- Read Part I, including an explanation of the project and its methods, here
- Read Part II here
- Read Part III here
- Read Part V here
Four Stars
Now we're getting to the really good ones. From
this point on, most criticisms are fairly minor and each song has something
wonderful. The four star hymns, however, aren’t quite perfect. Maybe they don’t
carry quite as powerful an effect as the very best hymns, or perhaps they have some
small weakness. Nevertheless, singing of any of the songs listed here will
improve any meeting.
Rank 122
This hymn contains what is absolutely the most beautiful
poetry of any song in any hymnbook. Tragically, we never sing it due to its strange,
cumbersome, and ill-fitting tune. Do the right thing, Church HQ, and give these
words a melody that will let them glow.
Rank 121
I’ve spent too much of my life dreading the things
I can’t do on the Sabbath. This hymn reminds me that what I can do on the
Sabbath can be a delight.
Rank 120
A happy, energetic anthem about leading from the
front in unity. The third verse is particularly inspiring.
Rank 119
A happy song about fasting that encourages us to
redirect our energies to those less fortunate than us.
Rank 118
The contrast based framework is great, but perhaps
goes on too long. By the final verse, I think everyone’s gotten the point long
ago.
Rank 117
The titular metaphor is a little dated, and the
opening line is unfortunately gendered, but the sentiment is good.
Rank 116
Every beginning accompanist's favorite song, this
hymn is perhaps overplayed, but the messages are still quite moving once you
actually think about what you’re singing.
Rank 115
I never realized how ridiculously slow this song is
meant to be played. 46 beats per minute? Seriously? Fortunately, every pianist
I’ve ever heard has had the sense to double that for this delightfully simple
number.
Rank 114
I could make a case for this being a 5 star song,
but none of the likely sites of the crucifixion are particularly green, and
depending on where your ward or branch meets, it might not be very far at all.
Too bad “There is a dusty beige hill somewhere” doesn’t have the same ring to
it.
Rank 113
Verses 1 and 2 are okay, but verse three is great!
Rank 112
A really good if not especially powerful song.
Rank 111
I like this arrangement ever so slightly more than
its identically named companion. The irony of the third verse in particular is
masterfully done, though I wish the fourth were a little more clear that it is
Christ doing the ruling and reigning.
Rank 110
Though it works best when sung as a musical number
(children sing 1, adults sing 2, everyone sings 3), this song is just too
adorable to leave out.
Rank 109
Most hymns lose some potency when translated out of
their original language, but the Spanish version of “Secret
Prayer” is somehow even better. It’s usually
sung faster and feels more celebratory than contemplative. We should sing it
like that in English too.
Rank 108
Meek aspirations to apotheosis in song? It’s bold,
but I like it!
Rank 107
It’s not the most powerful hymn in the world, but
it is a lovely sentiment.
Rank 106
One of the more soothing songs in the hymnbook.
Rank 105
The single best moment of the movie Legacy is when this song is sung. Or Liza’s perfect eye roll during the sawing competition.
Rank 104
Melodically, it’s one of the most powerful hymns
out there. Unfortunately, the lyrics can be a little awkward or inaccessible in
places.
Rank 103
The harmonies are 5 star worthy, but after you
realize “Noel” is just French for “Christmas”, the lyrics don’t really say that
much: The first Christmas was to shepherds who saw a star (they didn’t, that
was the wise men) when Jesus was born.
Rank 102
I am very much in favor of songs that stress that
God is our friend.
Rank 101
Really grateful I’m not as judgmental as some
people *ahem* Carol *ahem*.
Rank 100
A song that manages to be a call to action without
sounding judgy. By the way, in case you haven't noticed, we've now reached the Billboard (Hymnboard?) Hot 100!
Rank 99
While the melody of the third line is a little
awkward, this song is a wonderful celebration of the magnificent work of Relief
Societies all over the world. It gets bonus points for sticking the landing
with a reference to “heav’nly parents”.
