Part III of a five part series analyzing and ranking each hymn in the Latter-day Saint hymnal.
173, 177, 323. While of These Emblems We
Partake (SAUL); ’Tis Sweet to Sing the
Matchless Love (HANCOCK); Rise Up, O Men of God (Men’s
Choir)
via Gfycat
- Read Part I, including an explanation of the project and its methods, here
- Read Part II here
- Read Part IV here
- Read Part V here
Three
Stars
This, the
largest category, is composed of average hymns. Most of them are are mixed bags,
with inspiring messages being somewhat muddled by weak points. There are plenty
of better songs out there, but we could do quite a bit worse than these 90
hymns.
Rank 210 (tie)
Each of
these hymns appear alongside hymns with identical lyrics but different tunes.
These versions are perfectly fine, but not quite as good as those other
arrangements. Rather than keep these alternatives, let’s add some more variety.
While the
rhyme scheme is truly atrocious, this song has just enough redeeming qualities
to scrape by with a three star rating.
It may be
one of the most iconic songs in the hymnbook and a general conference regular,
but I’m still giving it only 3 stars. Most of the song is delightful, but I
really have a problem with the nonchalant smiting we wish on our enemies at the
end of verse 2.
If I’m
getting this right, the song’s message is that we shouldn’t worry about our
trials now, because once the Second Coming happens they’ll be over? Technically
true, but not super helpful.
My wife
once sat with a first time visitor while this song was sung. Aware the visitor
was confused, she hastily explained Lehi’s dream under her breath. “Oh,” the
guest said. “I thought it was a rod to beat someone with.” So there’s that. If
the song provided some (any) context, it would rank higher.
Around
what board?
Are we
harvesting? Or are we being harvested? Does that duality make the allegory
multifaceted? Or is it just a mixed metaphor?
I feel
like the poet is trying so hard to say something moving, but falls just a
little short.
As a kid,
I really liked this hymn. Now I worry it spends a little too much time
describing the violent things we plan to do with our foes, without properly
addressing who or what those foes are.
Recipe: 3
parts purpose, 2 parts love, and 1 part crippling anxiety.
via Gfycat
What
exactly is the “sunshine” reference here (and in other hymns)? Is it happiness?
Gospel knowledge? Charity? I don’t think any of those has ever made my cares
“all depart”, but instead given me strength to overcome those cares.
I adore
this melody, but I’m not really sure what the thematic nation is supposed to
be. (USA? Inappropriate. Utah? Inappropriate and not a nation. Zion?
Confusing.) Can we just change it to “nations” so it celebrates pioneers all
over the world?
One of my
favorite songs to play on the piano, this song dwells perhaps a bit too much on
despair, defeat, failure, and pain, and not quite enough on grace, victory,
triumph, and healing.
While the
lyrics are generally optimistic, this song feels a little too bouncy for one
whose title includes the word “suffering”.
While I
love the tune, I feel the lyrics misconstrue my understanding of Zion. Zion is
not somewhere we're hoping to go; Zion is something we're trying to become.
Not a bad
mantra, but not especially helpful for someone who currently feels doubtful or
fearful. Opening on those lines as if they’re the premise (rather than the
result) can make those in trying moments feel like they’ve already failed.
The
fourth verse is quite lovely, but the song’s slow enough without pausing after
EVERY SINGLE PHRASE.
If you
play this song at double the recommended speed, it’s a delightful, moving celebration
of the restoration. At its current pace, it’d make decent elevator music.
+: Very
meta.
-: Too slow.
-: Too slow.
Yes, the
quintessential Latter-day Saint anthem only gets three stars. While most of the
song is lovely and uplifting, I cannot stress enough how many children do not
have earthly “parents kind and dear.” Let’s stop pretending all is well
in Zion and start taking care of our most vulnerable members.
A nice but
unspectacular reminder.
This song
would rate better if it didn’t come to a crashing halt at the oddly placed
half-notes in the second and third lines.
The
seldom-sung fourth verse is unnecessarily gendered, and the melody’s just a
little too stop and go. The overall message is nice, though.
I like
the words (especially verse 2) quite a bit more than the tune.
This song
makes very clear that the battle is against sin, rather than people, but it
also ends on the word “furled.” That’s worse than “moist”.
A little
formulaic for my taste.
The
opening and closing lines are nice, I guess.
A bit
banal, but not too bad.
The
lyrics are actually quite nice, but the rhythm is too repetitive to hold my
attention for very long.
The words
are good, but the melody’s a little haphazard.
Okay, but
seriously, do you think this is Elder Uchtdorf’s favorite song?
Pleasant,
but, once again, too slow.
A
passable hymn, but the melody is a little too frilly for the reverent lyrics.
Perhaps a
little borderline-hero-worship-y, but I think this one slides in just on the
right side of safe.
It’s
sweet and pleasant, but doesn’t quite give me the spiritual oomph of some of my
higher-rated songs.
188. Thy Will, O Lord, Be
Done
Rank 172
The hymn
version of Michael Buble; I’m not disappointed if his music comes on the radio,
but it’s not going to make me get up and dance.
