Our Hymns

'

Our Hymns

BY LEVI EDGAR YOUNG, OF THE FIRST COUNCIL OF SEVENTY

The songs of our Church services are message-bearing and

s'icred to the average Latter-day Saint. We have many hymns

that carry with them a gospel sermon and are a source of Hght

and hfe to who sing and read. The ordinary hymn is

those

leautiful because it is simple; simple in that it stirs some emotion

common to every human being, and appeals to the saint and the

''''^--^

r"

5pFjjj|f i *^mL

^^^^^HHoM^^V^R*

iJ ^^H

fp ill

1 ll

mm HMA

~ '

T

B^jPLi-.

IP m [^ m

MANTI WARDS' TABERNACLE, SOUTH SANPETE STAKE

This building was erected in 1878, and was dedicated November

22, 1903, by President Joseph F. Smith. It is built of oolite stone,

at a cost of $50,000. The seating capacity is 1,200; there are three

rooms in the building. The height of the building is 30 feet to the

square, outside measurements 90 by 55 feet; William H. Folsom,

architect. Nearly two acres of land are connected with it, and sur-

rounding the grounds are two rows of ash and ever-green trees. A

splendid grove of ash trees is located in the center of the lot afford-

ing cooling shade. A part of the lot is used as a playground. The

grounds and the house are cared for by the people of the Manti North

and South wards. The building was erected by the Saints of Manti,

so that it is not a stake tabernacle. In 1903 the buildmg was re-

modeled and made quite modern. It is heated by steam, electric-

lighted, and well equipped.

752 IMPROVEMENT ERA

sinner, the high and the low, the rich and the poor. It is the

acme of democratic expression it is the one expression that finds

;

its way to the heart of every human being. How many sorrowful

sniils has it comforted ! How mnay wondering children has it

directed to their God?

The Latter-day Saints have sung many hymns. It is not

for me to say which are the best. All are best in the sense that

all have won some soul back to God. Standing out with resonant

meaning, and a poem in very spirit, is "O My Father." The

author was Eliza R. Snow. This hymn is the embodiment of

Hebraism, of pure God-like thought. Its glory is its anthropo-

morphism. Its beauty is in its lesson that all men are divine, and by

their will are in tune with their maker. It will live forever as a

soul-inspiring song; it will ever be known as a philosophic ex-

pression of life's mission. It is a psychological lesson, for it gives

something of the meaning of instinct and intuition, the great

problems of the modern philosopher;

"O my Father, thou that dwellest,

In the high and glorious place!

When shall I regain thy presence,

And again behold thy face?

In thy holy habitation,

Did my spirit once reside?

In my first primeval childhood.

Was I nurtured by thy side?"

The one poem that strikes home as the great lesson of self-

conquest is "School Thy Feelings," by President Charles W.

Penrose. In true Christian life, it stands at the head of all our

literature. It calms the shattered feelings ; it breathes into one's

soul the very essence of love and comfort. The thought of it is

the inspiration that is destined to calm the nations and bring them

to a knowledge of the Christ. "He who conquers himself is

greater than he who conquers a nation." No one ever sings,

"School Thy Feelings" but what resolves to conquer. The author

of this hymn has written much. In fact his comments on the

gospel truths, through newspaper editorials and magazine articles,

have been read by more people than have the writings of any

other of our authors. He will live forever in his "School Thy

Feelings," and "O Ye Mountains High."

"School thy feelings, O my brother,

Train thy warm impulsive soul;

Do not its emotions smother.

But let wisdom's voice control.

"School thy feelings; there is power

In the cool collected mind;

Passion shatters reason's tower,

Makes the clearest vision blind.

OUR HYMNS 753

"School thy feelings; condemnation

Never pass on friend or foe,

Though the tide of accusation

Like a flood of truth may flow."

As the colonizers of Utah wended their way over the plains

to the far West, in 1847, they were cheered, day after day, by the

words of the old camp poet, William Clayton. And poet he was,

and as the scribe and journalist of the migration, he showed

wonderful ability in writing. His journal reads like a romance,

and his "Come, Come, Ye Saints" will be sung when the days

are dark, and when the Saints of the Most High are struggling

It thrills the soul with gladness

to establish right. it invigorates

;

with new vigor and determination to press on until life's problems

are conquered:

UINTAH STAKE TABERNACLE

Located at Vernal, Utah, erected during 1900-07, and dedicated

on the 24th of August of the latter year. It has a rock ftiuudation

with brick walls, and cost $37,000. It has a seating capacity of fifteen

hundred, and is 70 by 117 feet in size, outside measurements, 35 feet

to the square, 55 feet to the top of the roof, 95 feet to the top of the

tower, and contains seven rooms. T. T. Davis, Provo, Utah, archi-

tect. There are two and a half acres of land, one and a half acres

of which are in lawn. The remaining land is owned by the Church

and is occupied by the old academy building. A water system has

now been installed; and there is also plenty of water for surface

irrigation.

754 IMPROVIiMKNT ERA

"Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear.

But with joy wend your way;

Tho' hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.

'Tis better far for us to strive.

