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.
O Lord Most Holy
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O Lord most mighty,
O Loving Father,
We praise forevermore.
Help us to know Thee,
Know Thee and love Thee;
Father, Father, grant us Thy truth and love.
Rule Thou our willful hearts;
Keep Thine our wand'ring thoughts;
In all our sorrows let us find our rest in Thee:
And in temptation's hour
Save through Thy mighty pow'r.
Thine aid O send us.
Hear us in mercy, O Lord, we pray.
Show us Thy mercy,
So shall we live and sing praise to Thee.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's "O Lord Most Holy" is a hymn that expresses gratitude and supplication to God. The song opens with a recognition of God's holiness, mightiness, and loving nature. The next few verses are devoted to a prayer for guidance, help, and protection, asking God to help us know and love Him and to keep our willful hearts and wandering thoughts on the right path. The hymn speaks of finding peace and rest in God during times of sorrow and relying on His strength to overcome temptation. The final verse expresses a desire to live in accordance with God's mercy and to sing His praises.
Line by Line Meaning
O Lord most holy,
We address the Lord as the most sacred and pure being.
O Lord most mighty,
We acknowledge the power and strength of the Lord.
O Loving Father,
We recognize the Lord as a caring and nurturing parent figure.
We praise forevermore.
Our appreciation and worship of the Lord is eternal.
Help us to know Thee,
We ask for guidance in understanding the Lord's nature and character.
Know Thee and love Thee;
We desire to have a deep knowledge and affection for the Lord.
Father, Father, grant us Thy truth and love.
We request that the Lord provide us with his wisdom and affection.
Father, Father, guide and protect us.
We seek the Lord's guidance and protection from potential harm.
Rule Thou our willful hearts;
We ask the Lord to have control over our impulsive and selfish desires.
Keep Thine our wand'ring thoughts;
We request that the Lord keep our minds focused on what is valuable and productive.
In all our sorrows let us find our rest in Thee:
We desire to find comfort and peace in the Lord during times of suffering.
And in temptation's hour
We acknowledge that we will face moments of weakness and desire to sin.
Save through Thy mighty pow'r.
We request the Lord's divine intervention to overcome temptation and resist sin.
Thine aid O send us.
We ask for the Lord's assistance and support.
Hear us in mercy, O Lord, we pray.
We humbly ask the Lord to listen to our requests and show us mercy.
Show us Thy mercy,
We ask the Lord to be compassionate towards us and forgive our shortcomings.
So shall we live and sing praise to Thee.
If the Lord shows us mercy, we will live in appreciation and worship of Him.
Contributed by Micah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@affiniti3
She was my Dads favourite singer. He used to play her for me when I was a child and say ‘now this is what it sounds like when you don’t force the voice’. I grew up listening to her and as I get older I’m more and more taken aback by how perfect her voice is - the perfect balance between warmth, purity and authenticity. ❤️
@jamesbuck1034
Quite the compliment coming from such an accomplished musician herself!
@Dubbingboy932
I missed her angelic voice
@colleenmcintyre1853
Beautiful singing by both soloist and choir, and fab orchestral accompaniment. 😊
@pamelakellman7321
Simply beautiful.
@user-xc5zy3uu7x
Her angelic voice remind me my lovely daughter and hope the heavens are singing with her and may soul rest in eternal peace
@exmachinasolucoesemt.i.ene4923
The very same year my mother died. Not COVID. Alzheheimer, after struggling with this disease for 10 long years. We did it side by side. My beloved mom and me. She was a God's humble servant. Well, not that humble, but we're all faulty. I heard Syssel for the first time when I was 45. We are the same age. Now, we are both 51. She's a gifted singer. My prefered. I confess. I have a crush on her. How could I not ? ! She makes me cry all the time. How can such a voice exist among us, mortals ? Jr Alves - Brazil.
@francescahamilton6856
Amazing sooo wonderful. That bell voice. Imagine her singing in the mountains of Norway ahhhh ❤❤❤❤
@edwardgabriel1946
How grateful I am to be living in a time when I can listen and enjoy the talent that God has endowed certain of His children. Sissel, thank you for sharing your talent with the rest of us.
@susangrant1824
Was my mother’s favorite hymns. Had it sung at my husband’s funeral mass June 2022. God Bless