I just got a(nother) new calling at church. I am now the music specialist for the Young Men/Young Women. I go to Mutual activities twice a month and spend 10 minutes discussing anything musical with boys and girls ages 12-18. I have been trying to figure out what to talk to them about, and I had an idea to have them discuss their favorite hymns and why they are their favorite. I want to do an introduction for them this coming Wednesday, talking about my favorite hymn, and I was thinking I could tell them about a few of your favorite hymns too. So, will you help me?
What is your favorite hymn, and why?
Don't worry if you are not LDS; I just want to know your favorite hymn (regardless of religion). Thank you! (Oh, and if you feel kind of weird putting it in a comment, you can e-mail me instead at eringirl13 at gmail dot com.)
Friday, February 27
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I have several, but I think that the two that stand out to me are: I stand all amazed and How firm a foundation. I stand all amazed because I FEEL it in my heart how much Jesus loves me every time I sing that song. How firm a foundation because of an experience I had when we lived with mom and dad and Rusty was without a job. If you want to know it, let me know. I may have already told you. Probably.
I had that calling for awhile, and it was one I struggled the most with. I was okay finding special musical numbers for them to sing, but the music moments got me. I was never sure what to talk about. This is a great idea though. Brooke mentioned my two faves. I also love Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Love it! Although it's not in the humn book anymore.
Just wear your pig glasses and you'll be fine. :)
My favorite hymn for many years has been "Be Still, My Soul." It always calms any fears or discouragement I feel. A more recent favorite is "Lord I would follow thee," because it's been teaching me that the best way to follow the Savior is to get outside of myself and reach out to others, love people the way He does.
Ack! 12 days 'til Paris?!
p.s. "Come thou Fount" IS awesome. I can't hear it without feeling the Spirit.
I hope this doesn't post twice but here we go again:
How Great Thou Art
Picture standing atop the cliffs at Tulum Mexico among the beautiful Mayan (Lamanite decendents) ruins. The ocean below you, the breeze blowing slighly and a tiny little mexican man singing thus hymn softly.
Nothing.better.
I love Praise to the Man. The Spirit testifies to me of Joseph Smith and his mission each and every time I sing it. I love the line "Millions shall know Brother Joseph again!" I can't wait to meet him.
And "Come Thou Fount". The music and words are beautiful.
And "I Stand All Amazed" We sang this at Girls Camp when I was a youth leader. We had received permission to have camp over a Sunday and this is the hymn we sang for the Sacrament hymn. When we sang the the second verse
"I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify."
The Spirit testified to me that He had come to rescue my soul no matter what.
I've served in YW for about 7 years total of my adult life and never heard of that calling. Something new, maybe?
One of my favorites is "Be Still My Soul." Comforting lyrics aside, I love the music because it's written by Jean Sibelius and originally called The Finlandia. The real words are a Finnish patriotic hymn. Singing it brings me home, in a sense. (If you can find a recording of the actual Finlandia, you'll see how watered down the hymn is. SO pretty.)
Holy Cow... coming from a teeny tiny branch where I serve as young women's president AND seminary teacher because we are so small... I can't imagine having something like a music specialist! Bet you'll do a great job though... my favorite hymn is Come Thou Fount of Every blessing... love, love, love the words and the wonderful melody...
I had no idea this was a calling! That's what happens when you're in a ward/branch with no YM/YW program for 4 years.
I really love If You Could Hie to Kolob. Not the most well known song.
I am totally non-original (and non musical) but I love "Because I Have Been Given Much" and "Sweet Hour of Prayer".
I think my problem is that I like a lot of hymns, but just don't know what their names are. Some have already been mentioned, but I'll just tell you why I like a lot of the hymns I do.
Being a singer, I enjoy songs which have good harmonies to them. You can just feel each part emanate through you as you sing them. "Be Sill My Soul" has an excellent base line which blends very well with all the other parts and is a lot of fun to sing.
