Plans for New Hymnbook and Children’s Songbook Announced
Questions and speculation about a new hymnbook and children’s songbook have been brewing under the surface for a while now—after all, it’s been 33 years since the 1985 hymnbook was published, and 29 years since the Children’s Songbook—now seems to be the perfect time.
Since the start of 2018, when President Russell M. Nelson became the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many new changes have been announced. Home and visiting teaching would now be renamed ministering, elders and high priests quorums would be combined, and now a global hymnbook, with each language having the same hymns in the same order. Elder Ronald A. Rasband said, “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.”
Members around the world are invited to recommend feedback on the future editions, as well as submit new hymns and children’s songs using the following link: newmusic.lds.org
Anyone with an LDS Account can submit up to five original hymns and five children’s songs by July 1, 2019.
It is interesting to think that in just a few short years, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be singing new hymns and songs in their weekly broadcasts, concerts, and general conference meetings. Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. remarked, “Perhaps the most meaningful hymns and songs of the Restoration have not yet been written. We encourage our talented members to prayerfully consider what they might add to the body of music already known and loved by the Church.”
Children around the world in Primary will be singing new songs, which will leave lasting impressions and instill testimonies in them as they grow into adulthood. Cristina B. Franco of the Primary General Presidency recalled, “I still remember singing songs in Primary as a young child growing up in Argentina. Those songs still ring in my ears, along with the gospel principles that they taught me while I was very young.”
The history of the hymns and children’s songs of the Church have been popular topics on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir blog for years. Some of our past blog posts on the subject of hymns and children’s songs include the following (click on the links to learn more):
To find more blog posts on your favorite hymns or songs, just enter the song title in the Search section at the top of any page on our website and click “articles.”
Below are two songs that are not in current editions of the Church hymnbook or Children’s Songbook. Judging from the demand for these songs, it is safe to say that they probably stand a good chance of being included in the new editions. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.