban legend down the drain, but the mystery continues…
I’ve always liked “Amazing Grace” I think it should be added. I know what you’re thinking. A bit too evangelical, or Southern Baptist in nature perhaps?
But, look at “Rock of Ages” If it can be in there, then I think “Amazing Grace” can too.
I don’t know about the hymnal, but I can think of a few things that ought to go into the Children’s Songbook. And maybe a few that could go on the chopping block — or at least be improved (some of the songs are flat-out difficult to sing, even for an adult who can read music, let alone a 2nd grader who can’t.) The hymnal seems to have gotten a lot more attention.
(and I don’t know that I’d want more songs in the hymnal when most of the wards I’ve been in ignore half of the beautiful, elegant, and easy to sing songs that are already there…)
I talked to one of the people on the music committee and he said that Come Thou Fount was not one of the popular hymns until a new arrangement was written and sung by the MoTab, after the new hymnbooks had been compiled. He said that if they had it to do over, they would have included it, but it just wasn’t sung enough to justify leaving it in.
I also think Amazing Grace should be included. I love that song.
Here’s another vote for Amazing Grace! (I heard a rumor that it had been in the LDS hymnal at one time — the 1920s or something? — can anyone verify?) It’s a song much loved by fundamental, evangelical Protestants, sure, but there’s nothing doctrinally in that hymn for Mormons to disagree with.
Do I get more than one vote? I also love Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing and Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.
I think we also need to take a look at songs to take out of the hymn books. This past sunday, every song we did was one i had never heard before. It was terrible, because no one was used to how they were sung. Our ward gets a fair range of hymns, and it’s not to say that these obscure hymns are bad, but perhaps they should be replaced with more popular ones
Why remove the hymns? Isn’t having congregations learn the hymns a better solution?
When I served as a ward chorister, I tried to include a less-sung hymn about once every other week. The members caught on to them and did well. If we go by the rule that people can’t be asked to sing a hymn they haven’t heard before, then all hymns will have to be eliminated within a generation. Instead, let’s educate the members. There’s nothing wrong with learning something at church.
Or possibly restore some of the lost material from older hymns. Like the excised verse from “The Spirit of God”:
We’ll wash and be washed, and with oil be anointed,
Withal not omitting the washing of feet.
For he that receiveth his penny appointed
Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat.
And it hasn’t been the same since they changed “you who unto Jesus for refuge hath fled.”
I have about 10 copies of the older hymnbook (the one that was replaced in 1985) in pristine condition. I bought them to take to events outside of church venues (firesides, home evenings, etc).
They are like new, as I then went inactive, and they remained in storage for umpteen years.
I was thinking of selling them on Ebay. Anyone want one? Watcha willing to pay?