LDS Hymns

-History: (Source: Wikipedia)

Written By: Issac Watts

Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748), was an English hymn-writer, theologian and logician. He was recognised as the “Father of English Hymnody“, as he was the first prolific and popular English hymnwriter, credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today and have been translated into many languages.

Some of Watts’ hymns are:

• Joy to the world! (arranged by Lowell Mason to an older melody originating from Handel)
• Come ye that love the Lord (often sung with the chorus [and titled] “We’re marching to Zion”)
• Come Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove
• Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
• O God, Our Help in Ages Past
• When I survey the wondrous cross
• Alas! and did my Saviour bleed
• This is the day the Lord has made
• ‘Tis by Thy strength the mountains stand

Many of his hymns are included in the Methodist hymn book Hymns and Psalms. Many of his texts are also used in the American hymnal The Sacred Harp, using what is known as theshape note singing technique.

Music By: Joseph J Daynes

Joseph John Daynes (April 2, 1851 – January 15, 1920)^[1] was the first organist at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah and for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He also wrote the music to many hymns as well as writing anthems. In the 1985 English-language hymnal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) there are 5 hymns with music by Daynes. In the LDS Church’s previous edition there were 27 hymns with music by him.

Daynes was born in Norwich, England. His parents John and Eliza Miller Daynes joined the LDS Church and the family emigrated to Utah Territory in 1862.

In 1867, when an organ was brought by Joseph H. Ridges to Salt Lake City, Daynes was appointed the Tabernacle Organist, the first to ever hold this position since before this there was no organ. Daynes remained organist at the Salt Lake Tabernacle until 1900. He was also the music conductor of the 20th Ward Choir in Salt Lake City.

Daynes was one of the main editors of the Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody.

In 1872, Daynes married Mary Jane Sharp. They had seven children.

Among the hymns with music by Daynes are “Come Listen to A Prophets Voice“, “Now We’ll Sing with One Accord” and “As the Dew From Heaven Distilling“.

Daynes’ son Joseph J. Daynes Jr. served as the first president of the Grant Stake in Salt Lake City.^[2] and later was the president of the Western States Mission of the LDS Church, based in Colorado. The younger Daynes was married to one of Wilford Woodruff‘s daughters.