Mormon Pop: Amazing Grace

My Grandpa Arrington grew up in the south before moving west to Salt Lake City. Over the years, as our family made summer visits from L.A., I fondly remember my older brother, Guy, playing songs for grandpa on his banjo — southern spirituals and folk songs like "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Cotton Fields."

And we all sang along. Grandpa loved those songs.

In fact, Guy tells the story of how he visited grandpa — with his banjo — on his deathbed. As Guy played those songs, Grandpa was totally still, totally asleep, not responding in any way. But Guy saw his foot tapping — or at least trying to.

Those songs became part of our familys musical heritage. When Grandpa passed away in 1980 I was on my mission, but they sang Circle at his funeral. And weve continued to sing them at family reunions — and more funerals, as our parents and aunts and uncles have passed on.

A few months before her death, Mom told us she wanted us to sing Amazing Grace at her funeral. She said that on one of her darkest days while she was taking care of dad in his last years &$151; on a day she just felt like she had nothing left in her to carry on — the lyrics of Amazing Grace came to her mind. They brought her great comfort.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

(Read the complete lyrics here.)

I hadnt really sung Amazing Grace much before, but it brought us great comfort as we sang it at her funeral. The song has continued to bring me great comfort over the last few years as Ive sung it to myself and performed it from time to time.

There are a variety of thoughts as to why Amazing Grace has never made its way into the LDS hymn book with its various editions. These theories range from the song emphasizing the theological concept of grace too much, to it being more for soloists as opposed to a congregational hymn. There are some interesting threads and posts on the subject here and here. Penned by John Newton, the story behind the writing of the song — while subject to its share of folklore — is fascinating. It has been the subject of several books and a recent movie.