Hello again, everyone! Through the newest episode of the Church News podcast, and a corresponding update found on the Newsroom website, we now have some additional information about the forthcoming new hymnbook, Hymns—For Home & Church.
According to the new information in the podcast and corresponding news release, the next batch of new hymns will be released in English later this month, the total number of hymns in the new hymnbook will be around 375 (only about 30 more than the current hymnbook), Church members are being encouraged to continue to hold on to our current hymnbooks after the new ones come out, and the timeline for the full release of the English version of the new hymnal has moved up to mid-2027 (roughly 2 years from now).
There is valuable information about the new hymnal in both the podcast episode and the news release to which I linked above, and I will actually let most of that speak for itself, as I'd rather not add or detract from the subject matter in this particular case. But I will say that I look forward to the release of the new hymnal, and I am personally elated that it will be out sooner than expected. This is a most fitting way to celebrate today, which marks a year from when the first batch of hymns was released.
For my part, I continue to remain committed to providing 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.
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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.
In other news today, the Newsroom reported on Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson's ministry in Sri Lanka and that of Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in London. Meanwhile, from the Church News comes study helps for the April 2025 General Conference talk given by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, also of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. BYU's Ballroom Dance Company is currently touring in Southeast Asia, while the aforementioned ministry of President Johnson in Indonesia and Sri Lanka was also covered, as was the London ministry of Elder Cook to which I previously referred. And finally, after being struck by tornadoes, Missourian Latter-day Saints are helping and serving their affected neighbors. Temple updates will follow. For now, my thanks once again to you all.
ReplyDeleteWithin the last 24 hours, the Church of Jesus Christ Temples page has provided several updates to the construction queue. This document reflects the latest reported changes. Also, in view of these updated time-frames, I have also updated my document showing temples for which new leaders have been or may be called in 2025. Given the surprising update on Saturday or Sunday that the first leaders for the Cleveland Ohio Temple were called, I don't think we can rule out the possibility of leaders being called for the 16 new temples I list in that document, especially if additional shifts in that part of the construction queue occur in the near term.
DeleteAbove and beyond that, construction status updates have been provided for the Ephraim Utah, Miraflores Guatemala City Guatemala, Pago Pago American Samoa, Managua Nicaragua, Yorba Linda California, Neiafu Tonga, and Montpelier Idaho Temples. I think I can safely say that the last 24 hours have been huge in terms of temple construction updates, and I'm grateful I could share those with you all here now. Thanks again, everyone!
Couple of things to point out from the podcast I heard found on Church News, from the press release, and from being a ward organist for many years and primary pianist.
Delete1. There will be around 375 in the printed hymnbook for home and church (Sacrament and Primary,) but there may be others available on the church website. These would include patriotic songs.
2. Right now the current hymnbook has 321 hymns but some are men only, or women only. Some may stay and be revised for all to sing, but many will go away. These also include some duplicates you can see in the table of contents. Right now I choose from about 200 hymns.
3. With Primary being only 1 hour on Sunday, the music has to be more focused. Hence, the activity songs will probably be removed from the hymnal for space. There are many wonderful primary songs that can be added to the new hymnal which will be interesting to see.
Hello. Not sure who to address my reply to, as you didn't leave a name. Here are a few observations from me as someone who has read the podcast transcript.
Delete1. Per the podcast transcript, there will be "an open canon online". There's no may be on that point of information. The Gospel Library will have other selections added as the Church approves them, with ward and stake leaders (including music leaders) invited to consider which selections may be added for the benefit of their congregations.
2. I can kind of see how you arrived at your count of 321 hymns, but you might be a few off, depending on how you are counting them. Those not selected for the hymnbook will not "go away". Not only will they still be available online in some form, but Church members are, in fact, being encouraged to keep their current copies of the hymnbook and the Children's songbook. That was specifically stated in the podcast.
3. The selections available online from the current hymnbook and children's songbook which are not selected for retention in the new hymnbook will, as observed in point 2, be available for use in Church and at home. That was also specificially noted in the podcast.
