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.
Holy Art Thou
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Aah
When thru the woods and forest glades I wander
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
When Christ shall come,
With shouts of acclamation
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
How great...Thou art
How great Thou art
Oh Lord, my God
How great Thou art
How great Thou art
Oh Lord, my God
(repeat)
The song "How Great Thou Art" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a hymn of praise and gratitude to God for His awe-inspiring power and love. The lyrics evoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for God's creation, from the vastness of the universe to the beauty of nature. The opening verse speaks of the immense power of God, symbolized by the stars and thunder, and the beauty and complexity of His creation. The second verse is a reflection on nature and the tranquility it brings, and how it reminds us of God's presence in our lives. The final verse is a declaration of faith in God's promise of eternal life, and a recognition of His greatness.
The song has been performed by many artists and is a popular hymn in many Christian churches. It was originally written as a Swedish poem titled "O Store Gud" in 1885 by Carl Boberg, and was later set to music in various arrangements. One of the most famous arrangements was by Stuart K. Hine, who translated the Swedish hymn into English in the 1940s. This version is the most widely known and is often sung in churches and at other Christian gatherings.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
O Lord, my God, I am overwhelmed with wonder as I reflect on your immense power
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
When I think about the countless worlds and galaxies you have created with your own hands
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
I am amazed by the beauty of the stars and the power of the thunder that I can hear
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
I am reminded of the immense power and presence you hold throughout the entire universe
When thru the woods and forest glades I wander
As I wander through the woods and forests, surrounded by nature's beauty
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees
Listening to the sweet melodies of the birds sitting on the branches of the trees
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
Observing the grandeur of lofty mountains as I stand at their peak
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze
Hearing the gentle sound of the brook flowing past me and feeling the soothing breeze on my face
Then sings my soul
In that moment, my soul bursts into song
My Savior God to Thee
I sing to my Savior, God
How great Thou art
Celebrating how truly great you are
When Christ shall come,
When Christ returns
With shouts of acclamation
Amidst thunderous cheers of triumph
And take me home
And takes me to my eternal home
What joy shall fill my heart
Overwhelming joy will fill my heart
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration
I will bow before you, humbly adoring you
And there proclaim,
And declare with pride
"My God, how great Thou art!"
"My God, you are truly great!"
How great Thou art
Reiterating how truly great you are
Oh Lord, my God
Addressing God as the Lord and my God
How great Thou art
Declaring once again how great God truly is
How great Thou art
Repeating the phrase to emphasize the immensity of God's greatness
Oh Lord, my God
Addressing God once more as the Lord and my God
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DAVID DELARGY, MIKE HEDGES, SALLI ISAAK, EUGENE O'HAGAN, MARTIN O'HAGAN, HERBERT SALLY, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind