This isn't your Mother's hymnal

[TripletDaddy]

Recent discussions got me thinking.

Non-hymn Sacrament staples I remember from my earlier church-going days in the 80s....

The one that started, "there was this place called the pre-existence....where we lived with our friends so dear...." or something like that. I think it was called "I'll find you, my friend." I think that was required at every farewell.

HIS HANDS! HIS MIGHTY HANDS!....AND THEN THEY PIERCED THEM!....etc....you get the idea. All caps because my recollection is that the singing was almost belting throughout the entire tune.

"Joseph, a modern prophet of the lord....Joseph, the man who taught the world his word....Joseph....shall I grow to know....Joseph!.....TO KNOW JOSEPH!"

And the ubiquitous Afterglow classic....I Heard Him Come. I remember being at one farewell where the singers went way beyond the call of duty. They actually had someone with a microphone ducking below the level of the pulpit, so you couldnt see him, but you could hear his voice.

It was like being a rock concert and you are waiting for the Encore. your favorite band belts out the first few notes of that hit you have been waiting for all night and everyone goes nuts.

So it is all quiet in the Chapel and the two singers are standing there waiting. Nobody knows what is going on. Then all of a sudden, we hear this voice over the speakers........"And then shall ye look for me.....and behold, I shall come......" It was all I could do to not bust out a cigarette lighter and hoist it up right then and there. After he finished his D&C intro, the two singers launched into the set closer...

"I heard him come, I saw his very face..... "

Looking back, I wish I had rushed the pulpit with friends and crammed all the way to the front, while members of the Stake High Council stood in yellow windbreakers keeping us from jumping up on the stand.

After the show, we could have easily met the band, as they went back into the audience at sat down with family.

[Donuthole]

"And the Roman soldiers laughed . . . ."

[CardiacCoug]

Although I never liked that Janice Kapp Perry and Lex de Azevedo stuff, I did accompany people singing "His Hands" several times while in high school.

I'm kind of ashamed to admit it. I knew it was wrong at the time, but I have repented of this terrible sin along with numerous other lesser youthful indiscretions.

[beelzebabette]

In my attempt to one-up your story, I will tell you that we had someone come and draw a picture of Jesus in charcoal while I Heard Him Come was being sung at a farewell in my ward growing up.

I don't recall if it was before or after this week that my parents decided our family reverence level was better suited to the overflow of the chapel rather than front and center.

[il Padrino Ute]

I hate "In the Hollow of Thy Hand".

That is all.

[BlueHair]

Every farewell I went to always had "In The Hollow of Thy Hand" performed. I prefer the old school farewells where the family gave talks, the departing missionary always had a ton of hot chicks from high school in attendance, and there were several musical numbers. I despised going to church as a kid (I still do), but enjoyed farewells and homecomings.

[il Padrino Ute]

Every farewell I went to always had "In The Hollow of Thy Hand" performed. I prefer the old school farewells where the family gave talks, the departing missionary always had a ton of hot chicks from high school in attendance, and there were several musical numbers. I despised going to church as a kid (I still do), but enjoyed farewells and homecomings.

Agreed.

The best part of farewells and homecoming was the feeding frenzy after church. It's a shame those days are gone.

[BlueHair]

Agreed.

The best part of farewells and homecoming was the feeding frenzy after church. It's a shame those days are gone.

Yes. The after church parties became a competition. At first, they were just something like sandwiches on rolls. They evolved into full blown meals with appetizers and dessert. I love competitive Mormon moms. I was waiting for the day I would get to see the catered party complete with waiters in tuxedos and ice sculptures. Maybe a sculpture with of the missionary with 1 Nephi 3:7 engraved.

[il Padrino Ute]

Yes. The after church parties became a competition. At first, they were just something like sandwiches on rolls. They evolved into full blown meals with appetizers and dessert. I love competitive Mormon moms. I was waiting for the day I would get to see the catered party complete with waiters in tuxedos and ice sculptures. Maybe a sculpture with of the missionary with 1 Nephi 3:7 engraved.

My farewell get together was awesome. A neighbor of ours owned a catering business and they provided all the food. Many of the old-timers in my parent's ward still believe that to be the best ward dinner ever.

[wuapinmon]

My farewell get together was awesome. A neighbor of ours owned a catering business and they provided all the food. Many of the old-timers in my parent's ward still believe that to be the best ward dinner ever.

"In this very room" and "Armies of Helaman"

I hate "In this very room" almost as much as I hate "O How Lovely Was the Morning" and "Silent Night."

[il Padrino Ute]

"In this very room" and "Armies of Helaman"

I hate "In this very room" almost as much as I hate "O How Lovely Was the Morning" and "Silent Night."

Ugh. Agreed.

[cougjunkie]

I actually like the songs mentioned here a lot better than most of the ones in the hymn book.

I will say that the most creativity you ever hear at church when people try to spice up a song, is when they start singing different parts of the song at the same time and then hit the chorus at the exact same time. That seems to be a staple for all duets in the LDS church.

[BlueHair]

"In this very room" and "Armies of Helaman"

I hate "In this very room" almost as much as I hate "O How Lovely Was the Morning" and "Silent Night."

Love At Home is the worst hymn, hands down. Others I despise are: There is a Green Hill Far Away (too monotone), I Believe In Christ (My feet he plants on gospel sod. Really? That's the best BRM could come up with?), God Be With You Till We Meet Again (Horrible Chorus), and Because I Have Been Given Much (No reason, except it was a victim of overplay in our ward).

[TripletDaddy]

Love At Home is the worst hymn, hands down. Others I despise are: There is a Green Hill Far Away (too monotone), I Believe In Christ (My feet he plants on gospel sod. Really? That's the best BRM could come up with?), God Be With You Till We Meet Again (Horrible Chorus), and Because I Have Been Given Much (No reason, except it was a victim of overplay in our ward).

There is only one hymn that truly annoys. I actually love our hymns and love to sing them. Some are better than others, of course. But there is only one that always leaves me puzzled.

The lyrics are so annoying that I get distracted each time we sing it. The cadence is very awkward and what seems to be a genuine attempt at serious prose comes off as sloppy jumbled series of rhyming couplets.

Ruse blast? di-a-dem? bulwarks? YIKES!

Oh Say What Is Truth.

Oh say, what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem
That the riches of worlds can produce,
And priceless the value of truth will be when
The proud monarch's costliest diadem
Is counted but dross and refuse.


Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize
To which mortals or Gods can aspire;
Go search in the depths where it glittering lies
Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies.
'Tis an aim for the noblest desire.


The sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp
When with winds of stern justice he copes,
But the pillar of truth will endure to the last,
And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast,
And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes.


Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first,
For the limits of time it steps o'er.
Though the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst,
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,
Eternal, unchanged, evermore.

[BlueHair]

I know this is off topic, but I had a companion that would sing and play the same song on his guitar several times a day. I thought it was okay the first 100 times, but I wanted to crush his guitar after about a month of it. I haven't heard it fifteen years. I think it is called My Song of Testimony. Anyone heard it? The line I remember most is, "I daily drink of living water, for he has promised those who drink shall thirst no more". I have told my wife about it, but she thinks I overreacted. I want to buy it and play it over and over to drive her nuts.