Our useless cares from us to drive;

Do this, and joy your hearts will swell-

All is well! all is well!

One of our sweetest hymn writers was W. W. Phelps, a pio-

neer and a member of the first board of regents of the University

of Deseret. Brother Phelps took an active part in developing

SPRING CITY WARD CHAPEL, NORTH SANPETE STAKE

Erected in 1910, and dedicated March 15, 1914. It is built of white

hmestone, the main hall being 80 by 40 feet and the annex 25 by 60 feet

ni size, height to the top of the tower 75 feet, and to the square

25 feet. There are ten rooms in the building which has a seating

capacity of about one thousand. The building cost $30,000; Watkins

architect. There are two acres of land, and new lawns have been

planted all around. Hardwood trees are planted on the outer edges

of the lawns. This beautiful building faces the east, and consists of

an auditorium, with pulpit at the west, and a self-supporting circular

gallery, at the east. Back of the pulpit are large sliding doors open-

ing into the annex which contains seven class rooms, cement baptis-

mal font and boiler room. The building is lighted by electricity and

heated by steam.

FREMONT STAKE TABERNACLE

This building is situated at Rexburg, Idaho. It was erected be-

tween May 11, 1911, and December 27, 1911, and dedicated on the 6th

of January, 1912. It is built of stone at a cost of $31,065, and has a

seating capacity of about 1,450. The outside measurement of the

building is 120 by 62 feet, height about 60 feet. There are six rooms.

Otto Erlandsen, architect. There are 10 by 20 rods of land connected

with it, one row of trees extends along the front of the building and

another at the back. A beautiful lawn completely surrounds the

house, and there are flower beds in the front. A tract of land five by

ten rods at the rear of the building will be planted with trees, this

spring. Spacious cement walks connect the sidewalks with each of the

entrances.

the schools in early days, and was a lecturer and writer of ability.

His poems are full of sentiment, and sound the key notes of the

faith and philosophy of the Saints. His "Awake ! O

Ye Peo-

ple" is an urgent message to the reader and where in a hymn

;

can we find more gospel truth than in, "If You Could Hie to Ko-

lob"? There is a loftiness to his hymns that carries one to splen-

did heights of thought. In fact we may say he was an ideahst

who attempted to carry his people with him through the medium

of poetry. I hardly know which one of his poems I like best.

One thing is certain. If it is the desire to fire the brethren

of a priesthood meeting with zeal and determination, have them

sing, "Now Let Us Rejoice in the Day of Salvation," "Praise to

the Man who Communed with Jehovah," "Glorious Things are

Sung of Zion." As a sacrament hymn, his "O God, the Eternal

Father" is sung more often than many others, and it touches issues

that are vital to the soul.

WAYNE STAKE TABERNACLE

This house is located in Loa, was commenced November 23, 1906;

finished October 22, 1909, and dedicated two days thereafter by Presi-

dent Joseph F. Smith. The basement is built of stone, black lava

rock. The main walls are grey-colored stone finished with red sand-

stone corners and trimmings. The outside measurement of the base-

ment is 90 by 50 feet and inside measurement 80 by 40 feet, the build-

ing being 80 feet high from the ground floor to the tower, and was

erected at a complete cost with the improvements and the grounds

to date $36,637. There are three rooms, the basement amusement

hall, the second floor chapel which will seat 1,000 people, and a small

room in the tower for a prayer room. The architect was Patriarch

Benjamin F. Brown, deceased. The grounds measure one and a

fourth acres. Considerable work has been done in grading and

leveling the grounds and planting trees, but owing to unfavorable

climate nearly all of the trees have died. Recently the town has in-

stalled a water system, and it is hoped that lawr|s may be grown in

the near future. Ex-president Gearsen S. Bastian was the promoter

of the building, and he was assisted by his counselors, Joseph Eckers-

ley and John R. Stewart with William H. Morrell, Benjamin F.

Brown and Jacob S. Bastian, members of the committee. The work

was done to a great extent upon the old co-operative plan. On April

9, 1907, led by the stake presidency and bishopric of the Loa ward,

rock hauling was commenced, and forty-one loads of foundation rock

were hauled in two days. These rocks weighed on an average, 1200

pounds each. They were the black lava rock taken from the surround-

ing hills. The base walls are five feet thick and taper to the top

of the basement or first floor to a thickness of two and a half feet

which is maintained throughout. The main floor is equipped with

oak pew benches, and choir gallery with opera chairs to accomodate

fifty singers. The building is heated from basement to tower with an

up-to-date steam system and is well lighted with gasoline lamps.

One of our most popular hymns is "Prayer is the Soul's Sin-

cere Desire." The author of this exquisite melody was James

Montgomery, a Scotchman, born in 1771. He became in his

:

OUR HYMNS 757

native country an editor of a newspaper, which for over thirty

years, was devoted to peace and reform principles. As a poet,

he ranked high, and was offered a professorship at Edinburgh.

He died in 1854. Mr. Montgomery is best known as a hymn

writer and devotional poet. His "Prayer" is sung throughout the

British Empire and America. It is an exquisite bit of soul ex-

pression, and breathes a spirit of humility quite beautiful

"Prayer is the soul's sincere desire

Unuttered or expressed;

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast."