My first favoirite hymn is Come Thou Fount. Funny you asked this, because our ward does the same thing, and all week I was thinking about that song and then the chorister called and asked me to do mine, so that's the one I did last Sunday. I LOVE it because it is so humble--especially the words "Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." I also love the part that says Jesus interposed His precious blood. Such awesome words. Love it. My second favorite is If You Could Hie To Kolob. Love it--so beautiful! I think it is a great idea to get them thinking about good music! Have them pick their own--great idea:).
I have SO many favorites. But, "Each Life That Touches Ours For Good" is probly tops. I just think the words are so inspriring and it reminds me of people in my life who have been good examples.
Also, I like the upbeat, rousing hymns that just make you excited to be LDS (how cheesey does that sound?). Like Hark All Ye Nations, True to the Faith, and for YMYW especially, As Zion's Youth.
One more; Lead Kindly Light is a good one for youth; the line "...I do not ask to see, one step enough for me" is a good reminder that we just need to be prepared for what comes, and not expect to know everything that will happen.
(Sorry for the novel.)
I love "I Stand All Amazed". I LOVE that hymn. I just get the chills every time I sing it. That's what it's all about for me...
P.S. Jarrett and Kynzie are drawing on paper right now and Jarrett just brought his paper up to me and said "MOMMY! I just drawed a STINKY shoe! That's yucky huh?!" just thought you'd enjoy that... ha ha ha ha. I did.
I love "If You Could Hie to Kolob" and "Be Still My Soul"... Also, "Come Thou Font...."
Just make it fun a light without being overly so. They'll love it. Candy works too:)
If you could Hie to Kolob is my all-time fave. Why don't we sing that more?? I love it because it's about all the really amazing things that we know about and get to look forward to. Also it's music rocks, I wish I could play it.
wow. i had no idea this was a calling either.
i'm going to go a little off topic and tell you about my seminary teacher. he used to ask one of us to bring in a non-hymn/"modern"/something you would find on your ipod like song to seminary that we thought had a great message. we would then listen to the song and compare it's "message" to doctorine or hymns. it was a great way to engage the students and it also forced us to really listen to the lyrics and messages of the music we listen to every day.
wow every person said great and beautiful hymns i love,
sweet hour of prayer and
nearer my god to thee
ere you left your room this morning
Just consider before you read my suggestions that I tend to go completely overboard in my callings and take it all with a grain of salt, but since I'm not a musical person, I'm offering suggestions for teaching/discussing music from a different point of view. So, a couple of ideas...you can actually get ASL versions of LDS hymns on line, do that might be a fun new way to look at music. Also, what about emailing well-known LDS people and asking them their favorite hymn and why it's their favorite? Even if you got just a couple of responses, it might be a totally fun thing to share, and with celebrities, at least, you should be able to find some email addresses through websites and stuff. I'm thinking David Archuleta or Ricky Schroeder or whatever. You know what I'm saying? Or Steve Young or something. And why start exploring music by LDS artists who that is gospel driven but aren't necessarily hymns?
Just some thoughts. Good luck! Oh, and my favorite, ESPECIALLY as a teenager, was always "Where Can I Turn for Peace?"
I like a lot, but one that I've really like since I was a teenager is "Put your shoulder to the Wheel." I liked it because I sang it with my "family" on the youth trek the entire time we pushed our handcart.
I took an Institute class entitled LDS Hymns and Doctrine, which I adored. We did talk about doctrine, but we also learned how to (properly)conduct, how to use meters to sing one hymn to the tune of a different hymn, how to select hymns based on the activity or message... It was one of my favorite Institute classes ever!
And I have so many favorites, I have a hard time picking. Let's go with "How Firm A Foundation."
My favorite hymns are Christmas songs, so I won't say them. But I will say that I'm so hungry, I just clicked over to "This is why you're fat" and thought some of the stuff looked delicious. The last time I looked at it, I almost threw up, but this time, I'm STARVING. It makes all the difference.
