The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.
The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.
Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.
Abide with Me
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day.
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
The lyrics of "Abide with Me" by Mormon Tabernacle Choir seek comfort and support from the Lord in times of darkness and helplessness. The first two lines set the tone of the hymn, with the plea to God to abide with the singer as the night comes quickly. The following lines express the desperation felt when other helpers fail and bring no comfort. The Lord is the only hope of the helpless, and the singer implores God to stay by their side.
Line by Line Meaning
Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;
Stay with me! The day is ending quickly;
The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!
The darkness is growing, stay with me Lord!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
When everyone else has left and I have no comfort,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
You are my only help, stay with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day.
Life is passing by quickly and coming to an end.
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
The pleasures of this world are fading and its luxuries are temporary.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
The dawn of the eternal realm is approaching and the illusions of the earth are disappearing.
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Lord, stay with me in both life and death.
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
Lord, stay with me in both life and death.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O CAPASSO
Written by: KATHERINE MARIA JENKINS, , TRADITIONAL, PHIL MARSHALL, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cenpmexico
Lyrics
1. Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.
Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me!
3. I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!
@J9Cole
Absolutely beautiful. I'm not Christian, but I love this hymn. Thank you
@anna.realssss
I was a seventh day Adventist and grew up listening to this song and many other hymns!
@joannethibault6016
My dad's favorite hymn when he was playing the organ in the United Church. H' passed now but I can still hear him sing it in my imagination.
@ApotropaicV
The best rendition of this song.
I’m in tears from the love and kindness it means.
@ecopsych101
Many other choirs try WAY too hard to make their own special “variation” of this wonderful classic song. I appreciate the director for keeping this song intact
@joej1135
Thank you for posting this today on twitter. My heart has been heavy with the death of Kobe Bryant and others on that flight.
@michaelangelo8898
I'm thankful to have ever known this hymn
@dimitriosdaskalakis6127
So beautiful. This is one of my favourite hymns and this is perhaps my favourite version. 💕
@achukusharon6388
Woke up with this hymn in mind today
@GrammyTapDancing
Always beautiful on here 💜✝️