Yep! Add me to this list of agreement! I have never heard anyone else speak of it either. I wholeheartedly agree. While I am not musically inclined, our music is truly a prayer of the heart and lifts my soul as we sing. And we should endeavor if at possible, I believe, to sing every verse!
Debra McCrackenOctober 10, 2018
I am so with you! Hymns get short shrift too often. We need all the verses, and I long for the day we inject some time to learn the hymns, maybe in our newly emphasized home-centered worship and study? I wish more bishops understood the importance of music, and would throw in a hymn-sing every now and then. As we gain more and more converts, more and more members do not know the hymns, and I view that as tragic.
MaryannOctober 9, 2018
I yearn for us to sing verses 5 & 6 from Redeemer of Israel. These are some of the most beautiful words I have ever sung: "Restore, my dear Savior, the light of they face; thy soul-cheering comfort impart; And let the sweet longing for thy holy place bring hope to my desolate heart." (from V. 5)
Phil McMullinOctober 5, 2018
small correction. Verses are not sung at the chorister discretion if the meeting is tight. It is always the bishop's meeting and he should decide how many verses are to be sung regardless of the length of the meeting. That said I am a believer that all verses should be sung at all times....
Sheila BruceOctober 5, 2018
It has bothered me for years that we generally don't sing the last two verses of "Come Follow Me," especially since the 4th verse ends in the middle of a thought which is actually continued into the 5th and 6th verses. Earlier hymnals actually had a comma after the 4th verse, but in the current version of the hymnal the comma has been replaced by a period. It makes one wonder how often we may mindlessly just sing along. At least The Choir should get it right, but I've even heard the hymn shortened by them.
Maybe when the new hymnal is developed it will have all the verses together or at least the comma reinserted!
Harold StuartOctober 4, 2018
When I was on a mission in Finland, all of the verses of hymns were sung by the members. The same thing happened as we vacationed in Wales and England earlier this year.
Singing only the verses between the staves is a bad habit we've developed in the US. In most cases, it only saves a minute or two and deprives us of choice blessings we could have had had we sung all of the verses.
In my opinion, this is a tradition that needs to die in the church.
Marie BarnhurstOctober 4, 2018
I agree! In God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son, the word sacrament is not mentioned until the 5th verse; verses 4 and 5 are very powerful. And verse 6 of Behold the Great Redeemer Die is so powerful; it is our commitment to "do his will". How Great the Wisdom - we always only sing verses 1-4, even though the direction is given that verses 5 and 6 are especially appropriate for the Sacrament.
Kayleen HunsakerOctober 4, 2018
Thank you for your heartfelt words about our beautiful music!
So many times when I am leading the music in Relief Society, and time is short, I will announce doing the first and last verses-so that others may experience their power!
GrandpaOctober 4, 2018
Amen and Amen! Some of the greatest gems in the hymnal are in those "other verses." Sometimes us text writers save some beautiful and glorious truths for the concluding verse . . . and then it gets relegated to the bottom of the page where no one ever reads it. An example: what's the use of singing 'How Firm a Foundation' unless you sing verse seven? You've simply wasted your time. It's like turning a movie off before the final kiss. 'The Iron Rod' and 'Sweet Is the Peace the Gospel Brings' have wonderful messages in the forgotten verses. 'Though Deepening Trials' has an incredible conclusion in verses 4-7.
Unfortunately, there are some local leaders who have decided that the "other verses" are not to be sung and so direct their music people. I've been told "it's in the Handbook." Makes me want to cry at the truths that go unsung.
VelineOctober 4, 2018
Amen! You just verbalized what I have felt for years! There is such beauty and power in all those verses we don't sing. I think the hymns can be comforting and revelatory in similar ways to the scriptures.
Verses 4 and 5 of How Firm a Foundation, for example, have sustained me through a couple of really difficult life experiences.
I sometimes think we might be more worshipful if we spent more time singing the hymns and pondering those messages, and less time with talks:) Or at least, as you say, choosing the verses that are most apt for the particular meeting we are in.
Luana WellsOctober 4, 2018
Another two with POWERFUL messages, both Sacrament hymns; How Great the Wisdom and the Love, and Behold the Great Redeemer Died. It bothers me that the fourth verse verse concludes "Receive My spirit unto Thee." Much like 'I Heard the Bells" it leaves the story unfinished in a depressing spot. I hope when the new hymnal is printed they will use the same format as the 1985 version of 'I Heard the Bells.'
Peter van de GraaffOctober 4, 2018
It has always puzzled me why all the verses are never sung. The poet didn't write them as optional additions; they are only outside the music because of spacing considerations.
When I was called as organist I made that the prerequisite for acceptance: all the verses! I've never seen another ward do that.
