Hello again, everyone! The next batch of hymns has been officially released. With 8 in this newest batch, the number of released new hymns stands at 90. The newest additions are available in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. The hymnbook will be published in those four languages in late 2027. The latest batch includes the following 8 hymns:
“Be Thou My Vision”
“Our Savior Brings Us Joy”
“Jesus Is the Strength of Youth”
“How I Love the House of God”"
“God’s Armor”
“Seek Peace”
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
“A Quiet Night”
The cover design of the new hymnbook has also been released, as has the exact number of hymns in the new hymnbook: 394, with additional hymns and songs available online and in the Gospel Library app. In the news release, Elder Dale G. Renlund was quoted as saying: "Each hymn has been approved by the First Presidency and the Twelve, and these approvals have not been taken lightly."
Further, Elder Mark D. Eddy, a GA Seventy assigned to the hymnbook project, noted the following: "As we worship together by joyfully singing these hymns, we trust you will feel what we have felt in the preparation of this new Hymnbook. We have found increased faith in the eternal truths taught in its lyrics, and courage and peace in the beautiful sound and structure of its music. May we receive what the Lord has prepared for each of us in these sacred songs of the heart."
The painstaking process of selecting these 394 hymns was outlined as follows: "After determining that a hymn sufficiently met the goals of the hymnbook, research was done to determine whether the Church could obtain the needed publishing licenses. In some cases, when a license agreement couldn’t be made, the hymn was no longer considered for inclusion.
"Ultimately, with so many hymns under consideration, there was more music that qualified for inclusion than there was available space in a single hymnbook. Difficult decisions had to be made about which hymns would best contribute to a balanced collection of both hymns and children’s songs, new and familiar music, and stylistic representation—and which would provide enough coverage for essential doctrinal topics of the restored gospel."
While this post was being prepared for publishing, the Church News also reported this latest news. I am excited about this newest release, and look forward to next year's release of the hymnbook. I invite you all to stay tuned here for my coverage of the latest updates from the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites. I’ll be sure to pass word of those along to you all as soon as I learn about them.
In the meantime, that does it for now. All comments are, as always, welcome and appreciated on any post at any time, as long as all such feedback is made per the established guidelines. I hope any of you who would like to share anything will take your opportunity to “sound off” in the comments below. If you liked what you read here and would like to stay informed of newly added posts and comments, please subscribe to receive the applicable updates.
Thank you for the privilege of your time. Until my next post, I wish you all the best and pray that the Lord will bless you all in everything you do.
