Hymns from today in Sacrament meeting (LDS Caucus)

1. Our Savior’s love Shines like the sun with perfect light, As from above It breaks thru clouds of strife. Lighting our way, It leads us back into his sight, Where we may stay To share eternal life.

2. The Spirit, voice Of goodness, whispers to our hearts A better choice Than evil’s anguished cries. Loud may the sound Of hope ring till all doubt departs, And we are bound To him by loving ties.

3. Our Father, God Of all creation, hear us pray In rev’rence, awed By thy Son’s sacrifice. Praises we sing. We love thy law; we will obey. Our heav’nly King, In thee our hearts rejoice.

1. ’Tis sweet to sing the matchless love Of Him who left his home above And came to earth—oh, wondrous plan— To suffer, bleed, and die for man!

2. ’Tis good to meet each Sabbath day And, in his own appointed way, Partake the emblems of his death, And thus renew our love and faith.

3. Oh, blessed hour! communion sweet! When children, friends, and teachers meet And, in remembrance of his grace, Unite in sweetest songs of praise.

4. For Jesus died on Calvary! That all thru him might ransomed be. Then sing hosannas to his name; Let heav’n and earth his love proclaim.

1. O love that glorifies the Son, O love that says, “Thy will be done!” Pure love whose spirit makes us one—

2. O love that binds our family, O love that brings my heart to thee, Pure love that lasts eternally—

3. O love that overcomes defeat, O love that turns the bitter sweet, Pure love that makes our lives complete—

4. O Lord, give me the will to mend; O Lord, change me from foe to friend; Dear Lord, sustain me to the end—

1. Glory to God on high! Let heav’n and earth reply. Praise ye his name. His love and grace adore, Who all our sorrows bore. Sing aloud evermore: Worthy the Lamb!

2. Jesus, our Lord and God, Bore sin’s tremendous load. Praise ye his name. Tell what his arm has done, What spoils from death he won. Sing his great name alone: Worthy the Lamb!

3. Let all the hosts above Join in one song of love, Praising his name. To him ascribed be Honor and majesty Thru all eternity: Worthy the Lamb!

What takes place in a sacrament service.

Most Sundays the basic service is the same.

After a welcome from a member of the bishopric (the leader of the congregation and 2 counselors are the bishopric) we sing an opening hymn, followed by a prayer. Then any administrative business (like announcing and sustaining new leaders or other positions). Then a "sacrament hymn" followed by the sacrament, which is passed to the congregation.

After that a series of sermons. We call them "talks." Often a youth age 12-18 speaks, then two adults. Between the two adults might be a choir number, or special music (instrumental or vocal), or a congregational hymn.

The service is wrapped up by the person who gave the welcome, and concluded with a closing hymn and prayer.

Typically lasts about 70 minutes.

There are a few exceptions to this standard. The most frequent is "fast Sunday" which is usually the first Sunday of the month. On that Sunday we fast for two meals and donate the money we would have spent on food. We also forgo the speakers and instead have a testimony meeting. After the sacrament members of the congregation are welcome to testify of their faith. We call it "bearing testimony." On fast Sunday we do not have that "middle" hymn, so you will only see three hymns listed on this thread those weeks.

A couple of other exceptions are "general conference" where the entire church is instructed via satellite, internet, etc by the overall church leadership. That happens twice a year (first Sunday in April and October). Anther exception is "stake conference" where a stake (about 10 or so congregations in the same area) meets to receive instruction from the local stake leaders. This usually happens twice a year, but varies from state to stake as to when. Another exception is "ward conference" which is a special meeting for the individual congregation.

Sometimes there are other special services where the "three talks" don't happen. One would be "primary Sunday" where the children age 3-12 do the service (once a year, usually late in the year). Or youth Sunday where the sermons are all given by the youth age 12-18. Or Christmas Sunday, where the service is mostly music.

One more thing - we have a "block" of meetings that last three hours. The sacrament meeting is only one of them. We also do a Sunday School where we learn in a classroom setting. This year is Old Testament, today for my ward was Hosea.

The third meeting we divide into groups. Men in "priesthood," which is further divided by quorum, so the youth 12-13 are together, 14-15 together, 16-18 together, younger men (typically) together, and older men together. Likewise, the girls 12-13, 14-15, 16-18, and women generally.

