My Little Green Book

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1985 Hymn book published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  This was something I was unaware of until I came across an article in the September 2015 edition of The Ensign.  It was a lovely tribute to the hymn book and so I decided to write my own little accolade to the signature green book found in our chapels across the world.  Having grown up singing many of the songs found within its pages, the LDS hymn book is one that I treasure.  Music is a powerful thing that can evoke and conjure up many feelings, emotions and memories.  Some of my fondest and most spiritual experiences have come through the influence of music.  *The Ensign article can be found here: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/09/the-hymnbook-turns-30?lang=eng


When I was a young girl my parents bought me my own pocket-sized edition of the hymn book.   I guess I must have been quite young as I can see it is my mother's handwriting when I read 'Hollie Hunter' inside the cover.  My little green book is well used with the binding out of place a little and some delightful yellow scribbles over hymn 340 'The Star-Spangled Banner' (sorry America).  Something that I started doing in my late teens involved circling the hymn number with a red pen if it suddenly became significant to me.  I would write a note at the bottom of the page reminding me why it was so important.  

 For example, I have hymn 185 (Reverently and Meekly Now) highlighted because I once asked my brother-in-law what his favourite hymn was and he picked out this one.  He explained to me that it was the only hymn that comes from the point of view of our Lord, whilst other hymns talk about and praise Him.  I read the words over and over.  How special a person the author of this hymn must have been!  I'd say you have to be very in tune with and moved by the spirit to write something as if coming from Jesus Christ Himself.

Another red circle can be found on hymn 301 (I am a Child of God) where I wrote "18/11/12: Moyra held baby Alistair during sacrament.  He looked straight at her and didn't take his eyes off as she sang the hymn."  I remember watching that Celestial moment take place and knowing with a certainty that that little baby knew exactly where he had come from, that he was a child of God and had been placed with parents both kind and dear.  I felt very blessed to have been present during such a sacred experience.

Growing up in the church I had the privilege to take part in Primary (an organized program of religious instruction and activity for children from eighteen months of age until their twelfth birthdays) and music was a huge part of that.  We would use The Children's Songbook which is a wonderful resource that I also treasure.  However, I remember when my mum was in charge of music we were preparing for our yearly primary presentation which we would perform in front of all of the congregation.  We were all extremely excited to be told that we would be learning a song from the Hymn book - No. 2 'The Spirit of God.' 

 This is a very popular LDS hymn so we had probably all heard it before but learning and performing it was a totally different thing.  I remember feeling so grown up and so privileged to be singing a song from the hymn book.  The chorus of the song is particularly special and includes the words "We'll sing and we'll shout" so you can imagine that we would do exactly that!  At the top of each hymn there is a word to describe how the hymn should be sung.  Above this hymn the word 'exultantly' is found.   I do believe the Airdrie ward primary children lived up to that word and sung this hymn with absolute joy and jubilation!

Once a child has reached the age of 12 they move from the primary programme to the youth programme: Young Men and Young Women.  The Young Women programme was the most wonderful time for me growing up.  I loved going to church on a Sunday and participating in activities during the week.  I had a great circle of friends and leaders around me from the ages of 12-18.  I cherish very fond memories and experiences that prepared me for adulthood.  I can recall many times that we made use of the hymn book in youth. Hymn 280 (Welcome, Welcome Sabbath Morning) is very special to me as it reminds me of my first Young Women's activity which was a welcome party in my honour.  

My parents were there, my sister, other leaders and young women plus one of my best friends who would be joining me in Young Women just months later.  I was very blessed that my grandmother was the Young Women's President at the time and boy was she good at what she did!  She took the tune of hymn 280 and changed the words to "Welcome, Welcome Hollie Hunter."  Very cool!  The chorus of the song went like this and was sung every time someone new joined Young Women:
Welcome Welcome Hollie Hunter
Time to move from Primary!
Time to join us in Young Women
Oh how happy we will be!
*There were verses and you can attempt to pick my grandmother's brain if you'd like to hear them!

