Christian churches, including the Latter-day Saints, share many hymns

Deseret News ^ | April 10, 2011 | John Enslen

[Colofornian]

Four decades ago, when my wife Dianne and I were active Baptists, somehow we ended up with a Baptist hymnal in our home. This same kleptomaniac-like behavior has surfaced on multiple occasions with respect to LDS hymnals. We even have an LDS hymnal embossed with “Joseph Smith Memorial Building.”

Our Baptist hymnal is a...once widely-used, 1956-copyrighted edition published by Convention Press...

SNIP

Recently I searched our current 1985 edition of "Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" to determine how many of these hymns are common to our older Baptist hymnal. One might be surprised to learn that of...341 hymns in the LDS hymnal, 55, or 16 percent, are also found in this particular Baptist hymnal.

SNIP

A cursory view of the index reveals that the LDS hymnal contains a large number of hymns on restoration themes like prophets, pioneers, gathering to Zion, mountains, and temples that are not contained in the Baptist hymnal. This situation reflects a similar theme with respect to our respective scriptures. Latter-day Saints and Baptists are commonly blessed with and enjoy reading the Bible, while Latter-day Saints have the added blessing and enjoyment of reading the restoration scriptures.

Based on the commonality of hymns and the identical doctrinal assertions repeatedly contained within them which point to Christ; his divine sonship and virgin birth; his life of perfection; his attributes of love, mercy and compassion; his incomparable suffering in Gethsemane; his crucifixion; and his Resurrection, it is only logical to conclude that if Baptist believers of the 1950s through the 1970s were “Christians,” then also are the LDS or Mormon believers of the mid-1980s to the present.

By the way, “Thou shalt not steal” the hymnbooks is a teaching which is common to both religious traditions.

John Enslen is a courtroom lawyer...

[Colofornian]

From the article: ...I searched our current 1985 edition of "Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" to determine how many of these hymns are common to our older Baptist hymnal. One might be surprised to learn that of the 341 hymns in the LDS hymnal, 55, or 16 percent, are also found in this particular Baptist hymnal.

The reality is that 190 of the 358 hymns in the Mormon hymnal came from non-Lds sources that Joseph Smith said were "apostate" and "corrupt" (Joseph Smith, Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History, vv. 18-19). That's a full 53%!

That includes Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress is our God" [#68]
and Christian hymn writers like Christian evangelist John Wesley's brother, Charles, who died in 1788 ["Rejoice, the Lord is King" hymn (#66)]

Smith said that the Christian church went totally AWOL. Yet over half of the hymns they import from "apostate" sources who embraced 100% abominable creeds, eh?

What should we believe? Mormon leaders' claims? Or their counterfeit actions?

From the article: Based on the commonality of hymns and the identical doctrinal assertions repeatedly contained within them which point to Christ; his divine sonship and virgin birth; his life of perfection; his attributes of love, mercy and compassion; his incomparable suffering in Gethsemane; his crucifixion; and his Resurrection, it is only logical to conclude that if Baptist believers of the 1950s through the 1970s were “Christians,” then also are the LDS or Mormon believers of the mid-1980s to the present.

Virgin birth? This Baptist-turned-Mormon needs to better read Lds "apostle" McConkie's assertion about a Heavenly Father "literal paternity" involving Mary...& Brigham's claim that the Father impregnated Mary "rather than letting any other man do it."

Of course, this author forgot to mention that Baptist Hymnals don't include...
* "Praise to the Man" hymns sung directly to Joseph Smith.
* "O My Father" with lines in there about a divine "Mom"
* "If You Could Hie to Kolob" where the author starts off...
1. If you could hie to Kolob In the twinkling of an eye, And then continue onward With that same speed to fly, Do you think that you could ever, Through all eternity, Find out the generation Where GODS began to be?
2. Or see the grand beginning, Where space did not extend? Or view the last creation, Where GODS and matter end?

Yeah, this courtroom lawyer apparently flunked math...going from a theistic Baptist to a polytheistic Mormon.

[Larry Lucido]

The organist played "In the Garden of Eden" in Bart Simpson's church. :-)

[Alex Murphy]

The reality is that 190 of the 358 hymns in the Mormon hymnal came from non-Lds sources that Joseph Smith said were "apostate" and "corrupt" (Joseph Smith, Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith History, vv. 18-19). That's a full 53%!

I can think of a few hymns that aren't shared, such as "Praise To The Man" and "When I Hie To Kolob".

[svcw]

Yea, sure. I have been to Christian churches and we have never sung any songs praising and worshiping Joseph Smith.

Don't you find it interesting that lds distinguish themselves from Christians, even in the title of this article.

[21twelve]

My wife and I went to a friend’s Mormon Babtism. Singing some of the Hymns that I knew from church, thinking “this isn’t so bad for a cult”.

Got to the one of “Praise to the Man” I think. The tune was familiar, and the words seemed sort of familiar. About the second verse though when it was clear that the “by his wounds we were saved” or somesuch referred to Joe Smith I stopped singing. And looking around to see if a lightning bolt was going to strike me!

