History of Hymnals

In July 1830, three months after the formal organization of the Church, Joseph Smith received a revelation directed to his wife, Emma Smith. In it the Lord instructed Emma to “make a selection of sacred hymns … to be had in [His] church.”¹ Once completed, the first official hymnal of the Church was published in 1835 as A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints. It contained the lyrics for 90 hymns without accompanying musical notation.

Later, in the early 1840s, missionaries serving in Great Britain—including Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, and John Taylor—compiled and published a hymnal for the British Saints. They called it A collection of sacred hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Europe; it became known as the Manchester Hymnal for its place of publication.

Shortly after the Manchester Hymnal was published, Emma Smith led the Saints in Nauvoo to expand the 1835 hymnal to include 304 hymns. It was published as A collection of sacred hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Selected by Emma Smith.

Since that time, various collections of hymns have been published; some of the hymnals were officially sanctioned by the Church, while others were not. What follows is a list of prominent hymnals and songbooks in the history of the Church and their location within the Church History Catalog and elsewhere.

English Songbooks and Hymnals

1835    First Hymnal. A collection of sacred hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints. Selected by Emma Smith.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, and 3.

1840    Manchester Hymnal. A collection of sacred hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Europe. Selected by Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, and John Taylor. Published by order of a general conference, and for sale at 149, Oldham Road, Manchester, and by agents throughout England.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, and 3.

1841    Second Official Hymnal—Published in Nauvoo, Illinois. A collection of sacred hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Selected by Emma Smith.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Manchester Hymnal, Second Edition (25 editions in total). A collection of sacred hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Europe. Selected by Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, and John Taylor. Second edition.

Digital format; catalog location 1.

A Small Selection of Choice Hymns. A Small Selection of Choice Hymns for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, by C. Merkley.

Digital Format; catalog location 1.

1844    The “Bellow Falls” Hymnal. A collection of sacred hymns, for use of the Latter Day Saints. Selected and Published by J.C. Little and G.B. Gardner.

Digital format; catalog locations 1 and 2.

1857    Psalmody, Composed and Arranged for the Organ. The Latter Day Saints’ Psalmody. Composed and Arranged for the Organ or Pianoforte, by John Tullidge.

Digital format; catalog location 1.

1871    Sacred Hymns. Sacred hymns and spiritual songs, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

1880    Eliza R. Snow’s Collection for the Primary. Hymns and songs: Selected from various authors, for the Primary Associations of the children of Zion. First edition (stereotype).

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, and 3.

1883    Tabernacle Choir Hymnal. A collection of hymns and anthems set to music by home composers. Compiled by E. Beesley for the use of the Salt Lake City Tabernacle Choir.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, and 3.

1884    Sunday School Music Book. Deseret Sunday School Union music book, containing a large collection of choice pieces for the use of Sunday schools.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1889    Latter-day Saints’ Psalmody. The Latter-day Saints’ psalmody. A collection of original tunes composed and compiled by the following committee: G. Careless, E. Beesley, J. J. Daynes, E. Stephens, T. C. Griggs, also embracing compositions of other well known composers, together with a number of old and familiar tunes specially arranged for the work, providing music for every hymn in the L.D.S. hymn book. Gotten up under the approval of the late President John Taylor, and accepted by President Wilford Woodruff and Council, for the use of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

1892    Deseret Sunday School Song Book. Deseret Sunday School song book. A collection of choice pieces for the use of Sunday schools and suitable for other occasions.

Digital format (1894 edition); catalog location 1.

1905    The Primary Song Book. The Primary Song Book.

Digital format; catalog location 1.

1908    Songs of Zion Missionary Hymnal. A selection of seventeen songs made from over 240 uplifting and soul-inspiring songs contained in our new song book, the Songs of Zion. Especially selected and arranged for the home and for all meetings, Sunday schools, and gatherings of elders and saints in the mission field.

Digital format; and catalog locations 1, 2, and 3.

1909    Songs of Zion Missionary Hymnal—Updated. The Songs of Zion. A collection of choice songs especially selected and arranged for the home and for all meetings, Sunday schools, and gatherings of elders and saints in the mission field.

Digital format (1912 edition); catalog location 1.

Deseret Sunday School Songs. Deseret Sunday School songs. For the use of Sunday schools and suitable for Primary associations, religion classes, quorum meetings, social gatherings and the home.

Digital format; catalog locations 1 and 2.

1919    Relief Society Song Book. Relief Society song book. A collection of selected hymns and songs especially arranged for the use of the Relief Societies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Digital format; catalog locations 1 and 2.

1927    Latter-day Saint Hymns. Latter-day Saint hymns. A collection of hymns and spiritual songs, containing words and music, for use of choirs and congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

1940    Little Stories in Song. Little Stories in Song.

Digital format; catalog location 1.

1948    Hymns: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hymns: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Digital format; catalog locations 1, 2, 3, and 4.

1951    The Children Sing. The Children Sing: Designed for Children Everywhere, but Prepared for Use of Children of the Junior Sunday School and Primary Organizations.

Digital format; and catalog locations 1, 2, and 3.

1969    Sing with Me. Sing with Me: Songs for Children.

Digital format; catalog location 1.

1985    Hymns (Current Edition). Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Digital format²; catalog locations 1 and 2.

1989    Children’s Songbook. The Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Digital format; catalog locations 1 and 2.

Notes:

1. Doctrine and Covenants 25:11.