Comments | Return to Story
Chris HuntOctober 26, 2018
Yep! Add me to this list of agreement! I have never heard anyone else speak of it either. I wholeheartedly agree. While I am not musically inclined, our music is truly a prayer of the heart and lifts my soul as we sing. And we should endeavor if at possible, I believe, to sing every verse!
Debra McCrackenOctober 10, 2018
I am so with you! Hymns get short shrift too often. We need all the verses, and I long for the day we inject some time to learn the hymns, maybe in our newly emphasized home-centered worship and study? I wish more bishops understood the importance of music, and would throw in a hymn-sing every now and then. As we gain more and more converts, more and more members do not know the hymns, and I view that as tragic.
MaryannOctober 9, 2018
I yearn for us to sing verses 5 & 6 from Redeemer of Israel. These are some of the most beautiful words I have ever sung: "Restore, my dear Savior, the light of they face; thy soul-cheering comfort impart; And let the sweet longing for thy holy place bring hope to my desolate heart." (from V. 5)
Phil McMullinOctober 5, 2018
small correction. Verses are not sung at the chorister discretion if the meeting is tight. It is always the bishop's meeting and he should decide how many verses are to be sung regardless of the length of the meeting. That said I am a believer that all verses should be sung at all times....
Sheila BruceOctober 5, 2018
It has bothered me for years that we generally don't sing the last two verses of "Come Follow Me," especially since the 4th verse ends in the middle of a thought which is actually continued into the 5th and 6th verses. Earlier hymnals actually had a comma after the 4th verse, but in the current version of the hymnal the comma has been replaced by a period. It makes one wonder how often we may mindlessly just sing along. At least The Choir should get it right, but I've even heard the hymn shortened by them. Maybe when the new hymnal is developed it will have all the verses together or at least the comma reinserted!
Harold StuartOctober 4, 2018
When I was on a mission in Finland, all of the verses of hymns were sung by the members. The same thing happened as we vacationed in Wales and England earlier this year. Singing only the verses between the staves is a bad habit we've developed in the US. In most cases, it only saves a minute or two and deprives us of choice blessings we could have had had we sung all of the verses. In my opinion, this is a tradition that needs to die in the church.
Marie BarnhurstOctober 4, 2018
I agree! In God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son, the word sacrament is not mentioned until the 5th verse; verses 4 and 5 are very powerful. And verse 6 of Behold the Great Redeemer Die is so powerful; it is our commitment to "do his will". How Great the Wisdom - we always only sing verses 1-4, even though the direction is given that verses 5 and 6 are especially appropriate for the Sacrament.
Kayleen HunsakerOctober 4, 2018
Thank you for your heartfelt words about our beautiful music! So many times when I am leading the music in Relief Society, and time is short, I will announce doing the first and last verses-so that others may experience their power!
GrandpaOctober 4, 2018
Amen and Amen! Some of the greatest gems in the hymnal are in those "other verses." Sometimes us text writers save some beautiful and glorious truths for the concluding verse . . . and then it gets relegated to the bottom of the page where no one ever reads it. An example: what's the use of singing 'How Firm a Foundation' unless you sing verse seven? You've simply wasted your time. It's like turning a movie off before the final kiss. 'The Iron Rod' and 'Sweet Is the Peace the Gospel Brings' have wonderful messages in the forgotten verses. 'Though Deepening Trials' has an incredible conclusion in verses 4-7. Unfortunately, there are some local leaders who have decided that the "other verses" are not to be sung and so direct their music people. I've been told "it's in the Handbook." Makes me want to cry at the truths that go unsung.
VelineOctober 4, 2018
Amen! You just verbalized what I have felt for years! There is such beauty and power in all those verses we don't sing. I think the hymns can be comforting and revelatory in similar ways to the scriptures. Verses 4 and 5 of How Firm a Foundation, for example, have sustained me through a couple of really difficult life experiences. I sometimes think we might be more worshipful if we spent more time singing the hymns and pondering those messages, and less time with talks:) Or at least, as you say, choosing the verses that are most apt for the particular meeting we are in.
Luana WellsOctober 4, 2018
Another two with POWERFUL messages, both Sacrament hymns; How Great the Wisdom and the Love, and Behold the Great Redeemer Died. It bothers me that the fourth verse verse concludes "Receive My spirit unto Thee." Much like 'I Heard the Bells" it leaves the story unfinished in a depressing spot. I hope when the new hymnal is printed they will use the same format as the 1985 version of 'I Heard the Bells.'
Peter van de GraaffOctober 4, 2018
It has always puzzled me why all the verses are never sung. The poet didn't write them as optional additions; they are only outside the music because of spacing considerations. When I was called as organist I made that the prerequisite for acceptance: all the verses! I've never seen another ward do that.
ADD A COMMENT