"I Need Thee Every Hour" sung a lot with Prophet's Meeting

 “I Need Thee Every Hour”

When the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles meet each week in the temple, they always begin their meetings with a hymn. For decades, President Russell M. Nelson (1924–2025) and other quorum members documented the hymns they sang. According to the dates recorded in President Nelson’s temple hymnbook, one of the most frequently sung hymns was “I Need Thee Every Hour” (Hymns [1985], no. 98). President Nelson often was accompanist.

President Dallin H. Oaks said, “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.”

Worshipping Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Through Sacred Music

By Melanie Jex

Church Music Team

Deciding on the New Hymns

 

Worshipping Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Through Sacred Music

By Melanie Jex

Church Music Team

When Hymns for Home and Church was prepared, Church leaders carefully reviewed the lyrics of each hymn to make sure the doctrine was clear and accurate. For example, the lyrics of the song “When I Am Baptized,” as sung by children around the world in many languages, have spoken of our wrongs being “washed away.”

Some interpreted those words to mean that baptism’s waters cleanse us from sin. As Church leaders reviewed these words, they chose to adjust the lyrics to teach more clearly that the Savior, Jesus Christ, is the source of cleansing from sin. The revised words in the second verse now read:

I know when I am baptized I choose the Savior’s way,

And I will be forgiven as I turn to Him each day.”

...Sacred music is a participation-based experience. It is not reserved for the musically talented. The Lord has said He delights “in the song of the heart” (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12). He didn’t set a standard for vocal skill or instrumental ability—only that we sing from our hearts. As Elder Patrick Kearon encouraged, “So let’s sing! And praise Him! [Psalm 100:1].”

Use Music

 President Dallin H. Oaks said: "The singing of hymns is one of the best ways to put ourselves in tune with the Spirit on the Lord... Sacred music has a unique capacity to communicate our feelings of love for the Lord. This kind of communication is a wonderful aid to our worship.... Our hymns contain matchless doctrinal sermons, surpassed only by the scriptures in their truth and poetic impact." 

"Worship through Music," Ensign, Nov. 1994, 10, 11. 

Sing the Hymns

"If you love the Lord, if you love his doctrine, you'll love the hymns. And when you love them, you sing them."

Thomas S. Monson, "New Hymnbook," 105

Primary Music Resources

friend.lds.org
Click "Music in the Friend" and look for the "I Can Play It!" series if you want sheet music and audio files of simplified Primary songs. New this year, the Friend site also features music videos with beautiful pictures and captions for the sharing time songs.

primary.lds.org

The "Leader Resources" page contains a section on music callings. There are videos from recent leadership training broadcasts that share ideas for teaching music to children.

Hymns Console the Mourning

“Some of the greatest sermons are preached by the singing of hymns. 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.”

“First Presidency Preface,” Hymns, ix.

Music and Revelation

“Music can set an atmosphere of worship which invites [the] spirit of revelation, of testimony."

Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation,”Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22.