We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
Encyclopedia
"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" is a hymn
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has been sung at most general conferences of the LDS Church since it was published in 1863.
The text of the hymn was written sometime between 1860 and 1863 by William Fowler
, an English convert to Mormonism
. Joseph F. Smith
reported that he was present at the first church worship service in England where Fowler brought the song to be sung. The song was first published in the LDS Church's 1863 hymnal, and has been included in every LDS hymnal published since. The music was written by Caroline Sheridan Norton.
George D. Pyper
described "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" as "exclusively a Latter-day Saint hymn; a Mormon heartthrob; a song of the Restoration". The name of the hymn is often used as the title of lessons in church curriculum or as the title of church sermons and inspirational messages.
The first verse of the song acknowledges the Latter-day Saints' gratitude to God
for the President of the Church, who is revered as a modern prophet
. Subsequent verses thank God for the care and protection he provides to the members of the church.
The song is one of the 45 hymns that the church publishes in its basic curriculum sources that are used in areas of the world where the church is new or underdeveloped. As a result, it is one of the first hymns new Latter-day Saints receive and learn.
"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" is hymn #19 in the current LDS Church hymnal
. The copyright for this version is owned by Intellectual Reserve, Inc., a corporation established by the LDS Church to hold its intellectual property
. However, Intellectual Reserve allows copying or downloading of the music and lyrics of the song for incidental, noncommercial church, or noncommercial home uses. A similar version of the hymn is published as Hymn 307 in the Revelation section of Hymns of the Saints
by the Community of Christ
's Herald House
publishing arm.
fireside being held at Brigham Young University
's Marriott Center
on February 7, 1993, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Howard W. Hunter
was confronted by Cody Judy, who rushed onto the rostrum and threatened Hunter and the audience of 15,000–17,000. Judy carried a briefcase that he claimed contained a bomb and held what appeared to be a detonator-like device. Judy demanded that Hunter read a three-page document that supposedly detailed God's plan for Judy to lead the church, which Hunter refused to do. The audience spontaneously sang "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet", during which students from the audience and then security personnel overtook Judy. After Judy was taken away, Hunter delivered his prepared remarks, a talk entitled "An Anchor to the Souls of Men".
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns
This article is about LDS church hymns in general, for the book, see Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Latter-day Saint hymns come from many sources, and there have been numerous hymn books printed by the Church since its organization in 1830...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has been sung at most general conferences of the LDS Church since it was published in 1863.
The text of the hymn was written sometime between 1860 and 1863 by William Fowler
William Fowler (Mormon)
William Fowler was the author of the popular Latter-day Saint hymn "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet".Fowler was born in Australia to an English father, John Fowler, and an Irish mother, Bridget Niel. His father was in the British military, and when Fowler was three his father was relocated to...
, an English convert to Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
. Joseph F. Smith
Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Sr. was the sixth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
reported that he was present at the first church worship service in England where Fowler brought the song to be sung. The song was first published in the LDS Church's 1863 hymnal, and has been included in every LDS hymnal published since. The music was written by Caroline Sheridan Norton.
George D. Pyper
George D. Pyper
George Dollinger Pyper was the fifth general superintendent of the Sunday School of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a member and manager of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the editor of a number of Latter Day Saint periodicals.Pyper was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory...
described "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" as "exclusively a Latter-day Saint hymn; a Mormon heartthrob; a song of the Restoration". The name of the hymn is often used as the title of lessons in church curriculum or as the title of church sermons and inspirational messages.
The first verse of the song acknowledges the Latter-day Saints' gratitude to God
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....
for the President of the Church, who is revered as a modern prophet
Prophet, seer, and revelator
Prophet, seer, and revelator is an ecclesiastical title used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is currently applied to the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
. Subsequent verses thank God for the care and protection he provides to the members of the church.
The song is one of the 45 hymns that the church publishes in its basic curriculum sources that are used in areas of the world where the church is new or underdeveloped. As a result, it is one of the first hymns new Latter-day Saints receive and learn.
"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" is hymn #19 in the current LDS Church hymnal
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 copyright for this version is owned by Intellectual Reserve, Inc., a corporation established by the LDS Church to hold its intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
. However, Intellectual Reserve allows copying or downloading of the music and lyrics of the song for incidental, noncommercial church, or noncommercial home uses. A similar version of the hymn is published as Hymn 307 in the Revelation section of Hymns of the Saints
Hymns of the Saints
Hymns of the Saints, published in Independence, Missouri by Herald House in 1981, is the official English language hymnal of the Community of Christ...
by the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
's Herald House
Herald House
Herald House or Herald Publishing House is the publishing division of the Community of Christ in Independence, Missouri. It publishes books, periodicals and other materials at the direction of the First Presidency. Its history dates back to the publication of a church periodical called the True...
publishing arm.
Unusual usage
While preparing to speak at a CESChurch Educational System
The Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints consists of several institutions that provide religious and secular education for both Latter-day Saint and non-Latter-day Saint elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and adult learners...
fireside being held at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
's Marriott Center
Marriott Center
Marriott Center is a 22,700-seat multi-purpose arena at 1497 N 450 E on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and is home to the BYU Cougars men's and women's basketball teams. It is also used for weekly devotionals and forums...
on February 7, 1993, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is a priesthood calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In general, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve is the most senior Apostle in the church, aside from the President of the Church...
Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter
Howard William Hunter was the fourteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1994 to 1995. His nine month presidential tenure is the shortest in the history of the Church...
was confronted by Cody Judy, who rushed onto the rostrum and threatened Hunter and the audience of 15,000–17,000. Judy carried a briefcase that he claimed contained a bomb and held what appeared to be a detonator-like device. Judy demanded that Hunter read a three-page document that supposedly detailed God's plan for Judy to lead the church, which Hunter refused to do. The audience spontaneously sang "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet", during which students from the audience and then security personnel overtook Judy. After Judy was taken away, Hunter delivered his prepared remarks, a talk entitled "An Anchor to the Souls of Men".
External links
- "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" : words and music
- "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" : free MP3 downloads