This same author wrote, "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief,"

one of the most touching poems, I think, in our language. It was

President Joseph Young's favorite hymn, and he sang it on many

occasions. How soul-like it must have sounded as he gave it in

his tender, sweet voice !Some one has said that Joseph Young

was the most beautiful singer the Church had in early days. I

believe it to be true. A few nights before he passed away, he

sang it to his children. It was the epitome of his life:

"A poor way-faring man of grief,

Hath often crossed me on my way;

Who sued so humbly for relief,

That I could never answer nay.

"I had not power to ask his name,

Whither he went, nor whence he came;

Yet there was something in his eye

That won my love, I knew not why."

John Jaques' "O, Say What is Truth," is another gem. It

carries a great message with it, and is a lesson in ethics that

students in all realms of though might well sing. In fact, it is

the motto of the high-minded man, for it is he who "aims for the

brightest prize."

The hymns of Parley P. Pratt alone would make a volume

of religious and philosophic thought. He shows rare poetic genius

as well. What could be more consoling to the sorrowful than his

"Great Redeemer Comes," or his "Night is Wearing Fast Away."

There is a sublimity to his writings that is very impressive, and

he will live always in the hearts of his people because of this.

There is one hymn so exquisite in its sincerity, so consoling

in its humility, so touching in its sentiment, that it will ever reach

the hearts of the common people. I refer to Cardinal Newman's

"Lead, Kindly Light." Newman was born in 1801, and died in

1890. He grew up in the English church, and was educated at

Oriel College and at Oxford. He early manifested a great love for

writing, and many looked upon him as the coming thinker in the

English church. He gradually drifted away from the Anglican

:

758 IMPROVEMKNT ERA

church, however, and after withdrawing from Oxford, in 1842,

he led a Hfe of fasting- and prayer and in 1845, was received by

Father Dominic into the Cathohc church. He was attacked on all

sides by prominent Englishmen, among whom was Charles Kings-

ley. Newman felt that the Anglican church was only further

away in conception of the mission of Christ than even the church

of Rom. In 1878, Newman was made a Cardinal by Leo XIII.

At one tihe while sailing from Palermo to Marseilles he was

becalmed in the straits of Bonifaco, and here he wrote his famous

hymn, "Lead, Kindly Light."

''Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,

Lead thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home;

Lead thou me on!

Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.

"I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou

Shoulds't lead me on,

I loved to choose and see my path, but now,

Lead thou me on!

I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,

Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.

"So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still

Will lead me on;

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till

The night is gone.

And with the morn, those angel faces smile

Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile."

"God Moves in a Mysterious Way" was President Wilford

Woodruff's favorite hymn. He listened to its rendition with the

keenest delight, and time and time again, had. it sung in service.

It was composed by the English poet William Cowper, who was

born in 1781. He was educated for the law, but his sensitive,

despondent nature prevented his success in this profession. He

began to write verse even when he became insane. It was only

at times, however, that he received the poetic inspiration which

resulted in some of the daintiest bits of poetry in the English

language. His "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" is one of the

idols of our hymnal

"God moves in a mysterious way.

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm."

A paper on our hymns could be woven into a volume. The

few that T have mentioned in this writing are only suggestive of

the many. The songs of the Wesleys alone fill many a humnal,

OUR HYMNS 759

HUNTINGTON WARD

MEETING HOUSE,

EMERY STAKE.

This house was begun in the

year 1889, and is not yet dedi-

cated. It is and

built of brick

stone, and approximately

cost

$20,000. In size it is 11 by 47

feet, 30 feet high, with a seating

capacity of one thousand. A

gallery seats 300, and the ros-

trum about one hundred. The

building is equipped with an or-

gan and a piano, has gas lights,

and a water system. There are

six rooms. William Hunter,

architect. There are one and

a fourth acres of land belonging

to the building.

and not in English alone are they sung, but in the languages of

many peoples. Then there are our own writers, men who re-

ceived power from God. By their inspiration have they written

beautiful poems, poems that will live forever. There were W. W.

Phelps, Henry W. Naisbitt who, by the way, wrote some of the

most beautiful poems in our history Emily H. Woodmansee, E.

;

L. Sloan, President John Taylor, John Nicholson, Emmeline B.

Wells, and many others. The list would almost extend indefi-

nitely. Utah has produced many writers of a high stamp of

poetic genius. There are many such living today. As I have

already indicated the hymns mentioned in this paper are only a

few of the many exquisite poems we sing in our services and

homes. They are the source of light and comfort to many thou-

sands, for where all else may fail, the hymn will bring comfort

and trust in life and God. The world at this season of the year

seems to look up again to Christ and him crucified. May such

a spirit continue throughout the coming months, and may the

years bring God's children to the Light of His Law. Then can

we sing with Sarah F. Adams:

"Nearer my God to thee

Nearer to thee.

E'en though it be a cross

That raiseth me;

Still all my song shall be,

Nearer my God to thee."