Something I am sure many girls who attended Young Women will be able to relate to is the dreaded 'Learn to conduct' Tuesday night activity!  I remember when we were told we were going to learn how to conduct music I couldn't have been less enthused.  In my head it was going to be difficult and considerably boring!  I couldn't have been more wrong.  Now, I have a skill that I have been able to use many times.  I have conducted the music in many Sacrament meetings and at other events.  I have even been able to teach others how to '1, 2, 3, 4...' (hands flailing in the right directions).  Instructions on how to use the beat patterns can be found nearer the back of the hymn book if you fancy giving it a go!

Hymn number 209 (Hark! the Herald Angels Sing) is another that I've highlighted.  I wrote "30/12/12: My first Sunday in Bingham ward with Mark."  This was my first Sunday visiting the ward of the guy I was dating at the time.  Anyone that knows me knows how much I love Christmas and for many, many reasons.  However, the fact that Mark and I started dating around this time will always take its place high above the rest. 165 pages back the way at hymn 44 (Beautiful Zion, Built Above) you can read "29/08/13: Mark and I are married, and sealed the very next day for time and all Eternity."  Eight months before, when I sat next to him at church on a wintery December's final Sunday, I could never have imagined I would be marrying him that next Summer.

I remember reading the words of that Hymn:
Beautiful place of pearly white...
He who was slain on Calvary opens those pearly gates for me...
Beautiful angels clothed in white...
Beautiful crowns on evry brow...
Beautiful all who enter there...
There shall my rest be long and sweet.

These are just some of the words that truly touched my heart.  I chose this hymn for our wedding because it was a reminder of what we are trying to achieve, the place we are trying to get to.  I knew in my mind too that we would be at the temple the next day, clothed in white and surrounded by all things beautiful.  I know that the temple is the one place we can be closest to Heavenly Father and the Eternity in Zion that He promises us.  This song reminds me of the Celestial power used to seal our family together forever.  Its an absolute treasure of a hymn in my eyes.

My little green book has other red markings throughout: when close family friends gave a beautiful musical item in Sacrament and I felt the Spirit so strong (thank you Bleyl Family), when a dear friend had his last Sunday at church before leaving home to join the Army, when a visiting speaker at stake conference stopped halfway through his talk to ask the congregation to stand and sing 'Praise to the Man.'  The list goes on and on!  I urge all who have their own copy of the Hymn book to mark your favourites, take it out once in a while and read the words or get the family together and sing some praises to the Lord!

If you don't have a copy - get one!  Next time you're at church participate in the singing that takes place in most of our meetings.  Sing loud and clear and show your love for the Lord through music.  Play uplifting music at home too!  Positive, cheerful and wholesome music can really soothe the soul and bring out thoughts and feelings we didn't know were there!  As found in the First Presidency Preface of the LDS Hymn Book "Hymns move us to repentance and good works, build testimony and faith, comfort the weary, console the mourning, and inspire us to endure to the end.  They can fill our souls with heavenly thoughts and bring us a spirit of peace."

Happy birthday to my little green book!  *Please feel free to share with me your favourite and special hymns in the comments below.

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads" (D&C 25:12).

"The weekly meetings of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple always begin with a hymn. Elder Russell M. Nelson plays the organ accompaniment. The First Presidency, who conduct these meetings, rotate the privilege of selecting the opening song. Most of us record the date each hymn is sung. According to my records, the opening song most frequently sung during the decade of my participation has been “I Need Thee Every Hour” (Hymns, 1985, no. 98). Picture the spiritual impact of a handful of the Lord’s servants singing that song before praying for his guidance in fulfilling their mighty responsibilities." - Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

"Brothers and sisters, let us use the hymns to invite the Spirit of the Lord into our congregations, our homes, and our personal lives.  Let us memorize and ponder them, recite and sing them, and partake of their spiritual nourishment.  Know that the song of the righteous is a prayer unto our Father in Heaven, "and it shall be answered with a blessing upon (your) heads."  - The First Presidency.

Translation Goes On

The Church’s 1985 hymnbook in English is 30 years old this month, but the work of producing hymnbooks for Saints who speak—and sing—in other languages goes on. Each language version of the hymnbook is carefully crafted, containing core hymns familiar to members worldwide as well as other hymns that are meaningful to those who speak that particular language. The selection and translation process can be long, but the aim is to ensure that every hymnbook in every language is the most beautiful, doctrinally sound, and unifying collection possible. (The Hymnbook Turns 30, September 2015 Ensign).