What’s your favorite LDS hymn? Hmmm???
I’m currently the Music Chairperson in my congregation, which means I’m in charge of selecting music for Sunday worship services. I’m beginning to realize that my favorites may not be everyone else’s favorites, and vice versa. So help a girl out here: If you’re familiar with LDS hymns, tell me your favorite hymns from the LDS hymnbook.
The survey is only two questions long. The hymns are listed by number (it’s the only way to really tally them well), so if you need to look them up, here’s an alphabetical list: https://www.lds.org/music/text/hymns
I’ll post the results in June. I’m hoping to get enough responses to make this a really useful resource, so share this and send your friends around. (Heh… when’s the last time you heard me say that?)
Happy choosing!
Handy info…
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I think one of my favorites is “I Need Thee Every Hour”, and my favorite sacrament hymn is: “There is a Green Hill Far Away”.
I Believe in Christ
My favorite hymn is “I know that my Redeemer lives” with “Israel, Israel, God is calling ” as a close second.
My favorite hymn is usually the one I’m singing at the moment. There are several that are special to me for various reasons.
I’m currently Music Director for my ward, which includes being Sacrament chorister. Our bishop requested that a song from the Children’s Songbook be sung each week. That has really gotten the children singing. In fact, when we sang I Am A Child of God, the children sang much louder than the adults. I loved it!
Listen to the Spirit as you choose hymns. Our bishopric doesn’t plan topics ahead so I have to choose hymns before knowing what the topics are. I’ve been absolutely amazed at how well the hymns and the topics chosen match together. I don’t think they match the topics to the hymns either.
I’m surprised you’re choosing the hymns as a music chairman. That should be done by the chorister under your guidance.
This is the way our bishopric has currently directed that it be done.
I like “How Firm a Foundation”, #85 with all of the verses.
Our choir has, on occasion, taken the text of a hymn and sung it when the meter of another hymn is the same,
just like the early Church did. It is so energizing to hear new music and old words matched!
I couldn’t get a list of topics in a timely manner so we dropped them. I also don’t particularly like to sing, especially solo, so if we had a less popular song and I was the only one singing it, it got scratched off the list. After about a year, I had a pretty good list, broken down to a monthly schedule that included notes to keep in mind such as Mother’s Day, etc. Each year, all I had to do was pull up my notes from last year, change the dates and we were rolling. No more solos. Everyone sang since we only sang “the hits”. It was beautiful.
I love the hymns of Zion. When we were in Albania, the members would choose “Count Your Blessings” any time they were given a choice. One bright young woman shared that she thought all the hymns sounded alike. So interesting.
I listed my favorite hymn as #124, “Be Still, My Soul.” However, if “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” had been in the hymnbook, it would have been first!
There are several Hymns that touch me every time I sing or hear them.
Be thou Humble
I believe in Christ
I know that my Redeemer lives
There are others I love too, but these are probably my favorites. These touch my heart and soul and the words are dear to me, strengthening my Spirit and testimony.
“God be with you ’til we meet again…”
I also love number 44, Beautiful Zion Built Above. It is so hopeful. Thanks for this topic. Good luck with your new calling.
My all time favorite song is “Come thy fount of every Blessing.
I find strength as I realize the tune I am humming (my ear-worms) are almost, always hymns. After so many years singing them, I’m grateful the words come easily to mind as well.
My favorite hymn is hymn # 140 Did You Think to Pray? As music chairman, I chose the Sacrament hymns in order, but the others according to topics if known, or the season. As choir director, I chose less known or sung hymns and had the choir sing, then the next week the congregation sang it.
It seems most music chairmen set sacrament hymns on a schedule. While I definitely agree each should be sung regularly, I do feel it is important to prayerfully select a sacrament hymn to fit the meeting. As I have done this, I have heard people more than once consequently include the sacrament hymn from that day in the message they share, a reminder that it is the most important part of the meeting. While this may not be right for your ward, it is something that may merit consideration.