Melanie, I think It's RICK Schroeder now.
I have categories of songs I like--SOngs of the restoration (I call them) like "Now Let us Rejoice" "Redeemer of Israel" "The Spirit of GOd" "High on the mountain Top" These tend to be very inspirational in lyric and in tune and tempo. They make me want to go out and be valiant!
and Praise Songs, "All Creatures of our GOd and King" "Praise to the Lord the Almighty" "A Mighty Fortress is our GOd" which I find beautiful and soothing and love the feeling of speaking so lovingly about my Heavenly Father
This said, there are so many hymns I love. I know a lot of the hymnal by heart, and have personal attachments to many of them. "I need the every hour" "Adam-Ondi-Ahman" "Sweet Hour of Prayer" "For all the Saints" "How gentle god's COmmand""Abide with Me!" "I Know that my Redeemer Lives" The list could just go on.
My very favorite hymn is not in the hymn book anymore, but it's "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." In the hymn book I love "O My Father." It has a gorgeous melody and it talks about our Heavenly Mother. I also love "I Stand All Amazed." The chorus just gets me every time.
What a fun calling you have! I love 'All Creatures of Our God and King' and 'Be Still My Soul.' I love the first because it reminds me to always be grateful and I love the second because it provides me with comfort.
72 - Love the power of this piece. It's amazing sung by a choir, and it really teaches the meaning of the word "rejoice", I think.
97 - I just love the musicality of this piece. It brings a warm glow.
193 - This is the most profoundly spiritual hymn for me. It always brings tears when I pause to listen to the lyrics.
I definitely think it helps if you get them to pay attention to the lyrics. That at least is what draws me to the hymns. I love so many, but I usually come back to "I Stand All Amazed", "I Know That My Redeemer Lives", and lately, "I Need Thee Every Hour". I think that is the name of the last one.
One of the things our R.S. music lady has done is make us try singing it with the book closed to show that we really do know the words and with it closed we could also focus on the music. Good luck!
My favorite is Jesus Lover of My Soul. We don't sing that enough. Hmmm...I need to schedule it for Sacrament meeting soon.
I have a few ideas for you, perhaps I'll get my thoughts down in an email soon.
I have so many. But, I love "I need thee every hour."
I was inactive for many years and that song got me through some tough times. Because I think no matter where we are in our lives, we do need Him. Every hour.
I've never even heard of that calling. Weird. Anyway, I like "Lead, Kindly Light". It reminds me to quit relying so much on myself and to trust in God.
It is well with my soul
and
Be thou my vision
cry anytime both are sung (by me or others) I use the word "sung" loosely when referring to me because I SO cannot sing.
You can't go wrong with primary songs... work great for the youth.
Also, one of my favorites and one that is SUPER great for the youth to sing is: Called to Serve.
Of course there is Onward Christian Soldiers...
Great stuff!
I have never even heard of a music specialist for YM/YW. Thats funny. We dont even have any advisors yet in YW's. All you have to do is be yourself and the kids will love you. And yes, they will act bored, but at least your not teaching them a lesson for an hour and having them stare at you in boredom!
Sanctuary.
I love the words and the tune to it. It's a simple song, but it's so beautiful.
Up at church camp we sing a lot of songs, but Sanctuary is what we sing before going to bed.
I can never choose just one of anything (except a fave color--pink) so I am choosing Master the Tempest is Raging and If I Could Hie to Kolob. My fave primary songs are "My Favorite Things" (except I don't think that's the real name) and Beautiful Savior which is probably my fave of these four listed . . which, I guess, makes it number one. Hmmmm. Hey, today I was out shopping and saw a sign with an Eiffel tower on it that said, "I'm off to Paris" or some such thing. I guess the idea is that you hang it on your door when you're gone. I think you ought to have one of those. Oh, wait, you get to go to Paris, so, I think that's quite enough for you for a while. sniff!
