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.
How Firm a Foundation
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ye Saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith
In his excellent word
What more can he say
Than to you he hath said
You woo unto Jesus
You woo unto Jesus
For refuge have fled
In every condition
In sickness in health
In poverty’s vale
Or abounding in wealth
At home of abroad
On the land or the sea
As thy days may demand
As thy days may demand
As thy days may demand
So thy succor shall be
The song How Firm a Foundation by Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a hymn that talks about the strength and stability of faith in God. The opening line "how firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word" sets the tone and message of the song. It tells us that our foundation is firm and unwavering when we put our faith in God's word. In tough times, when we feel lost and unsure, we can cling to our faith in God and find refuge in Him.
The next section of the song repeats the phrase "You woo unto Jesus" three times. This statement emphasizes the idea of seeking refuge in Jesus. Seeking refuge in God during troubling times is a recurring theme in Christianity. The hymn also recognizes that life is unpredictable and full of ups and downs, which is represented in the line "in every condition, in sickness, in health, in poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth, at home or abroad, on the land or the sea, as thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be." This passage acknowledges that no matter what challenges we may face, we can count on God to provide us with the strength and support we need to persevere.
Overall, How Firm a Foundation is a beautiful hymn that reminds us of the comfort and stability that comes from having faith in God. It speaks to the human experience of facing hardships and the importance of turning to God for refuge and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
How firm a foundation
The basis of our faith is solid and unwavering
Ye Saints of the Lord
This faith is for those who follow and believe in God
Is laid for your faith
The foundation is there to support your belief
In his excellent word
God's teachings provide a strong foundation
What more can he say
What else can God do to show his support?
Than to you he hath said
He has already said everything you need to know
You woo unto Jesus
Seek help and guidance from Jesus.
For refuge have fled
When you need safety, turn to Jesus.
In every condition
No matter the circumstances
In sickness in health
Whether you are sick or healthy
In poverty’s vale
Whether you are in poverty or wealth.
Or abounding in wealth
Whether you have little or have much
At home of abroad
Whether you are at home or traveling abroad.
On the land or the sea
Whether you are on land or sea.
As thy days may demand
Whatever challenges come up in life.
So thy succor shall be
God's help will be there to support you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN RIPPON, PETER TIEFENBACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nanikdasani4547
1. How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
2. In ev ry condition in sickness, in health,
In poverty s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.
3. Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to
Stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
4. When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not thee o erflow,
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee, and sanctify to thee,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
5. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, thy dross to consume,
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
6. E en down to old age, all my people shall prove
My sov reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when gray hair shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs shall they still, like lambs shall they
Still,
Like lambs shall they still in my bosom be borne.
7. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I ll never, no never, I ll never, no never,
I ll never, no never, no never forsake!
@NinaHansen2008
This hymn keep me going during the grueling last three months of caring for my dying husband. The last verse, which is often not sung, is the most comforting of any hymn I've ever heard. I'm so glad they sing it here.
@MichelleW72
My feelings exactly!
@cutie082778
I’m so sorry for your loss
@xaviercarrera3802
always choke up on the third verse I believe when He says "Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid." I hear his voice every single time, I love him.
@starbuckslover5250
Me too! I replayed that "For I am thy God and will still give thee aid" part at least 6 times and was crying the whole time! This is my 2nd favorite hymn. Love it!
@scrimsii989
We actually sang this song during church one Sunday, and during the part you said I had a very hard time singing because of how powerful that message is to me.
@alexisflitton9278
:)
@brianflynn5841
The third verse is very sacred to me. The Spirit brought this verse to my remembrance during one of the darkest times of my life. I had actually read an account in the Ensign or New Era (can't remember which) of another Saint who had a similar experience, and therefore the Spirit brought this account, with the comforting third verse, to my remembrance. The Comforter "will bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Does anyone know whicj scripture this is? I forget. I think it is in John chapter 14 or 15.
@jimmyrere3732
yes me too ,LOVE THE LORD
@metarra
"Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand."