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.
Sunshine In My Soul
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light.
O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face
There is music in my soul today,
A carol to my King;
And Jesus, listening, can hear
The song I cannot sing.
O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face
There is sunshine in my soul.
There is gladness in my soul today,
And hope, and praise, and love,
For blessings which He gives me now,
For joys laid up above.
O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
When Jesus shows His smiling face
There is sunshine in my soul.
When Jesus shows His smiling face
There is sunshine in my soul.
The song "Sunshine In My Soul" by Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a hymn of praise to Jesus Christ, who is regarded as the light that brings happiness, peace, and hope to believers. The first stanza of the song describes how the sunshine in the soul of the singer is more radiant and glorious than any sunshine in the earthly sky. This is because the singer's soul is filled with the light of Christ, who brightens their life and brings them joy.
The second stanza speaks of the music in the singer's soul, which is a "carol to my King," a song of praise and worship to Jesus Christ. While the singer might be unable to sing the song perfectly, Jesus can hear the melody and understands the depth of the singer's love and devotion.
The final stanza reflects on the blessings that Christ provides. The singer's soul is full of gladness and hope because of the blessings that Christ has given them. The joys that are laid up in heaven are a promise of the eternal happiness and peace that come with serving Jesus. The song concludes by affirming that when Jesus shows his smiling face, there is sunshine in the soul.
Overall, "Sunshine In My Soul" is a song of gratitude and joy that expresses the singer's deep love and devotion to Jesus Christ. It is a hymn that celebrates the spiritual blessings that come with following Christ and serves as an affirmation of faith.
Line by Line Meaning
There is sunshine in my soul today,
Today I'm incredibly happy and content, as if it is the sunniest day in my heart.
More glorious and bright than glows in any earthly sky,
This feeling is even more incredible than the most beautiful sky on earth.
For Jesus is my light.
The reason for this happiness is that Jesus guides me through life and is my inspiration.
O there's sunshine, blessed sunshine,
The feeling is so powerful that it is like a blessing of sunshine.
While the peaceful, happy moments roll;
These moments of joy continue to last and bring peace and happiness.
When Jesus shows His smiling face
When I feel connected to Jesus and his love, it brings a huge smile to my face.
There is music in my soul today,
My heart is filled with beautiful music that represents my love and devotion to Jesus.
A carol to my King;
I'm singing a song of praise and worship to my King, Jesus.
And Jesus, listening, can hear the song I cannot sing.
Even though I may not be the best singer, Jesus can hear the devotion in my heart.
There is gladness in my soul today,
I'm filled with a sense of joy and happiness that I cannot deny.
And hope, and praise, and love,
My heart is overflowing with hope, admiration, and love for Jesus and the blessings he bestows upon me.
For blessings which He gives me now, For joys laid up above.
I'm grateful for the blessings I have received in life, and I also look forward to the future joys that are in store for me in heaven.
When Jesus shows His smiling face There is sunshine in my soul.
When I feel close to Jesus and his love, my heart is filled with joy and happiness, just like bright sunshine on a beautiful day.
Contributed by Jason R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hollidayevery
We sang this song way back in 1972 when I was a high school student in COMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, where as a young African American student I learned classics from religions, cultures, and languages that differed from mine.
This song just popped into my head today and I had to hear it. I don't recall is having a background in the Morman faith, but that wouldn't have mattered to our instructor, Mr. R. Laurence Shorer.
He was this geeky, straw haired man that taught me and my classmates SO MUCH MORE THAN SOME US REALIZED.
I absolutely LOVED HIS CLASSES and honor my experience learning such beautiful melodies in a tumultuous time as the 1970s were in Compton, California.
This music and other pieces gave me such solace then, and continue to do so today.
Thank you Mr. Shorer for expanding iur view further, into a bright, beautiful world if music where Wagner and Schumann lived! You were and are my ALL TIME FAVORITE TEACHER 46 YEARS LATER!!
@drdavidlectures5053
1. There is sunshine in my soul today,
More glorious and bright
Than glows in any earthly sky,
For Jesus is my light.
[Chorus]
Oh, there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine
When the peaceful happy moments roll.
When Jesus shows his smiling face,
There is sunshine in the soul.
2. There is music in my soul today,
A carol to my King,
And Jesus listening can hear
The songs I cannot sing.
3. There is springtime in my soul today,
For when the Lord is near,
The dove of peace sings in my heart,
The flow’rs of grace appear.
4. There is gladness in my soul today,
And hope and praise and love,
For blessings which he gives me now,
For joys “laid up” above.
@marciaburtongordon5028
Because of Jesus Christ, there's always sunshine in my soul.
@k.rlevine2051
Yes!
@siemliengangte3221
When Jesus show his smilling face it will be a great joy for us all.
@shootinghoopswithnoahsmith2426
Amen!
@madisonfacemyer2547
I hope you have a sunshine.
@nanidesuka1591
This is true! Thank you brother!!!
@Carlie_flower
This was the first hymn we sang today at me and my husband's baptism. There truly is sunshine in my soul today 🌞
@k.rlevine2051
What a wonderful way to rejoice in the Lord!
@hollidayevery
We sang this song way back in 1972 when I was a high school student in COMPTON HIGH SCHOOL, where as a young African American student I learned classics from religions, cultures, and languages that differed from mine.
This song just popped into my head today and I had to hear it. I don't recall is having a background in the Morman faith, but that wouldn't have mattered to our instructor, Mr. R. Laurence Shorer.
He was this geeky, straw haired man that taught me and my classmates SO MUCH MORE THAN SOME US REALIZED.
I absolutely LOVED HIS CLASSES and honor my experience learning such beautiful melodies in a tumultuous time as the 1970s were in Compton, California.
This music and other pieces gave me such solace then, and continue to do so today.
Thank you Mr. Shorer for expanding iur view further, into a bright, beautiful world if music where Wagner and Schumann lived! You were and are my ALL TIME FAVORITE TEACHER 46 YEARS LATER!!
@k.rlevine2051
What a wonderful way to commemorate a special teacher!