[Colofornian]

My wife and I went to a friend’s Mormon Babtism. Singing some of the Hymns that I knew from church, thinking “this isn’t so bad for a cult”. Got to the one of “Praise to the Man” I think. The tune was familiar, and the words seemed sort of familiar. About the second verse though when it was clear that the “by his wounds we were saved” or somesuch referred to Joe Smith I stopped singing. And looking around to see if a lightning bolt was going to strike me!

Ah yes. You inadvertently experienced the idolatry of Mormonism firsthand!

[Reagan69]

I am a Baptist p.k.

I played organ for a “Reformed lds” church. Many hymns were the same. A few were new to me. There were also some word changes in hymns that I learned growing up.

[Colofornian]

Don't you find it interesting that lds distinguish themselves from Christians, even in the title of this article.

Well the headline actually struck me in the opposite way. Not so much that they were distinguishing themselves -- but rather lumping themselves under the umbrella of "Christian" churches ["Christian churches, including..."

It's hard to tell what Mormons believe any more.
Their leaders say Baptists are "apostates."
Their leaders say Baptist churches embrace creeds 100% dishonorable to the Mormon god.
Their leaders say ALL Christians are "corrupt."
Their leaders say Christianity went away...until the early 1800s.

But this article says we share the same "Christian" umbrella.

(I guess if this article is true, 'tis time for you Mormons to get your scissors out...clip out D&C 1:30...clip out Pearl of Great Price account of the "First Vision" -- or at least verses 18-19...)

[TruthBeforeAll]

Let Us Break Bread Together

[MHGinTN]

The GOD of Christianity is not the god mormonism promotes, because the LDS teaching holds that the god of Momronism was once a man and had to earn the attributes of godhood AND THEN be appointed by a council of gods to be the god over Earth. Also, the jesus of Mormonism is not the Jesus of the Bible because the Mormonism jesus had as his brother the devil and the Mormonism jesus was a polygamist and the LDS have taught that this may in fact be the reason their jesus was persecuted, for his polygamy. But there are posters who don't care if these blasphemies are floated here at FR by the momronism apologists, and pointing out the blasphemies in Mormonism--since it claims to be the most correct form of 'christianity'--is considered by the oh so wise as bigotry and you're a sad demented case if you point these blasphemies out and try to divert people from plummeting into hell.

[svcw]

True as taught Christians are an abomination, whores of Babylon - why would you want to be called Christian? Until a few years ago, they did not want to be, so what happened? Why the desperation now to be called what they cringed from for over 150 years?

[T. P. Pole]

About the second verse though when it was clear that the “by his wounds we were saved” or somesuch referred to Joe Smith I stopped singing.

Just to help refresh your memory -

1. Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

[Chorus]
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

2. Praise to his mem’ry, he died as a martyr;
Honored and blest be his ever great name!
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins,
Plead unto heav’n while the earth lauds his fame.

3. Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.
Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom,
Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

4. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.
Millions shall know “Brother Joseph” again.

Text: William W. Phelps, 1792–1872

Music: Scottish folk song

[Utah Binger]

I just looked in the Mormon Hymnbook to see if Jim Robinson's favorite "In the Garden" was there. It is not.

Come to the picnic on July 23 and help us enjoy the sunrise service and really enjoy this special music.

[tumblindice]

I was disappointed as a small boy to learn that there was in fact no bomb in Gilead.

[muawiyah]

Without bothering to check a Mormon hymnal I'm going to guess they "lifted" a few of John Leland's hymns ~ particularly the ones where he translated the words from Early Century Greek hymns/vespers and added more modern music playable on pianos.

John, author of the words in the First Amendment, would have been among those denounced by Smith as a fallen person.

So much for the man who founded African American Gospel music.

I'd suggest to Mormons that they go back through all their hymnals or other songbooks and Remove anything by John Leland. For one thing he didn't approve of Sunday school! We can only imagine what he'd felt about Temple Work.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***But this article says we share the same “Christian” umbrella.***

Mormons have no problem using a SDA artist named Maxwell to illustrate some of their work.

[K-Ben-K]

Don't you find it interesting that lds distinguish themselves from Christians, even in the title of this article.

Christian yes, Protestant no.

I believe that the Apostle Paul had the authority from God to correct bad teachings when he found them.

I do not believe that any of the Protestant originations were started by someone having authority from God.

It is my experience that reformers get together and decide what God’s word should mean and those of like mindedness form a separate Protestant group.

All Protestant groups are formed by some man or men trying to correct something they see to be wrong with other religious groups.

Ben

[RaceBannon]

Roman Catholicism was surely not started by God, either, Peter is NO WHERE in Scripture called the origin of any Church nor is he any major leader more than the 11 other Apostles, save Paul who wrote more Scripture than any other.

[Tax-chick]

Without prejudice to Mormons, who have never done me any harm, “In the Garden” is my father’s favorite hymn. He has Alzheimer’s Disease and doesn’t remember Mom some days, let along me and nine kids that their own father can’t keep straight, but my husband and children and I are working on a performance of “In the Garden” for when the Captain passes away.