Church Hymns

Lesson prepared by Montserrat Wadsworth

Church Hymns Preparation: at least one hymnbook – more if you can, assembled Hymn Hunt booklet, music quote to hang on fridge.

Opening Song: Oh What Songs of the Heart, Hymns 286 Quote: "Music has boundless powers for moving families toward greater spirituality and devotion to the gospel. Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music." -- "First Presidency Preface," Hymns, 1985.

Lesson: It has been 150 years since the first Church hymnbook was published. Three months after the Church was organized, Joseph Smith received a revelation instructing his wife Emma to “make a selection of sacred hymns” (D&C 25:11). The first church hymnbook, which Emma put together, had the words to ninety hymns. There was no music. The hymns were sung to familiar tunes and melodies. It was not until 1889 that words and music were published together in a Church hymnbook. Our current hymnbook was published in 1985. It has 341 hymns, brackets suggesting what part of the music can be played for an introduction, birth and death dates of composers and authors, 7 indexes, and scripture references to help explain the messages of the hymns. "We hope the hymnbook will take a prominent place among the scriptures and other religious books in our homes." -- "First Presidency Preface," Hymns, 1985. How well do you know the hymnbook? We’re going to do a hymn hunt and see how well we know the hymnbook. Take turns reading a question and finding the answer in the hymnbook. Clues are given to help you.

Activity: Play “Name That Tune.” Have someone choose a favorite hymn and hum only the first three notes. See if anyone can guess what hymn it is. If no one can guess hum the tune again adding another note. Repeat until someone guesses the hymn. Whoever guesses correctly gets to choose the next hymn. Discuss the following quote and hang it on the fridge to remind everyone to sing the hymns! "Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones." -- "First Presidency Preface," Hymns, 1985,

Closing Song:

Lift Up Your Voice and Sing, Children’s Songbook pg 152 Reference: Fun With Favorites, The Friend Magazine, October 1985

Find more ready to print family home evening lessons at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com

Lesson prepared by Montserrat Wadsworth

Instructions to assemble the Hymn Hunt booklet: 1. Cut out around the outside of the cover. Fold in half. 2. Cut around the green border on each individual page. 3. Place the pages in the cover (they will be slightly smaller) and staple along the left edge.

Find more ready to print family home evening lessons at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com

Lesson prepared by Montserrat Wadsworth

Find more ready to print family home evening lessons at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com

Lesson prepared by Montserrat Wadsworth

Find more ready to print family home evening lessons at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com

Lesson prepared by Montserrat Wadsworth

Find more ready to print family home evening lessons at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com

Lesson prepared by Montserrat Wadsworth

Find more ready to print family home evening lessons at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com

Lesson prepared by Montserrat Wadsworth

Find more ready to print family home evening lessons at http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com