Studying the Hymns: The Stories Behind the Songs

Newman’s beautiful pleas for God’s light continue to touch the hearts of men and women searching for the light in a world shrouded in darkness.

Abide With Me!

Henry F. Lyte, the author of this moving text, labored for 24 years as a minister in the small fishing village of Brixham, England. He served the people admirably, putting their needs always above his own. When he became ill with tuberculosis, Henry found himself becoming weaker and weaker. In hopes of improving his health, he visited France every winter. He returned, however, to find his congregation fractured with ill feeling and division. To his dismay, his condition required him to retire from his ministry. In 1847, after he preached his last sermon, Henry F. Lyte wrote the words to this hymn. The deep and abiding faith evident in his words has no doubt been a great comfort to many who face trials and hardships of their own.

These provide only a small glimpse into what can be learned by researching the stories behind the hymns. A great tool for studying the songs gathered in the current LDS hymnbook is Karen Lynn Davidson’s Our Latter-Day Hymns: The Stories and the Messages (Deseret Book Company, 1988). For the more general hymns, check out these two sites, both of which have large collections:

200 Amazing Hymn Stories at http://www.tanbible.com/tol_sng/0tol_sng...

http://www.worshipmap.com/resources/musi...

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