And by the way–wonderful idea having the choir singing the lesser known hymns. Have been struggling with finding that balance in my ward.
I’ve noticed that if unfamiliar hymns are chosen, few people appreciate the challenge and either do not sing at all or complain about the fact that no one knows that hymn. Personally, as a convert to the church, I enjoy hearing a hymn that is new to me and would like to see more of that in our Ward. However, I do have my favorites and deeply enjoy singing those that I hold dear.
I will have to all to our Music Director….haha, as chorister for the congregation I get the topic from the Bishop(His wife is Music Director…haha..and friend) and I choose the music. Being a convert of about 12 years I had to study the hymns…a bit different from my other church music, especially now. Also, the congregation has gotten used to singing ALL verses of the hymns…I think there was a reason for them, and visitors now know that they are not to close their hymnals…haha. Still I giggle when visiting High Councilmen or even Stake Presidents come and I hear the close of their hymnal behind me and the music continues 😇 My two favorites(which I am careful not to have all the time) are, 134..and 169
When I was music chairman I would go through the Sacrament hymns in order. With all of the hymns, I’d write the date we sang them in pencil at the top of the page so I didn’t repeat my favourites too often. I’ve had music chairmen who choose the same songs over and over, sometimes choosing very familiar hymns two or three weeks in a row. As an organist it drove me crazy because there are so many beautiful hymns.
Away back our bishopric had topics for talks 6months in advance at the beginning of a new year making it easy for me to choose hymns that went along with the topic , this doesn’t happen anymore but now and again the hymns are spot on with theme of the meeting which I luv
Redeemer of Israel
Due to the fact I’m a transplant from the northwest to Arizona, I’ve never experienced how the snowbirds move out of the valley the first of May and don’t return until the first of November. So, our ward does something that I have never done before…it’s called Insta-Choir. I was called as the Choir Director not too long after we moved into the ward…we have very few members in the choir during the summer because most of them are gone. As a result, we do an “Insta-Choir,” of which is very successful…anyone is invited to come forward and sing a familiar hymn with the choir. Because we also have an unusually high number of members who are musically talented, the success of the Insta-Choir is enhanced…it’s amazing. Today we sang, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” Oh My Goodness! The Spirit of God was felt by everyone…we all loved it!
I must truly say that my fave hymn is Come Thou Fount. but it was one of the many hymns chosen to NOT be in this more recent green hymnbook.
Praise to the Man
I replied hymn # 240. Just to clarify – I like the old version in the blue hymn book. My father used to sing the whole song for breakfast every day. What a sermon!!! I LOVE it! It has empowered me through many a struggle to know “I” am responsible to make my own choices with a loving Heavenly Father hoping I choose the right!!! He’ll call, persuade, direct aright and lead with wisdom love and light! In nameless ways, be good and kind – but never force the human mind.
Our ward had a hymnal testimony meeting. Anyone could come to the pulpit, tell us why their favorite hymn was special to them, then the congregation would sing one verse of their hymn. A line of participants, with no gaps! The most spiritual meeting ever!
(Lake Poway Ward, Poway California. We were just visitors from Nevada, but WOW! What a great ward and a great spirit!)
I have been in thew church over 30 years and we had similar Hymn Sacrament meeting not long ago and every member have something to share.
It was very Spiritrual and uplifting and we shall have that at least once aevery six months.
Unfortunately, the Brethren have directed wards not to do this any more. We loved it when we did it.
I would be interested where you read that the ‘Brethren’ discourage was called “Hymn Sacrament” meeting? I am a lifelong church member and have never heard that directive. dkf
I feel your pain. Our stake has an approved hymn list which I ignore but the congregation really only has 20-30 hymns they actually sing. As a former organist I would play less familiar hymns as prelude to try to familiarize the congregation with them but the last few times I’ve played I’m noticing the congregation doesn’t listen to prelude any more. I’m looking forward to your results!