The "primary" meets during Sunday school and "third hour." That is kids age 3-12. Nursery is for those 18 months to 3 years. Alas, parents keep those under 18 months with them through the services.

We post our hymnal online here (most of them, anyways - a few are copyrighted). The congregation has hymnals in the pews. This hymnal is under the "hymns" link. There also is a children's song book, also at that link. Play with the links and you can find a player and the words.

I think you will find a strong protestant feel to the hymns, including many borrowed from other faiths.

Hope I helped. Feel free to ask any other questions.

281 - Help Me Teach with Inspiration

1. Help me teach with inspiration;
Grant this blessing, Lord, I pray.
Help me lift a soul’s ambition
To a higher, nobler way.

2. Help me reach a friend in darkness;
Help me guide him thru the night.
Help me show thy path to glory
By the Spirit’s holy light.

3. Fill my mind with understanding;
Tune my voice to echo thine.
Touch my hand with gentle friendship;
Warm my heart with love divine.

4. Help me find thy lambs who wander;
Help me bring them to thy keep.
Teach me, Lord, to be a shepherd;
Father, help me feed thy sheep.

195 - How Great the Wisdom and the Love

1. How great the wisdom and the love
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed, and die!

2. His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
A dying world to save.

3. By strict obedience Jesus won
The prize with glory rife:
“Thy will, O God, not mine be done,”
Adorned his mortal life.

4. He marked the path and led the way,
And ev’ry point defines
To light and life and endless day
Where God’s full presence shines.

5. In mem’ry of the broken flesh
We eat the broken bread
And witness with the cup, afresh,
Our faith in Christ, our Head.

6. How great, how glorious, how complete
Redemption’s grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!

Note - by custom, we only sang the first four verses.

The choir sang:
129 - Where Can I Turn for Peace?

1. Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?

2. Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.

3. He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind,
Love without end.

273 - Truth Reflects upon Our Senses

1. Truth reflects upon our senses;
Gospel light reveals to some.
If there still should be offenses,
Woe to them by whom they come!
Judge not, that ye be not judged,
Was the counsel Jesus gave;
Measure given, large or grudged,
Just the same you must receive.

[Chorus] Blessed Savior, thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore
Where the angels wait to join us
In thy praise forevermore.

2. Jesus said, “Be meek and lowly,”
For ’tis high to be a judge;
If I would be pure and holy,
I must love without a grudge.
It requires a constant labor
All his precepts to obey.
If I truly love my neighbor,
I am in the narrow way.

3. Once I said unto another,
“In thine eye there is a mote;
If thou art a friend, a brother,
Hold, and let me pull it out.”
But I could not see it fairly,
For my sight was very dim.
When I came to search more clearly,
In mine eye there was a beam.

4. If I love my brother dearer,
And his mote I would erase,
Then the light should shine the clearer,
For the eye’s a tender place.
Others I have oft reproved
For an object like a mote;
Now I wish this beam removed;
Oh, that tears would wash it out!

5. Charity and love are healing;
These will give the clearest sight;
When I saw my brother’s failing,
I was not exactly right.
Now I’ll take no further trouble;
Jesus’ love is all my theme;
Little motes are but a bubble
When I think upon the beam.

Note - by custom, we only sang the first three verses.

We had a Regional Conference today, with Elder Holland and President Packer.

The meeting definitely had a theme, as did the hymns sung.

Twice, in President Packer's talk, he spoke of the times coming as being much harder than the pioneers and early saints went through. From now on, we will experience hardships and challenges far greater.

The opening song was eye opening to me too.

1
Guide us, O thou great Jehovah,
Guide us to the promised land.
We are weak, but thou art able;
Hold us with thy pow’rful hand.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Feed us till the Savior comes.
Feed us till the Savior comes.

2
Open, Jesus, Zion's fountains;
Let her richest blessings come.
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Guard us to this holy home.
Great Redeemer, Great Redeemer,
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day!
Bring, oh, bring the welcome day!

3
When the earth begins to tremble,
Bid our fearful thoughts be still;
When thy judgments spread destruction,
Keep us safe on Zion's hill,
Singing praises, Singing praises,
Songs of glory unto thee,
Songs of glory unto thee.

Dark times are ahead. Are we ready?

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