One of the things about serving in a music calling in the Church, is that it always gives me an opportunity to better familiarize myself with the hymns, and ponder about their messages. I was struck by one hymn in particular this past week, one which I don't recall ever singing. But I happened on it while I was looking through the hymnbook, read it, and really appreciated the missionary message. Come to find out, it's a historic protestant hymn, written by an Anglican Minister in the early 1800's, and considered one of the very first missionary hymns. It was a popular enough hymn at the time that it was included in the very first LDS hymnbook.
Come, All Whose Souls are Lighted
Come, all whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high.
Shall we, to men benighted, the lamp of life deny?
Salvation! Oh, salvation! The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth's remotest nation has learned Messiah's name.
From Greenland's icy mountains, from India's coral strand,
Where Afric's sunny fountains roll down their golden sand,
From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver their land from error's chain.
Go tell, ye winds, his story, and mighty waters, roll,
Till, like a sea of glory, it spreads from pole to pole;
Till o'er our ransomed nature the Lamb, for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator in bliss returns to reign.
The words and references are definitely out of fashion these days. But I still like them. They're heartfelt, and they reinforce the idea that we've been blessed because of the Gospel, and we need to give everyone around the world the opportunity to hear the message and choose whether they want to accept it.
It's a beautiful hymn, and definitely worth getting reacquainted with.
Come, All Whose Souls are Lighted
Come, all whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high.
Shall we, to men benighted, the lamp of life deny?
Salvation! Oh, salvation! The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth's remotest nation has learned Messiah's name.
From Greenland's icy mountains, from India's coral strand,
Where Afric's sunny fountains roll down their golden sand,
From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver their land from error's chain.
Go tell, ye winds, his story, and mighty waters, roll,
Till, like a sea of glory, it spreads from pole to pole;
Till o'er our ransomed nature the Lamb, for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator in bliss returns to reign.
The words and references are definitely out of fashion these days. But I still like them. They're heartfelt, and they reinforce the idea that we've been blessed because of the Gospel, and we need to give everyone around the world the opportunity to hear the message and choose whether they want to accept it.
It's a beautiful hymn, and definitely worth getting reacquainted with.
Comments