Sunday Songs

Read Elder LeGrand R. Curtis, Jr.'s October 2011 General Conference talk, "Redemption," as part of my study today. He ends his talk with another hymn that's a favorite of mine (although an arrangement of the tune is usually the one stuck in my head): "Savior, Redeemer of My Soul."

Savior, Redeemer of my soul,
Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
Whose wondrous pow’r hath raised me up
And filled with sweet my bitter cup!
What tongue my gratitude can tell,
O gracious God of Israel.

Never can I repay thee, Lord,
But I can love thee. Thy pure word,
Hath it not been my one delight,
My joy by day, my dream by night?
Then let my lips proclaim it still,
And all my life reflect thy will.

(Orson F. Whitney, Hymns, no. 112)

There is something powerful in the opening message about being made whole through the Savior. Note that the poem/hymn doesn't refer to any specific instance of healing. Hopefully it evokes in your mind your own personal experiences: where the pain of sin, or sickness, or heartache was swallowed up.

Although at times the bitter cup that crossed my lips lasted longer than I thought it might (or in frequent selfish moments, should), there is nothing that compares with the arrival of the "sweet." Oh that my cup might always be full of this ... but I suppose that would frustrate the whole taste-the-bitter-to-know-the-sweet part of the Plan.

The second/last stanza really drives home our inability to repay the Savior for His gift. Since I'm already on my soapbox, I'd just point out that often, I feel, when singing hymns at church we do not get their full meaning because the flow of the music does not match the punctuation or separate the thoughts provided in the words.

(For example, in this hymn, think of how the second verse is sung -- combining the thoughts of "but I can love thee" and "thy pure word.")

All that is to say is -- re-read the hymn and note the final punctuations -- and reflect on the message it shares. Perhaps something new will come to your mind, or you gain a deeper understanding of the sentiment expressed by Elder Whitney. I hope that my own will always be similar.

Sunday Songs

Listened to Peace Like a River after church as part of my Sunday playlist. One of the songs that always touches me is "Come, Let Us Anew." The final verse says:

Oh, that each in the day of His coming may say,

'I have fought my way through; I have finished the work thou didst give me to do.'

Oh, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word:

'Well and faithfully done;

'Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne;
'Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne.'

The music swells in this last verse, then fades as the choir repeats the last phrase: "Oh, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word: 'Well and faithfully done; Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne."

There's just something about the music and the lyrics that moves me; I find myself humming it for hours.

Acts 5:38-39

And now I [Gamaliel] say unto you [ye men of Israel], "Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; be careful, therfore, lest haply [perhaps] ye be found even to fight against God.

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