Reviewing either the podcast audio or transcript will verify the points I highlighted above. Whomever you may be, I greatly appreciate you weighing in. To whom may I offer thanks for this comment?
It has been five days since my last posted update on reports from the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites. Let me now play catch-up.We start with the latest Newsroom reports: This evening, the Newsroom confirmed that the dedication of the Syracuse Utah Temple, under the direction of Church President Nelson, took place as scheduled this afternoon/evening at 4:00 PM. I do not believe the dedication will be the only major temple construction update we will get for this week. The Syracuse Utah Temple thus becomes the 206th operating temple of the Church. I have spoken before of my feeling that the Church will likely have a minimum of 300 operating temples by the bicentennial anniversary of the Church's reestablishment (Saturday, April 6, 2030). There are now 4.83 years left to dedicate those remaining 94 temples, which could be done if the Church dedicates 19.46 temples per year. And within the next year or two, a minimum of 20 temples being dedicated annually could be an underestimate. So I still believe the Church could make that happen, whether or not it ever becomes an official Church goal.
ReplyDeleteYesterday, the Newsroom posted a final report on Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson's Asia Area ministry tour, with one other report on Friday, and one, two, three, four, five on Thursday, and one, two on Wednesday. So those are the latest updates from the Newsroom.
The Church News has shared this report on the dedication of the Syracuse Utah Temple dedication this evening. My thanks once again to you all.
DeleteThe Church News has not yet reported on today's dedication of the Syracuse Utah Temple, but hopefully that's coming soon. In the interim, this week's "Come, Follow Me" study will focus on D&C 60-63. See what Church leaders have taught about those sections. The Church News also reported today on the top 9 developments from the last week in the latest edition of "In Case You Missed It: Week in Review", an invitation to a special Young Men's broadcast commemorating 150 years of that organization, and an inspiring conversion story constitute Church News updates from today.
ReplyDeleteSaturday's updated highlights include a new logistics hub for emergencies in the Caribbean, a donation of shoes by Primary children, the text of the message from today's Choir broadcast, an opinnion piece on the new hymns' impact, and an introduction to new GA Seventy Elder Steven C. Barlow.
Friday's Church News updates included an introduction to the Felix Project, a BYU-PW devotional summary, the latest edition of "This Week on Social", the millions impacted by a new Church initiative, study resources for the Sunday Morning Session talk by Sister Tamara W. Runia from the April 2025 General Conference.
DeleteThursday's updates included a report on a Trek to the Temple, an award for a Mongolian Church member, Elder Stevenson addressing Air Force academy graduates, ministering and the bishop's storehouse, and study resources for the April 2025 General Conference Sunday Morning Session talk by Elder Steven D. Shumway.
And on Wednesday, the Church News reported on a sign language conference in Japan, Elder D. Todd Christofferon's ministry in Mexico, a former BYU star athlete finding purpose beyond the game, and an update on the new hymnbook.
DeleteThat brings us around to Church News updates from Tuesday that were reported after the hymnbook update, including 7 humanitarian projects in Brazil, insights from Brother John G. Bytheway (of the Young Men General Advisory Council) on the new For the Strength of Youth guide, and study helps for the April 2025 General Conference Sunday Morning Session talk by Elder David A. Bednar.
For any updates I may have missed in the last 4-5 days or so, please see the links in the sidebar for the Church News, Newsroom, and Church of Jesus Christ Temples sites. My thanks once again to you all.
On this Monday, we are less than an hour away from the next major temple construction announcement. While we wait for that update, here are some Church News reports: the Church and a non-profit organization have partnered in Detroit to buld hope. Bales of clothes and boxes of food are being distributed in Oklahoma and Texas to relieve food scarcity in underserved communities. And the Church News has provided study helps for the April 2025 General Conference talk by Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse.
DeleteMeanwhile, the Newsroom's homepage for temple news has been updated with yesterday's news release about the dedication of the Syracuse Utah Temple by Church President Russell M. Nelson. Since that was reported yesterday, I have no doubts other major temple news will be shared during the next hour or so. Stay tuned here during the 2:00 PM hour for my coverage of whatever might be announced, In the interim, my thanks once again to you all.