Rank 98
Wisdom, understanding, healing, and life - four
wonderful blessings of scripture study.
Rank 97
A good closing hymn to transfer positive worship
experience into everyday life.
Rank 96
I wish we had more occasions to sing the fifth and
sixth verses.
Rank 95
Another great godhead song. Incidentally, my first
exposure to this hymn was a truly terrible, melodramatic recording of it, which
made me think the song was terrible. *Ron Howard: It was not.
Rank 94
An underrated Christmas carol. It’s not
particularly instructive or worshipful, but it tells a nice story.
Rank 93
So many wonderful descriptions of deity. We need
more hymns that stress our joyful awe of the divine.
Rank 92
Such simple words perfectly accompany such personal
feelings. My only qualm is that the first verse almost sounds like it’s more
about death than about prayer.
Rank 91
One of only a handful of songs with lyrics written
as if spoken by deity. The effect can be powerful, even if the melody of the
final line is a bit iffy.
Rank 90
A triumphal anthem of the restoration. Verse 3 is
perhaps a little too easy to confuse, but the sheer impact of the music more
than makes up for it.
Rank 89
I love the consistent dual rhythms of this song,
and the lesson isn’t half bad either.
Rank 88
A poetically phrased lesson on an essential but
under-taught concept.
Rank 87
This should be required reading for anyone about to
bear their testimony during Sacrament Meeting.
Rank 86
Very simply explained blessings of the virtue of
humility.
Rank 85
A great song; my only (minor) qualm is the odd
interjection to the Holy Spirit, when the rest of the song is directed solely to
Jehovah.
Rank 84
Can we scratch verse 4 and just sing all five of
the other verses?
Rank 83
The song that just keeps getting better and better.
Rank 82
It starts somewhat mundanely (though the choice to
co-opt the words of the Sacrament prayers is an interesting one), but each
verse is just a little more profound than the last.
Rank 81
I’ve heard others say they hope this song gets the
boot due to its military terminology. I respectfully disagree. “Marching as
to war” makes it clear the battle is a simile (thanks Mrs. Ronnow!), and in
this case, that simile calls for us to rally together around a cause, not to be
hostile toward an enemy.
Rank 80
I love this simple melody; it almost seems more
like a lullabye than a hymn.
Rank 79
I think we’ve all felt verse 3 from time to time.
It’s so good to know the song doesn’t end there.
Rank 78
If Nike wrote hymns.
Rank 77
The tune perfectly captures the positive side of
the bittersweetness that hovers over the events of the Savior’s Atonement.
Rank 76
There are so many songs about familial
relationships. I’m glad we have one about the sacred nature of friendships as
well.
Rank 75
This seldom sung number does a wonderful job
sharing the joy of eternal families without the problematic assumptions that
plague similar hymns. It simply focuses on the reunion with those that we love
most, including our Heavenly Parents.
Rank 74
Rank 73
Very somber, but appropriately so.
Rank 72
When I was a kid, I thought the song said “Fear not
though the enemy be right.” “If the enemy’s right,” I thought, “then
what the heck are we doing on this side?” Now, I like this song. It makes clear
that the battle’s metaphorical and is fun, engaging, and instructive.
Rank 71
All the important bits of Lesson 1 of Preach My
Gospel, packed into one convenient song!
Rank 70
One of the best ways to end a meeting.
Rank 69
One of the most enjoyable bass parts you’ll ever
sing at Church. Like similar moving songs, it should be played as fast as the
pianist can handle for maximum effect. Otherwise, the congregation might be too
bored to recognize this song’s magnificent denouement.
Rank 68
One of the few hymns I feel actually sounds better
slower; it emphasizes the reverence of the holy event. Anything too quick makes
it sound like musical sports commentary.
Rank 67
This vigorous missionary hymn actually predates the
restoration, but I never would have guessed it since its cheerful, global
perspective on missionary work feels very much at home among songs inspired by
modern revelation.
