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.
God Of Our Fathers
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty
In all the starry band
Of shining worlds
In splendor through the skies
Our grateful songs
Before thy throne arise
Thy love divine
Hath led us in the past
In this free land
By thee our lot is cast
Be thou our Ruler
Guardian, Guide, and Stay
Thy word our law
Thy paths our chosen way
From war's alarms
From deadly pestilence
Be thy strong arm
Our ever sure defense
Thy true religion
In our heart increase
Thy bounteous goodness
Nourish us in peace
The lyrics of the song "God of Our Fathers" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a hymn of gratitude and supplication to God. It begins by acknowledging God as the Almighty Creator who has led us through the stars in celestial beauty. The song continues by recognizing that God's love has guided us thus far and blessed us with the freedom of this land. The lyrics then move on to request God to continue to guide and protect us as our Ruler, Guardian, and Stay, and to let His word and path be our guide.
The song also acknowledges the vulnerability of humankind, especially during times of war and deadly diseases, and thus asks God for His strong arm to be our defense. Lastly, the lyrics express a desire for true religion to increase in people's hearts and for God's goodness to nourish us all in peace. This hymn is a reminder of how the American nation was founded on faith in God and how, even in uncertain times, we can trust that God will always guide and protect us.
Line by Line Meaning
God of our fathers
We sing this song in praise of the God that our ancestors worshipped
Whose almighty hand
The God we worship has all-encompassing power
Leads forth in beauty
God's power is shown in the beautiful creations that we see around us
In all the starry band
God is responsible for the beautiful stars and galaxies in the sky
Of shining worlds
God has created many beautiful worlds
In splendor through the skies
All of God's creations are magnificent and awe-inspiring
Our grateful songs
We show our appreciation to God through the songs we sing
Before thy throne arise
We offer our songs of gratitude to God, who is always listening
Thy love divine
We recognize God's love for us, which is pure and perfect
Hath led us in the past
God has guided us in the past to where we are today
In this free land
We are grateful to God for the freedom we have in this land
By thee our lot is cast
We acknowledge that our fate is in God's hands
Be thou our Ruler
We ask God to be our leader and guide
Guardian, Guide, and Stay
We look to God as our protector, advisor, and support
Thy word our law
We will follow God's teachings as our moral code
Thy paths our chosen way
We have chosen to follow God's path in life
From war's alarms
We pray to God to protect us from the devastation of war
From deadly pestilence
We ask God to protect us from deadly diseases
Be thy strong arm
We ask God to be our source of strength and support
Our ever sure defense
We believe that God is our unwavering protector
Thy true religion
We seek to follow God's true teachings and principles
In our heart increase
We hope that our faith and devotion to God will grow stronger
Thy bounteous goodness
We thank God for his generous and abundant blessings
Nourish us in peace
We ask God to provide us with inner peace and contentment
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Dp, Daniel C. Roberts, Riet Tekst Lodder, G. W. Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nanik Dasani
God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.
Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide and stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.
From war's alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.
Stephen Garrington
I was reading the hymn "God of our Fathers," a prayer for our nation. I find its words and found these decisions far more vital than the ones most of the USA is worried about. These are the proper responses to God's blessings in these two verses. You might also note how far we have strayed from this prayer:
2. Thy Love divine hath led us in the past.
In this free land by thee our lot is cast.
Be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay.
Thy Word Our Law, thy Paths our chosen ways.
3. From wars alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be thy Strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy Bounteous goodness, nourish us in peace.
Levi Will
Unfortunately, having been born this century, I did not grow up singing this. Yet having heard it now, Lord willing, it will stay with me forever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.
Meh
Beautiful, heartfelt and deeply touching words 💖 by a man who experienced the American civil war, sung by a truly awesome choir! 🙏🏻💎 ❤️🇺🇸❤️
Anita B. Buffaloe
Yes, I remember singing this in grade school, too. And even though our world is ever changing, I thank God He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. Most of all His truth lives on when songs like these continue to echo throughout time in memorial.
Ioana Cohut Caba
Is true what did you wrote!!
Ioana Cohut Caba
God is the same all the time!!
Dan White
Me too. 2nd grade is when I first heard it and learned it
bill seibert
This is the best Tribute I have ever heard for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Magrrem Caihar
I remember singing this in grade school and Junior high. Life was much better when God was in our lives.
Anita David
Almost can't be said more simply and better - correct Sandra.
Kent Jarvis
Sandra Castrini-Catalano We love you Sandra.