Children's Songbook
Encyclopedia
The Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official songbook for children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was first published in English
in 1989. These song
s are for the Primary, which is an organization in the LDS Church for children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years old, who learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ
.
The songs in the Songbook help young children learn to live righteously
and keep God's
commandments. The book is simplified in comparison to the LDS Hymn Book
. The songs are designed to be easy for children to learn.
The contents are divided so that different sections refer to various gospel
topics for children. Some of the topics include prayer
, reverence, gratitude, the Savior's mission, the importance of family
and the home, love for Heavenly Father
, the good feelings you can get when you live righteously, as well as a few activity songs and some songs on the beauty of nature
. There is also some prelude
music for playing before Sacrament meeting
s or in the home.
Although the songs are intended primarily for children, adults in the LDS Church also utilize songs in the book for other purposes. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
has sung several of these songs from time to time in their weekly Sunday broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word
. Some of the songs that appear in the Songbook also appear in the LDS Church's hymnal. Any song that appears in either book can be sung in Sacrament meeting
as part of a musical program or musical number after the Sacrament is delivered. There are some songs that also have been written for use in Sacrament meeting that don't appear in either book, but are approved for use.
One of the songs has American Sign Language
(ASL) pictures that teaches how to use sign language for the words of the song. Additionally, the LDS Church's website contains ASL videos for about 45 songs from the Children's Songbook.
A few new Primary songs have been adopted by the LDS Church since Children's Songbook was published. Children in Primary sing the new songs, but a revised Songbook has not been published. Two new songs have been written in 2008 and 2009. Their lyrics
reinforce the roles that fathers and mothers play, and teaches that children can also contribute to the family and grow up and become fathers and mothers.
The Children's Songbook replaced Sing with Me, which was published in 1969.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in 1989. These song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s are for the Primary, which is an organization in the LDS Church for children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years old, who learn about the teachings of Jesus Christ
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
.
The songs in the Songbook help young children learn to live righteously
Righteousness
Righteousness is an important theological concept in Zoroastrianism, Hinduism , Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
and keep God's
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
commandments. The book is simplified in comparison to the LDS Hymn Book
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
. The songs are designed to be easy for children to learn.
The contents are divided so that different sections refer to various gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
topics for children. Some of the topics include prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, reverence, gratitude, the Savior's mission, the importance of family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
and the home, love for Heavenly Father
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, the good feelings you can get when you live righteously, as well as a few activity songs and some songs on the beauty of nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
. There is also some prelude
Prelude (music)
A prelude is a short piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece. The prelude can be thought of as a preface. It may stand on its own or introduce another work...
music for playing before Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting is the weekly worship service held on Sunday in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Sacrament meetings are held in individual wards or branches in the chapel of the meetinghouse. The bishop or branch president of the ward or branch presides, unless a higher authority...
s or in the home.
Although the songs are intended primarily for children, adults in the LDS Church also utilize songs in the book for other purposes. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
has sung several of these songs from time to time in their weekly Sunday broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word
Music and the Spoken Word
Music and the Spoken Word is a weekly 30-minute radio and television program of inspiring messages and music produced by Bonneville Communications with music performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir .The radio program is distributed by the CBS Radio Network and its broadcast center is KSL...
. Some of the songs that appear in the Songbook also appear in the LDS Church's hymnal. Any song that appears in either book can be sung in Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting
Sacrament meeting is the weekly worship service held on Sunday in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Sacrament meetings are held in individual wards or branches in the chapel of the meetinghouse. The bishop or branch president of the ward or branch presides, unless a higher authority...
as part of a musical program or musical number after the Sacrament is delivered. There are some songs that also have been written for use in Sacrament meeting that don't appear in either book, but are approved for use.
One of the songs has American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
(ASL) pictures that teaches how to use sign language for the words of the song. Additionally, the LDS Church's website contains ASL videos for about 45 songs from the Children's Songbook.
A few new Primary songs have been adopted by the LDS Church since Children's Songbook was published. Children in Primary sing the new songs, but a revised Songbook has not been published. Two new songs have been written in 2008 and 2009. Their lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
reinforce the roles that fathers and mothers play, and teaches that children can also contribute to the family and grow up and become fathers and mothers.
The Children's Songbook replaced Sing with Me, which was published in 1969.
External links
- Children's Songbook at LDS.org (includes index, text, music and free audio downloads)
- Children's Songbook - American Sign Language (ASL) at LDS.org (includes 47 free videos for download, each containging one song being signed in ASL)