Verses 4
and 6 are so much better than the others. Incidentally, this hymn falls in the
exact middle of my rankings. If you want to know if a hymn is above average,
all you need to ask is if it’s better or worse than Hymn 147.
I’m
conflicted. The melody is unnecessarily wild, but the lesson is so important
and so well phrased.
The
message would be so much clearer if the tempo were just a little faster.
Thy
lyrics are nice; the melody’s way too slow, boring, and repetitive..
I like
everything but the repetitive “Father on this the Sabbath Day” melody;
it turns an otherwise celebratory song into a robotic dirge.
I really
like this melody; I’m just not sure these are the right words to sing with it,
particularly during the first two verses.
While
it’s a little repetitive, this hopeful song can brighten a Sunday meeting
without sounding patronizing. Like many songs, however, it’s best played just a
little faster than the hymnbook suggests.
The
little flourish on the penultimate line feels a little out of place in some
verses, but otherwise I enjoy this song.
The
short, sweet song that perfectly encapsulates an exhausted prayer at the end of
a long day. However, the most common place to sing from the hymnal is in
Sacrament Meeting, and those meetings don’t take place at night.
A great
hymn when you need to end a meeting in a hurry; my only real criticism is the
average melody and the thematic disconnect between the verses.
The song’s
overall message is great and well needed. “Warblings” seems the wrong word to
me, however, and the minor shift halfway through is unsettling Altogether, a
good but flawed hymn.
Not only
does this song contain a nice message about prayer, it is the only song in the
hymnbook with 8 verses! Sacrament meeting running short? This makes a great
impromptu intermediate hymn.
The
“Never!” chorus certainly has its own unique style.
What
makes this hymn a little better than songs like “Love at Home” is its
emphasis on how to improve our homes (something everyone can do to some
extent), rather than taking for granted that our homes are already filled with
loving people.
This one
gets a pass on being so slow since it’s only 25 words long.
It’s
fine, and I mean that in the best way imaginable.
It’s not
the most accessible song, but nothing in there is controversial, and the tune
is actually quite nice.
If you
understand the allusions to the the “Good Shepherd”, the “other”
sheep, the “ninety and nine”, and the “infinite cost”, this hymn
can be quite profound. For a newcomer not quite up to speed on scriptural
metaphors, it can seem like an odd song about a herdsman.
I wish
the fourth verse were a little more inclusive, but you get some nice themes
emerging here that are unfortunately rare in the hymnbook: the beauty of grace,
redemption on the cross, and the cleansing power of the spirit.
I don’t
love the “nor disagree” line (President Oaks and Elder Uchtdorf have
both taught that having differing opinions is fine, and even good), but
everything else about this song is nice.
It’s a
shame the melody is so trite, because the lyrics are actually quite profound.
A little
formulaic, but I’m nitpicking here. The song is good.
I mean,
we don’t have Sacrament Meeting at night anymore, but there’s nothing else
wrong with this song. Maybe it can be used at evening firesides?
A fun,
uplifting hymn, but it could be more gender-inclusive (or arranged for men’s
voices).
Eliza R
Snow’s lovely words are somewhat undercut by an anticlimactic melodic
conclusion.
Short,
sweet, and simple.
Beautiful
lyrics; subpar tune.
You could
do a lot worse than this song.
Nice and
simple.
A giddy
Sabbath worship song.
I
generally like hymns that express simple thematic prayers, and this is no
exception.
After a
mediocre first verse, this song improves quickly.
These
lyrics deserve a better tune.
The song
handles the melancholic events of the Savior’s death with perfect reverence. I
just wish the rhymes were a little less forced in modern English.
“Load”/“blood” and “tomb”/“home” are bad enough, but I cannot imagine a way to
make “heard” rhyme with “degree”.
Perhaps a
little to fixed to its consistent rhythm, but the plea is earnest and powerful.
Trippy
(almost like if the Gershwins wrote hymns? I know nothing about the Gershwins,
but that feels right. Music historians and theorists please weigh in).
Verse four
is fantastic and verse two is quite good as well, but parts of this song come
across as a little hokey, especially when half the congregation misses the
change in time signature.
The first
verse isn’t great, but once you get going, this song is actually quite lovely.
A rousing
(if a little aggressive) number.
It’s not
especially age-inclusive, but the message is wholesome.
I’ve got
a soft spot in my heart for the words of John Taylor.
A solid
melody and a simple, powerful message.
A nice,
simple plea.
While it
starts to get monotonous if you sing all seven verses, three or four aren’t bad
at all.
A much
better introduction to temple work than many other hymns. The idea is carefully
explained in a hopeful, uplifting way.
A great
little worship song.
It’s nice
to have songs that emphasize each of the members of the Godhead.
The
phrase “when we have proven worthy of thy sacrifice divine” is a little
doctrinally questionable, but I do like the reverential effect of this hymn.
To read more of Riley's work, click here or follow him on Twitter.
Index of Hymns:
To read more of Riley's work, click here or follow him on Twitter.
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