Wow, I've never heard of that calling, it sounds fun! This area here may not be big enough to do that, I don't know. It's hard to find people to say yes to callings. (and I'm in Utah!) Seriously, if you ever need ideas let me know, this is my cup o' tea (herbal, of course;) Anyway, my favorite is Where Can I turn for Peace? Just because the words of that song and the music help me feel better no matter what I'm going through. Good luck! So fun!! I'm YW 2nd Counselor and I'm always forcing music on them!
I like the Primary song tangent. I love "I love to see the temple." It's the song I sing/hum whever I want to control my thought. "My Heavenly Father Love Me" is also a Primary fave.
Others I love and why:
"Lord I would follow Thee," -- basically teaches us how to be like Christ.
"Our Savior's Love," -- sang often with choirs, love the prayer of the last verse.
"Where can I turn for peace?" -- talk about offering solace.
Be thou humble, more holiness give me, I believe in Christ, I know that my Redeemer lives.....talk about testimony builders.
I have a lot of songs pgs.80-140 that I play for prelude each week.
Do they have hymns on Rock Band? That would be fun.
it's soooo hard to pick a favorite!! I like i know that my redeemer lives, nearer my god to thee, a poor waifering man of grief . . . there are just tooo many good ones.. but there are also aLOT of really good ones in the childrens song book too!!!
My favorite hymn is As Zions Youth in Latter Days. I serve in the YW in my ward, and just wanted to make sure you know about the Jenny Phillips music. She puts out new music each year that goes with the yearly theme, and our girls love it!!! There is a book and cd's you can buy, and there's also free sheet music online (jennyphillips.com) with just the melody of the songs. For New Beginnings each year we give the girls the cd, I think it's only $3.00. Anyway, that's just another idea for you!
Mary
What a great question! My favorite hymns are "It is Well With My Soul," "The Old Rugged Cross," "Be Thou My Vision," "Draw Me Nearer" and "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus."
If I were in this calling, I wouldn't be talking for that 10 minutes I would be having them sing. I would maybe pass around a paper on the first day, and have them all write down their favorite hymn, then you have a list, you can look up the history of the hymn, and tell them, and then have them sing it.
My favorites:
Come Thou Fount
Hie to Kolob
How Firm a Foundation (which I've heard is the only hymn where the Father is speaking to us directly)
I am a Child of God
I Know that My Redeemer Lives
How Great Thou Art
To name a few. Sorry, I jst can'tnarrow it down.
where can I turn for peace?
has just been an answer to many prayers and dark times in my life.
I love How Firm a Foundation!
it is my favorite Hymn because when I was 13 I found a scripture that I really loved
Isaiah 41:10
one day during Seminary my teacher was telling us that hymns have scriptures that go along with them and mentioned that How Firm A Foundation had Isaiah 41:10 go along with it.
I think there is a book that gives the background of hymns. I bet that would be really useful.
Hi missy - met you at the Meet and Greet. My favorite hymn is "I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR" ---just because I do.
You are taller than I thought too!! What a sweetie to help out Kate.
I just have to say that it's the coolest thing for you to work that age group. They scare the heck out of me.
I kept seeing your face everywhere so I stopped by to say hi...hi.
As for Hymns...all my favorites have been favorited (yeah I know it's not a word) above so I will just say good luck and I loved the piggy nose. I am sure every lick was worth it!
I really admire all you do within your church!! They must appreciate you so much!!
I love hymns! They are my favorite to sing.
I wonder if the LDS church has similar hymns?
Well my favorites are:
O love that will not let me go
For the beauty of the earth
Be thou my vision
Plus a million more!!!
love love love!
I have too many favorite hymns, but I love "Dearest Children, God is Near You." I especially love it when children are singing it.
OK, so you must live in Utah because that is one of the few places they could call someone to a calling like that. I'm the Stake Music chair, praying that enough youth will come join the stake youth choir. Looking for music so I happened on your site. Have fun with it!
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