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.
As the Bridegroom to His Chosen
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the king unto his realm,
As the keeper to the castle,
As the pilot to the helm,
As the captain to his soldiers,
As the shepherd to his lambs,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.
As the candle in the dark,
As the treasure in the coffer,
As the manna in the ark,
As the firelight in the winter,
As the sunlight in the spring,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.
As the music at the banquet,
As the sand unto the sea,
As refreshment to the fainting,
As the (goblets?) at the meal,
As the singing on the feast day,
As the amen to the prayer,
So, Lord, art Thou to me.
As the ruby in the setting,
As the honey in the comb,
As the light within the lantern,
As the father in the home,
As the eagle in the mountains,
As the sparrow in the nest,
So art Thou, Lord, to me.
As the sunshine in the heavens,
As the image in the glass,
As the fruit unto the fig tree,
As the dew unto the grass,
As the rainbow on the hilltop,
As the river in the plain,
So art Thou, Lord, to me
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's song "As the Bridegroom to His Chosen" is a beautiful piece that compares the Lord to various symbolic things in life. The first stanza compares the Lord to a bridegroom, king, keeper, pilot, captain, and shepherd - all of whom have a great responsibility and care for their chosen or their loved ones. This stanza describes the Lord as a caretaker and a protector, who guides us and takes care of us just as these important figures in our lives do.
The second stanza compares the Lord to a fountain, candle, treasure, manna, firelight, and sunlight. These objects give light, provide sustenance, and bring joy and warmth, just like the Lord does. The third stanza compares the Lord to music at a banquet, goblets at a meal, singing on a feast day, and the amen to a prayer. These are all things that provide spiritual nourishment and refreshment to our souls.
The fourth stanza compares the Lord to various things in nature, including a ruby, honey, light, father, eagle, and sparrow. These objects are from different parts of nature and symbolize different things, but they all represent the Lord's role in our lives as a protector, a guide, and a source of love and comfort. The final stanza compares the Lord to the sunshine, image in a glass, fruit, dew, rainbow, and river. These objects represent beauty, growth, nourishment, and renewal, just like the Lord provides for our souls and our lives.
This song is a beautiful reminder of the Lord's role in our lives and the many ways that He provides for us and protects us. The lyrics are poetic and meaningful, and the music is powerful and moving. It is a wonderful piece that encourages us to focus on the good things in life and to be thankful for the Lord's blessings.
Line by Line Meaning
As the bridegroom to his chosen,
Comparing the relationship between the Lord and the singer to that of a bridegroom to his bride.
As the king unto his realm,
Comparing the Lord's sovereignty and authority over His kingdom to that of a king reigning over his land.
As the keeper to the castle,
Comparing the Lord's protection over the singer to that of a keeper safeguarding a castle.
As the pilot to the helm,
Comparing the Lord's guidance and direction to that of a pilot steering a ship.
As the captain to his soldiers,
Comparing the Lord's leadership over His people to that of a captain commanding his troops.
As the shepherd to his lambs,
Comparing the Lord's care and tenderness to that of a shepherd tending to his flock.
So, Lord, art Thou to me.
Affirming the singer's belief in the Lord's role in their life.
As the fountain in the garden,
Comparing the Lord's provision and nourishment to that of a fountain in a garden.
As the candle in the dark,
Comparing the Lord's light in the darkness to that of a candle shining in the dark.
As the treasure in the coffer,
Comparing the Lord's value and worth to that of a treasure locked inside a coffer.
As the manna in the ark,
Comparing the Lord's sustenance and provision to that of manna kept in the ark.
As the firelight in the winter,
Comparing the warmth and comfort of the Lord's presence to that of a fire in the winter.
As the sunlight in the spring,
Comparing the Lord's life-giving power to that of sunlight in the spring.
As the music at the banquet,
Comparing the Lord's joy and celebration to that of music played at a feast.
As the sand unto the sea,
Comparing the Lord's abundance and vastness to that of sand in the sea.
As refreshment to the fainting,
Comparing the Lord's revitalization and rejuvenation to those who are weary and tired.
As the (goblets?) at the meal,
Comparing the Lord's provision of nourishment and sustenance to that of goblets at a meal.
As the singing on the feast day,
Comparing the Lord's rejoicing to that of singing on a day of celebration.
As the amen to the prayer,
Comparing the Lord's affirmation and agreement to that of saying 'amen' at the end of a prayer.
As the ruby in the setting,
Comparing the beauty and preciousness of the Lord to that of a ruby in a setting.
As the honey in the comb,
Comparing the sweetness and goodness of the Lord to that of honey in a comb.
As the light within the lantern,
Comparing the Lord's illuminating and guiding presence to that of a light inside a lantern.
As the father in the home,
Comparing the Lord's nurturing and caring relationship to that of a father in his home.
As the eagle in the mountains,
Comparing the Lord's strength and majesty to that of an eagle soaring in the mountains.
As the sparrow in the nest,
Comparing the Lord's protection and care to that of a sparrow in its nest.
So art Thou, Lord, to me.
Affirming the singer's belief in the Lord's role in their life.
As the sunshine in the heavens,
Comparing the Lord's illuminating and life-giving power to that of sunshine in the heavens.
As the image in the glass,
Comparing the Lord's reflection and representation to that of an image in a glass.
As the fruit unto the fig tree,
Comparing the Lord's provision of nourishment and life to that of fruit on a fig tree.
As the dew unto the grass,
Comparing the Lord's refreshing and reviving power to that of dew on the grass.
As the rainbow on the hilltop,
Comparing the Lord's beauty and hope to that of a rainbow on a hilltop.
As the river in the plain,
Comparing the Lord's life-giving and refreshing power to that of a river in a plain.
So art Thou, Lord, to me.
Affirming the singer's belief in the Lord's role in their life.
Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.