Rank 66
The only thing keeping this underrated gem from 5
stars is the ridiculously slow suggested tempo. The lyrics are beautiful, the
harmonies sublime. Play it at 120 beats per minute (or more!) and everyone in
your ward will thank you for it.
Rank 65
A delightful hymn of praise, with moving harmonies,
simple and powerful lyrics, and only two verses. We should sing hymns like this
more frequently.
Rank 64
A great example of making a scriptural story
relevant through song. Just remember to take a healthy pause after the
crescendo in the chorus; in the silence, you can almost feel the waves crashing
to a halt around you.
Rank 63
The final verse is a bold testament to who we are
and to the behavior to which we must aspire. It’s a direct, unapologetic
invitation to become more like Jesus.
Rank 62
The essence of the Plan of Salvation is right here
in its simplest form.
Rank 61
Such evocative imagery in the second verse, and
such inspiring hope to finish the third.
Rank 60
This really puts fasting in perspective, and the
irony of chorus is wonderfully thought provoking.
Rank 59
We should drop verses 2 and 3--not because they’re
bad, but because verse 5 is better and verse 6 is absolutely vital. Without it,
the song’s beautiful narrative arc remains unfinished.
Rank 58
I have friends who hate this song, and, to their
credit, it is LONG, especially when played on the slower side. Nevertheless, in
my opinion, this clear declaration of faith is the best thing Bruce R McConkie
ever did.
Rank 57
A nearly flawless song. Unfortunately, Judea doesn’t
have a lot of plains. It’s one of the most hilly places I’ve ever seen.
Rank 56
The beautifully haunting melody goes perfectly with
the night-time, seaside imagery of the lyrics. My only reservation is that most
landlubbers like me need to have the function of “lower lights”
explained before they can fully appreciate the hymn.
Rank 55
A delightful little song with lyrics from President
Hinckley. It should probably get 5 stars, but it’s just a little too similar to
another, slightly better hymn.
Rank 54
The tune is so much fun, and it emphasizes Zion
growing everywhere, rather than just on the Wasatch Front.
Rank 53
This lesson is, perhaps, taught better in the
hymnal than anywhere else. I wish the tune were a little more interesting. It’s
not bad, by any means, but I feel these lyrics could be even more potent with
the right melody.
Rank 52
There’s a few insider references, but the overall
impact of the song is so positive and powerful.
Rank 51
Did you know the British sing this to the
hymnbook’s current tune of “I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly”? Personally, I like this American version better
(but don’t tell anyone in my ward I said that!).
Rank 50
I love the build on the chorus. I simply love it.
Rank 49
How do we follow Jesus? By helping someone. By
helping anyone. By helping everyone we can.
Rank 48
Did you know the Tabernacle Choir won a
Grammy for their 1959 rendition of this song? While this could be considered a national hymn
(it was written as a Union rallying cry during the US Civil War), the lyrics
aren’t nation-specific (even if the title might be).
Rank 47
Severely underrated. In the new hymnbook, this
hymn’s title will hopefully read “We Gather Together”, which is the song’s actual name and will hopefully help us remember which hymn
this is.
Rank 46
255. Carry On
I'm breaking one of my rules here (hey, I told you this was subjective). The first verse and scattered lines throughout the songs are entirely dependent on a Utah perspective. I adore this song anyway. The melodic build of the chorus is fantastic, and its message of persevering through trying times has deep personal significance to me. My respect for the Hymnandments is just enough to make me refrain from giving this song 5 stars. Barely.
I'm breaking one of my rules here (hey, I told you this was subjective). The first verse and scattered lines throughout the songs are entirely dependent on a Utah perspective. I adore this song anyway. The melodic build of the chorus is fantastic, and its message of persevering through trying times has deep personal significance to me. My respect for the Hymnandments is just enough to make me refrain from giving this song 5 stars. Barely.
Index of Hymns:
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