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.
Bless This House
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bless this house, O Lord we pray,
Make it safe by night and day ...
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out ...
Let thy peace lie overall ...
Bless this door that it may prove,
Ever open,
To joy and love ...
Bless these windows shining bright,
Letting in God's Heavenly light,
Bless the hearth, the painting there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer!
Bless the folk who dwell within,
Keep them pure and free from sin ...
Bless us all that we may be,
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee ...
Bless us all that one day we may dwell,
O Lord! With Thee!
The song "Bless This House" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a prayer-like ode to a home, imploring for safety and protection for those who live inside. It begins with a request for the Lord to bless the house and make it safe, from dusk until dawn. The song continues by asking for protection from want and trouble, and for a roof and chimneys that will bring peace to those inside. The lyrics then move on to ask that the door remain open to joy and love, while the windows let in Heavenly light. The hearth and painting are blessed, with smoke rising from the fire like a prayer. Finally, the people who live inside the home are blessed to keep them pure and free from sin, so that they are fit to dwell with the Lord.
The lyrics of "Bless This House" bring a sense of comfort and security to those who hear them. The song is a reminder that home is a sacred space, where one can find refuge from the troubles of the world. The request for blessings on the physical aspects of the house, as well as the people who live in it, makes it clear that the home is a place to be cherished and protected.
Line by Line Meaning
Bless this house, O Lord we pray,
We humbly ask for Your blessings upon this house, dear Lord.
Make it safe by night and day ...
Protect us and keep us safe both during the night and the day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
We ask for Your blessings to surround these strong and stable walls.
Keeping want and trouble out ...
May these walls keep any lack or distress outside.
Bless the roof and chimneys tall,
May Your blessings extend to the top of this house, including the roof and tall chimneys.
Let thy peace lie overall ...
May Your peace spread throughout every inch of this home.
Bless this door that it may prove,
We ask for Your blessings upon this door that it may serve as a welcoming entrance.
Ever open,
May this door remain open to joy and love.
To joy and love ...
May happiness and love enter and fill this home through this open door.
Bless these windows shining bright,
May Your blessings shine through these bright windows.
Letting in God's Heavenly light,
May these windows allow Your Heavenly light to flood this home.
Bless the hearth, the painting there,
We ask for Your blessings upon the fireplace and the painting that hangs above it.
With smoke ascending like a prayer!
May the smoke that rises from the hearth symbolize our prayers ascending to You.
Bless the folk who dwell within,
May Your blessings surround all those who live within these walls.
Keep them pure and free from sin ...
Help us to live pure and sin-free lives while dwelling in this home.
Bless us all that we may be,
We pray for Your blessings to be upon every person who enters and leaves this home.
Fit O Lord to dwell with thee ...
May we always strive to be worthy of dwelling with You.
Bless us all that one day we may dwell,
May Your blessings lead us to one day dwell with You.
O Lord! With Thee!
Forever in Your presence, dear Lord.
Writer(s): may H. Brahe, Music Helen Taylor
Contributed by Thomas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
joão Paulo
Me emociono muito quando escuto !
John Pont
I wish this hymn would be in our LDS Hymnal - I would love that we would include it in our meetings at Thanksgiving/ Christmas time
nnedimma prudence
I love this song❤️❤️
Adriaan Schutte
Beautiful voice, thrilling top notes, excellent projection and diction combined with ample power. The man can SING@@
Joe Smith
Mr. Olsen has one of those incredibly rare, perfect tenor voices that transfix the listener. I don’t know how many times I’ve listened to this rendition and still get goosebumps. Magnificent.
Pamela Kellman
Beautiful.
SC MC DONALD
Beautifully done!!! Awesome voices!!!
Juarez Leite
Hear this hymn makes me feel light with a peace without end!
Nyck461
Marvelous solo and amazing choir and orchestra background.
In Texas USA on a Wednesday night after a day of too many bad news from around of the country, this song "Bless this house" brought me inspirational message.
Only GOD can make our house blessed. The Bible tell us about it on Psalm 127
Larry Dean
I am no Stanford Olsen, but I have have lost count how often that I have rudely sang along with him on this song. Just can't help myself, at 68, I still have the high notes, perhaps thanks to Mr. Olsen.