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 Whose Almighty Hand
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
God of Our Fathers Whose Almighty Hand is a hymn that expresses gratitude and dependence on God. The first verse begins by acknowledging God's power and grandeur, describing His ability to lead and create the vast array of stars in the sky. The second verse highlights the role of God's love in leading and guiding us in the past, including the establishment of America as a free land. The verse goes further to express willingness to submit to God's authority, with references to His word as our law and His path as the chosen way.
The final verse is a plea for protection from war and pestilence, with a request for God to be our strong defense. This is followed with a prayer that true religion will increase in our hearts and that God's bounteous goodness will nourish us in peace. The hymn is a reminder that despite the challenges of life, God's love, guidance and protection remain available to us if we seek it.
Line by Line Meaning
God of our fathers
We worship the same God as our forefathers
Whose almighty hand
God is all-powerful
Leads forth in beauty
God leads us in a beautiful way
In all the starry band
God's power extends to all the stars in the sky
Of shining worlds
There are countless worlds that God created
In splendor through the skies
Looking up at the sky is a reminder of God's majestic power
Our grateful songs
We sing songs of gratitude to God
Before thy throne arise
Our songs of gratitude are directed towards God's throne
Thy love divine
God's love is beyond understanding
Hath led us in the past
God has guided us in the past
In this free land
God has blessed us with freedom in our country
By thee our lot is cast
God determines our destiny
Be thou our Ruler
God is the ultimate authority
Guardian, Guide, and Stay
God protects, leads, and supports us
Thy word our law
We follow God's word as our guide
Thy paths our chosen way
We follow God's path as our choice
From war's alarms
We ask God for peace and protection from war
From deadly pestilence
We ask God for protection from deadly diseases
Be thy strong arm
We ask God to defend us
Our ever sure defense
God is our reliable protector
Thy true religion
We ask God to increase true faith in our hearts
In our heart increase
We ask God to strengthen our faith in our hearts
Thy bounteous goodness
We ask God to bless us with abundance
Nourish us in peace
We ask God to sustain us with peace
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HAMMERLY, JAMES F. / WARREN, GEORGE W.
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.