Hello again, everyone! This just in from the Newsroom: Eleven new hymns have been released for the new hymnbook. The release of the latest batch of hymns fulfills the promise made earlier this month that the next batch would soon be released. The new hymns include the following selections:
“Look unto Christ”, “Oh, How Great Is Our Joy”, "I'm a Pioneer Too”, “As I Keep the Sabbath Day”, “Read the Book of Mormon and Pray”, “I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”, “The Lord's My Shepherd” (not to be confused with "The Lord Is My Shepherd", which is in our current hymnbook), “Because”, “His Voice as the Sound”, “O Lord, Who Gave Thy Life for Me”, and “Still, Still, Still. ”
Most of these new hymns are in the section "Sabbath & Weekday", which now includes 41 selections, but "Still, Still, Still" is now grouped with the "Easter and Christmas" selections, which now number 7. Only "Still, Still, Still" was familiar to me from this newest batch. Some of the origins of these songs were detailed in the news release to which I linked above. There have now been a total of 48 new selections released.
I don't know when to expect the next batch, but Additional information was shared in the above news release, and I think I will let that additional information speak for itself so that I don't add or detract from that. I will just add that I was impressed by the accounts of several Church members who have described their experiences with the new hymns.
And it's probably a no-brainer that Church leaders, specifically those involved in music callings, are invited to add these newest hymns to the collections available in meetinghouses worldwide, and to continue to incorporate the new hymns as a regular part of Sabbath Day worship. Meanwhile, Church members everywhere are invited to familiarize themselves with these new hymns.
I will also note that I continue to be surprised by the chosen numbering scheme, which seems to be topical. I don't know how the numbering of current hymns and children's songbook selections will factor into that numbering scheme, but I look forward to finding out in roughly 2 years when the new hymnbooks are officially available.
I am grateful to have learned of these new releases almost as soon as they were announced. 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.
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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.
I was hoping and praying that Placentero Nos Es Trabajar would be translated and included. It is a beautiful hymn and a favorite.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that, Chris! For those like me with only a rudimentary understanding of the Spanish language, the hymn to which Chris is referring is "Oh, How Great Is Our Joy". As one who is unfamiliar with all but one of these releases (Still, Still, Still), I look forward to getting to know the others. On a separate note for you in particular, Chris, and for my other blog readers in general, the Church News coverage of this latest batch does indeed indicate that the current numbering scheme is only temporary. I assume normal numbering or an alteration of the current numbering method will be used instead. Will that numbering be topical? We find out in roughly two years. At that time, I look forward to also finding out which current hymns & children's songs are included in that new book. Thanks, as always, Chris, for taking time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your continued friendship and support.
DeleteIn this comment from the previous thread, I shared a Church News update that was reported early this morning, before the newest batch of hymns were released. Aside from that update, the Church News has shared this additional report. And this update on the status of the Lethbridge Alberta Temple indicates that full-scale construction has begun at the temple site, and that the completion of the construction process is likely to occur in early 2028. Based on my current projections, with temple dedications taking place several months after their completion, it's looking like the Church might only dedicate the Lethbridge Alberta Temple at some point in December of 2028. I would love to be wrong about that, but until further notice, that's my present projection. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteThe Church News has shared yet another new report.My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteHere is a Wikipedia article on the hymn on "Oh, how great is our Joy" but Wikipedia uses a more literal translation rather than the official new 2025 English translation that might be more poetic or go better with the rhythm of the music. The Spanish language hymn is listed as one of the most popular non English hymns in a church hymnal. It is nice to see more members get to know this hymn.
Deletehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placentero_nos_es_trabajar
DeleteThanks for that link, Chris! As a Wikipedia editor, I have put that page on my personal watchlist. I appreciate the tip.
DeleteI hope how great thou art will be encoded to the new hymn book. But we have copyright restrictions on that and for example it currently is not available in the gospel library due to copyright and licensing restrictions. Incense much of the new hymn book will be digital in most languages in the beginning I doubt that will happen to send unless the church is able to pay for a good licensing permission.
