2021 Preface
A collection of sacred hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints originally selected by Emma Smith, Kirtland, Ohio 1835 with edits and additions. The authors are made known under the hymn titles. If there is one date next to the author’s or authors’ name(s), this indicated the date of publication. If there are two dates separated by a hyphen, this indicates the birth and death of the individual.
This collection of hymns is a modern collection of the Psalms of the Latter Day Saints. There is no music as Saints may sing these hymns as they please to whatever music they feel so inspired. They may also read them as a collection of inspiring poems, to fill their souls with joy and to connect, one to another, with the Holy Spirit.
All of the hymns in this collection are from the Public Domain, and remain as such regardless of the licensing attached to this body of work.
Original Preface
In order to sing by the Spirit, and with the understanding, it is necessary that the Church of the Latter Day Saints should have a collection of “Sacred Hymns,” adapted to their faith and belief in the Gospel, and, as far as can be, holding forth the promises made to the fathers who died in the precious faith of a glorious resurrection, and a thousand years’ reign on earth with the Son of Man in His glory.
Notwithstanding the Church, as it were, is still in its infancy, yet, as the song of the righteous is a prayer unto God, it is sincerely hoped that the following collection, selected with an eye single to his glory, may answer every purpose till more are composed, or till we are blessed with a copious variety of the songs of Zion.