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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints releases 13 new hymns
Jun 1, 2024, 7:00 AM
Primary General President Susan H. Porter speaks to journalists at a media event announcing the release of the first 13 hymns of the Church's new global hymnbook in the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 30. (Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved, 2024)
(Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved, 2024)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints released 13 new hymns Thursday, in the first wave of releases for their new and revised Hymnbook.
According to a Church Newsroom press release, “small batches of new music will continue to be published digitally in preparation for the full hymnbook release.”
Church members can expect the release by the end of 2026. All songs will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French.
The Church said they expect the hymnbook to be available in 50 languages by the end of 2030.
The available hymns are:
- Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- When the Savior Comes Again
- It Is Well with My Soul
- I Will Walk with Jesus
- His Eye Is on the Sparrow
- Think a Sacred Song
- As Bread Is Broken
- Bread of Life, Living Water
- Gethsemane
- Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise
- He Is Born, the Divine Christ Child
- What Child Is This?
- Star Bright
‘A broad variety’
The Church’s Primary General President, Susan Porter, said the released songs represent a great sample of the new hymnbook.
“Four of the thirteen are children’s songs,” she said.
“Gethsemane and “As I Walk With Jesus,” are two of those children’s songs that are already well-known and well-loved, Porter said.
“Two are sacrament hymns … Two have been recently sung by the Tabernacle Choir but are borrowed from other Christian faiths …. We have some Christmas songs and one Easter hymn,” Porter described.
She explained the releases as a “broad variety, giving us a little taste of what’s to come.”
“We are so grateful that now, across the Church … We will be singing the same songs, uniting us as a church,” Porter said.
A years-long effort
The Church announced the hymnbook revision back in 2018, along with a newly released children’s songbook.
Individuals were able to submit up to five hymns and five children’s songs each for consideration up until July 2019.
About the new hymnbook, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in a Church Newsroom press release: “We desire to offer a consistent core collection of hymns and songs in every language that reflects the diverse needs of the global Church in our day.”