DeleteThanks for this additional comment, Chris! You raise an interesting point about "How Great Thou Art". Would it be worthwhile for the Church to try jumping through whatever hoops are needed to enable selections like that to be approved for the new hymnbook? Your guess is as good as mine. But I was gratified to read the reports on how the Church has determined what to include vs. what to omit. I'm relatively certain that several favorites of mine may not pass the proverbial muster for inclusion. But I'm also sure that there will be many selections I do like. And I have enjoyed getting better acquainted with the newest hymns. Based on what I've read about the process of putting the new hymnbook together, I am sure that what we will wind up with will be satisfying for most of us, even and especially if some of our favorites are not included. Hymns like "How Great Thou Art" present tricky situations. I hope for your sake that the Church will be able to include that particular hymn. For myself, I'm just trying to trust the process, even and especially if it means some of my favorites will not be included. I'm sure that the Church is doing their best to include the most relevant selections. I look forward to seeing the end result in about two years. Thanks, as always, Chris, for your kind comments and for your friendship and readership. I appreciate you!
DeleteAnother reason why we are encouraged to keep copies of our old hymn books
DeleteAnd I was glad to see that the Church will keep the current hymnbook and children's songbook in the online Gospel Library and the Gospel Library app. I think we can all benefit a lot from incorporating music into our personal and family gospel study. I have fond memories of using hymns as part of my daily personal gospel study when I was in Junior High and High School. As time has passed since then, I am not doing that as regularly. But I do know hymns continue to brighten my life whenever I do remember to use them. Thanks for these additional thoughts, Chris!
DeleteThe members of the Church throughout all of Latin America rejoice with the inclusion of ¨Placentero nos es Trabajar¨. It is arguably one of the most beloved of hymns for us. The history behind the hymn is inspiring and worth reading. The new translation is perfect and ties into the gospel missionary message. We have been encouraging those involved to include this beloved hymn for many years now and feel now as the people of Alma responded in Mosiah 18:11.
DeletePatzicia
Hey, Patzicia! Thanks for this additional insight into that song. It's very helpful. I look forward to learning all of these new hymns and to seeing which of the current hymns (in the English edition of the current hymnbook) and children's songs have been retained in the new book when in comes out in about 2 years, Thanks again for sharing your thoughts, Patzicia. I always appreciate hearing from you.
DeleteThe Church News has provided this additional report. My thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteAnd from the Newsroom comes another inspiring report. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteConstruction status updates have been noted on the following temples: Neiafu Tonga, Belo Horizonte Brazil, Wichita Kansas, Londrina Brazil, and Lethbridge Alberta Temples. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteEarly on this Saturday morning, I had a few other priorities, so I am just now returning to share the latest updates that were reported yesterday. With no new updates from the Newsroom, the Church News has shared the following reports: study resources have been provided for the April 2025 General Conference talk by Elder Ulisses Soares. The Church will hold its first ever ASL YSA conference. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles provided counsel for teachers of Seminary and Institute in this year's Religious Educators Conference. A Latter-day Saint returned missionary was featured in the NBA finals on the Oklahoma City Thunder's first NBA finals win. And I mentioned that the Newroom reported yesterday on the Music & the Spoken Word airing in Spanish on Telemundo. That development was also covered in the Church News, which also covered the latest edition of "This Week on Social", which featured posts from the following general Church leaders:
DeleteChurch President Russell M. Nelson and his Second Counselor, President Henry B. Eyring; Acting President Jeffrey R. Holland and Elders Quentin L. Cook, Neil L. Andersen, Gary E. Stevenson, Dale G. Renlund. and Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson; Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman (who posted via Young Women Worldwide); and Sister Amy A. Wright, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency.
My thanks once again to you all.
A construction status update has been provided for the Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of the Congo Temple. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteOn this Saturday, no new Newsroom updates have been reported, nor has there been a Church News article released about one of the new leaders called during the April 2025 General Conference. But the Church News has reported on the BYU Chamber Orchestra's ministry in Australia, a commentary article by BYU professor Holly Richardson; a Kentucky governor honoring the volunteer efforts of one of the Church members in Kentucky; the text of the message that will be offered by Derrick Porter during tomorrow's "Music & the Spoken Word", the history of the Church in Chile on the evening prior to its' dedication of the Antofagasta Chile Temple by Elder Gary E. Stevenson; and a report on a Youth Concert recently broadcast Churchwide.
DeleteAs a parenthetical note, Chile is two hours ahead of Utah time, so, assuming the single dedicatory session is held at 10:00 AM in Antofagasta, that will be 8:00 AM Utah time. My thanks once again to you all.