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.
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on (gloria)
Glory, glory, hallelujah (gloria)
Glory, glory, hallelujah (gloria, gloria)
Glory, glory, hallelujah (gloria)
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me
As He died to make men holy let us live to make men free
While God is marching on
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on, amen, amen
The Battle Hymn of the Republic is an American patriotic song attributed to Julia Ward Howe during the American Civil War. The lyrics describe events from the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, where God comes to judge the world, puts an end to slavery, and triumphs over his enemies. The first stanza asserts that the Lord is coming to destroy evil and punish the wicked. The second stanza describes how people have built an altar to worship God and can see his judgment even amidst the shadows and flickering lamps of the night. The third stanza adapts an image of Jesus Christ from John Brown's Body, replacing a war leader with a messianic figure. The last stanza asserts that the nation must follow in Christ's footsteps and fight for freedom and justice as the Lord continues to march on.
Overall, the lyrics reflect a Christian worldview of apocalyptic judgment and divine providence. It is a battle hymn that invokes God's power to defeat the enemies of the nation and deliver his people from bondage. The song also aligns the cause of the Union with God's plan and reinforces the idea that the United States was a nation with a divine destiny to uphold freedom and democracy.
Line by Line Meaning
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
I have personally witnessed the great and majestic arrival of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He is purging the wickedness and sin from the earth
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
He has brought forth His divine power and judgement
His truth is marching on (gloria)
His righteousness and pureness prevails and is spreading
Glory, glory, hallelujah (gloria)
Rejoice and proclaim His greatness and goodness
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
I have seen evidence of His presence in numerous places and situations
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
They have erected a monument or symbol of His worship and honor
I can read His righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps
I can understand His just and fair ruling as shown by the flickering flames
His day is marching on
His power and influence continues to grow and move forward
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea
Christ was born in a place of pure and natural beauty, far away from here
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me
He contained a divine light and radiance that transforms and elevates us
As He died to make men holy let us live to make men free
As He sacrificed Himself for our sanctity, we should strive to bring liberty to others
While God is marching on
As God's power continues to spread, we shall follow in His footsteps
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Rejoice and praise the Lord
His truth is marching on, amen, amen
His wisdom and purity persist into the future and beyond, so be it
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: Julia Ward Howe, William Steffe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nanikdasani4547
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on (gloria)
Glory, glory, hallelujah (gloria)
Glory, glory, hallelujah (gloria, gloria)
Glory, glory, hallelujah (gloria)
His truth is marching on
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence in the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me
As He died to make men holy let us live to make men free
While God is marching on
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory, glory, hallelujah
Glory glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on, amen, amen
Julia Ward Howe, William Steffe
@smithwesson7765
I'm a Canadian and I love my American brothers and sisters. God bless you !
@davidallen3687
I'm not American, but this so moving. I can only imagine what listening to the best choir in the world with this wonderful military band does for you guys across the Atlantic!
@egrogan6482
THANK YOU - it brings me to tears whenever I hear it.
@Steinie
Ditto! Goosebumps!!!
@jonclarke7980
Brilliant
@williamruether7671
The best I listen alot
@rhondaboncutter5812
David Allen, being an American, My dad was a Marine, in Korean war, my husband was in Vietnam! I have lived in the world with fighting for us~ God Bless us all!
@genataylor460
What a grouping, the greatest choir in the world with an excellent military band. Must have been an outstanding concert.
@BandWestPoint
Thanks for the kind words! Glad you enjoyed the video.
@davejenn6051
@@BandWestPoint
I have no words to express my gratitude for service ALL you will give to our country.
Whenever I felt fear while serving in Vietnam,. I could hear The Battle Hymn of The Republic in my head,. and I knew what I was there for.
DaveJenn ARMY STRONG