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

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 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