Our Hymn book needs serious updating. I'm sure most of this music was current and up-to-date for our pioneer ancestors, but that was over 100 years ago.

I LOVE our hymn book! If we're not familiar with some of the hymns, then we need to practice them during "hymn practice time" in Relief Society. I think that's why we have "hymn practice time."

YOU have got to be *kidding*
The hymnal needs to be totally redone with music from *more* than one cultural tradition. Including some Gospel music --

We could either do that or come out with a "Supplemental" hymnal as some Churches have.

I had a quartet that sang "Jesus Hits like the Atom Bomb", a Blind Boys of Alabama standard, in a ward party last year. It was toe tapping, but also has a good message about preparing for the Second Coming (google the lyrics sometime). When we take time to explain to ward leaders and others what we're doing, people will open up to a variety of good, yet unfamiliar, music, from western classics to gospel, to even those 100 or so unfamiliar hymns in the green book.

It is my understanding that the primary reason why the church instructed ward choirs to focus on singing hymns from the hymn book was because that way there were no intellectual property issues or unnecessary expenditures from tithing funds.

If you are a choir with a limited budget, the temptation is to buy only one copy of a song's sheet music and then photocopy the music for the members of the choir. But this is dishonest and illegal if the sheet music is still copyrighted. And the Church would have to pay damages if a ward was sued.

So if you have, say, a 25-member choir, you should buy the sheet music for each member (or have two members share and buy 12-13 copies). But is this really a good use of Church tithing funds? The choir may never again use the sheet music. By sticking with the hymn book that already has been purchased in sufficient quantities, both issues are avoided.

some of the Christian music from J.S.Bach,Luther and the Wesley brothers and others is in some cases theologicasl opposessed to Mormon hymns,they would have to be cautuous. That's the same reason the Jehovah Witnesses are not allowed to listen to classical music of any kind. especially Mozart .

Although there are some venues, such as a ward party, where other types of music can be deemed appropriate, hymns are used in our sacrament meeting because they not only teach the gospel but they help bring the spirit into our meetings. Since the sacrament meeting is one of the most sacred meetings that we have, we have to be careful that the music does not detract from the spirit. Fortunately, the gospel message does not need updating.

I do miss going to the different religious services of my two years in the deep south. These people sang with ferver and passion and purpose, and while they had a guitar and drum accompanyment, they were every bit as inspirational as some of the funeral dirges we sing Sunday in, and Sunday out.

I've grown tired of Sacrament meeting hymn singing because the lack of passion the ward members possess. My voice isn't good, and I try to sing, but the poor chorister is just about helpless in trying to get the masses to sing, and that's with the easy familiar hymns.

Has that ever been added to the hymn book?

What a great song.