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 Great The Wisdom And The Love
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed, and die!
2. His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
3. By strict obedience Jesus won
The prize with glory rife:
"Thy will, O God, not mine be done,"
Adorned his mortal life.
4. He marked the path and led the way,
And ev'ry point defines
To light and life and endless day
Where God's full presence shines.
5. In mem'ry of the broken flesh
We eat the broken bread
And witness with the cup, afresh,
Our faith in Christ, our Head.
6. How great, how glorious, how complete
Redemption's grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!
The lyrics of "How Great The Wisdom And The Love" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir express reverence and awe for the wisdom and love that permeate the heavens. It speaks of how this divine wisdom and love prompted the sending of the Savior from above to endure suffering, bleeding, and death. The second verse emphasizes the significance of Jesus willingly shedding his precious blood and sacrificing his sinless life to save a world plagued by guilt.
The third verse highlights Jesus' strict obedience as he humbly submitted to God's will, even in the face of adversity. His mortal life was adorned with the attitude of "Thy will, O God, not mine be done," ultimately leading him to victory and glory. The fourth verse acknowledges Jesus as the one who paved the path and acted as the guide, showing humanity the way to attain light, life, and the full presence of God.
The fifth verse adds a symbolic element to the lyrics by referencing the sacrament. It alludes to the broken flesh and broken bread that represent the sacrifice of Jesus. Partaking in the sacrament becomes a way for believers to renew their faith in Christ as the Head of their lives. Finally, the sixth verse concludes with the grand design of redemption itself, where justice, love, and mercy merge in perfect harmony.
Overall, these lyrics serve as a hymn praising the divine wisdom and love that brought forth salvation through Jesus Christ. It acknowledges the sacrifice and obedience of Jesus while inviting believers to remember and renew their faith through the sacrament.
Line by Line Meaning
How great the wisdom and the love
The wisdom and love are so immense and extraordinary
That filled the courts on high
These qualities filled the heavenly realm
And sent the Savior from above
They led to the sending of the Savior from heaven
To suffer, bleed, and die!
To undergo immense suffering, bleeding, and death!
His precious blood he freely spilt;
He willingly poured out his precious blood;
His life he freely gave,
He willingly sacrificed his own life,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
As an innocent offering to atone for guilt,
A dying world to save.
In order to save a world facing destruction.
By strict obedience Jesus won
Through unwavering obedience, Jesus achieved
The prize with glory rife:
A glorious reward,
"Thy will, O God, not mine be done,"
Choosing to submit to God's will above his own,
Adorned his mortal life.
This adorned and beautified his human existence.
He marked the path and led the way,
He clearly defined the path and guided others,
And ev'ry point defines
Explaining each aspect in detail,
To light and life and endless day
Leading towards illumination, eternal life, and everlasting day
Where God's full presence shines.
In a place where the complete presence of God radiates.
In mem'ry of the broken flesh
As a remembrance of the broken body
We eat the broken bread
We partake in consuming the symbolic broken bread
And witness with the cup, afresh,
And we bear witness through the renewed act of drinking from the cup
Our faith in Christ, our Head.
Expressing our faith in Christ, our leader, and guide.
How great, how glorious, how complete
Such immense greatness, glory, and perfection
Redemption's grand design,
The magnificent plan of redemption
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
Where the concepts of justice, love, and mercy converge
In harmony divine!
In a divine and perfect harmony!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Thomas McIntyre / Eliza R. Snow, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beatmaker8882
This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that Jesus still stands triumphant over death, although He stands on wounded feet. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that He still extends unending grace, although He extends it with pierced palms and scarred wrists. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that we can sing before a sweat-stained garden, a nail-driven cross, and a gloriously empty tomb:
How great, how glorious, how complete
Redemption’s grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!
@admdavid
As requested:
1]
How great the wisdom and the love
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed, and die!
[2]
His precious blood he freely spilt;
His life he freely gave,
A sinless sacrifice for guilt,
A dying world to save.
[3]
By strict obedience Jesus won
The prize with glory rife:
"Thy will, O God, not mine be done,"
Adorned his mortal life.
[4]
He marked the path and led the way,
And every point defines
To light and life and endless day
Where God's full presence shines.
[5]
How great, how glorious, how complete,
Redemption's grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!
[6]
In memory of the broken flesh
We eat the broken bread;
And witness with the cup, afresh,
Our faith in Christ, our Head.
- Eliza R. Snow
@trevortomah8508
I'm so glad. GOD The Father in HIS wisdom and love. Made an way of salvation through JESUS His Son, thank you with all that i am, thank you.
@allanandjana
Eliza Snow . . . . no one has ever written so intimate as she about the Savior, and Father. I tear up as I sing and simply read the lyric of her songs. Thank you dear sister !
@nthotomosikili1653
This is the Holy-Hymn I will
liked to be sung during my
Funeral.
@beatmaker8882
This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that Jesus still stands triumphant over death, although He stands on wounded feet. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that He still extends unending grace, although He extends it with pierced palms and scarred wrists. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that we can sing before a sweat-stained garden, a nail-driven cross, and a gloriously empty tomb:
How great, how glorious, how complete
Redemption’s grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!
@BBQ1953
Redemption’s grand design where Justice, Love, and Mercy meet in Harmony devine! What a beautiful concept!
@laurap9428
This version of this song sends shivers up and down my spine. Probably the best version I have ever heard. The Spirit of our Lord was there that day!
@BrochRobert
The rendition of this beautiful hymn is truly wonderful. I never tire of listening to it.
@bestill365
I was in the conference center when this was performed. To say it was powerful is an understatement! How great the wisdom!
@ayishanazir4292
Oh, that's beautiful. It's an reminder to all of us about how much Jesus Christ, our Savior, has done for us❤
@kcksboy
I turned 65 last week. I have been hearing this wonderful hymn since I was a teenager. The Spirit is always present in my heart and even now, after just listening to this presentation, tears fill my eyes. I am thankful for Heavenly Father's loving provision in the great plan of the Gospel made possible by the life, death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be all honor, praise and glory throughout all eternity. I so look forward to His promised return.