O That I Were an Angel

788 IMPROVEMENT ERA

was, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief." He sang this in Carthage

jail just before the martyrdom of the Prophet and his brother

Hyrum. The Prophet asked him to sing it again, but President

Taylor asked to be excused stating that he felt too depressed to

sing, but the Prophet insisted, and just as the singing ended, the

shooting began, in which the Prophet and his brother lost their

lives.

"Rest for the Weary Soul, Rest for the Aching Head," was

written by the late Henry W. Naisbitt for the funeral of a brother

of President Brigham Young, Joseph Young, who died July 16,

1881. The music entitled, "Repose" was written by Prof. George

Careless. The words and music were both written for the Taber-

nacle choir which sang it at the funeral. The hymn is one of the

most widely sung among our funeral collections. Bro. Naisbitt was

born in England, November 7, 1821. I heard one of our best

musicians, who was studying abroad at the time, say, one day after

playing the selection over, that if George Careless had never writ-

ten anything else, this one piece of music would immortalize him.

"The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee," by Parley P. Pratt,

is one of the most inspiring hymns ever written. Brother Pratt

wrote more hymns appearing in our hvmn book than any other

post among the Latter-day Saints. "The Morning Breaks," first ap-

peared in the first issue of the Millennial Star, having been writ-

ten by Brother Pratt especially for the introduction of that peri-

odical.

O That I Were an Angel

(Alma xxix)

O that I were an angel and had my heart's desire.

That I might cry repentance as with a tongue of fire.

And with the trump of Jehovah his mighty word proclaim

In the ears of all the living, for the greatness of his name.

As with the livid lightning I'd touch. each human heart.

Reprove the world of error, the gospel's truths impart.

I'd bring to all salvation in the great Jehovah's plan

To redeem our fellow mortals and exalt our fellow man.

And God should have the glory for all I e'er could do,

Eor he alone is perfect, and full of mercy, too.

And God forgive the "sinning" if my present wish is so.

My "guilt" is in the yearning that all the world might know.

---

"God giveth to all nations that seemeth fit to him,

To teach, in just proportion, his precious truths to men."

O heed the gospel message, by an angel borne to men,

"To be preached unto all nations," restored from heaven again.

F. E. Barker