{"id":53633,"date":"2026-05-21T05:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T11:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=53633"},"modified":"2026-05-18T15:36:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T21:36:05","slug":"hymns-officially-rejected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2026\/05\/hymns-officially-rejected\/","title":{"rendered":"Hymns Officially Rejected"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guest post by Mike Winder<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Last Monday, \u201cthanks, but no thanks\u201d emails went out from \u201cChurch Music Team\u201d to thousands of would-be-hymnwriters throughout the world. I know, because I was among the 19,000 that received mine. Sent over the signature of \u201cElder Matthew L. Carpenter, Quorum of the Seventy, General Authority adviser, hymnbook revision\u201d the courteous and professional email brought to a close the dream of psalmists and musicians around the globe that pined to have their lyrical and musical creations included in the new hymnbook\u2014a once in a generation opportunity that some of us just had to try for! The email began:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Thank you for responding to the 2018 invitation to submit original music to be considered for the new hymnbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Can you believe it has been that long? Babies blessed when we submitted our hymns are now being baptized. The word \u201cCOVID-19\u201d had not yet entered the dictionary when submissions were made, and the value of the Dow Jones has literally doubled in that time. Why so long? Keep reading.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This letter is to inform you that your works (listed below) were not selected for inclusion in the new collection, Hymns for Home and Church.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

From Distant Lands We Gather In<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Our Heavenly Home<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Prepare Hearts for Sanctified Bread<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The Covenant Path<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yes, I submitted words for four new hymns. Were they any good? I\u2019ll add them to the bottom of this piece, and you can be the judge. Did I expect any of them to make it in? Not really, of course, but through the mere act of submission, there was always a small chance. And with four submissions, I had quadrupled my odds! As Lloyd Christmas said in <\/span>Dumb and Dumber, <\/span><\/i>\u201cSo you’re telling me there’s a chance!\u201d But more than a glimmer of writer immortality by having a hymn in the hymnbook, the mere process of thinking about what a new hymn could be, what ideas could be expressed, and writing a few was tons of fun. Putting praise to paper was even a worshipful experience for me, and surely for the other submitters. The rejection letter continues:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We received more than 17,000 hymn and song submissions from Church members living in 66 countries and territories. We acknowledge the faith, skill, and inspiration represented in each contribution, and we express our sincere gratitude for your generous efforts.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Surely the United States was disproportionately high, and more Canadian saints than Senegalese saints submitted, but this averages 257 submissions per country. The 17,000 is indeed an impressive number! This is as if every man, woman, and child in four stakes (or 80ish wards) submitted hymns. And with 195\u00a0sovereign countries in the world, alongside about\u00a060\u00a0dependent territories, having submissions from 66 countries and territories underscores what a global faith we are and what a great job the Church did at engaging saints from beyond North America for this project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The rejection letter continues, with some details about why it took eight years to get to this point and the thorough process they went through:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The task of reviewing thousands of works and selecting those that would best meet the needs of the new worldwide collection was both inspiring and difficult. As you know, this has been a multiyear endeavor, and we thank you for your patience. More than 175 skilled and faithful musicians from throughout the world helped to review the submissions. Each work was reviewed by at least four qualified reviewers who were native speakers of the language in which the work was submitted. Submissions proceeded through four rounds of review and nomination. Each work was treated as a sacred offering to the Lord.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

This means, on average, each of the musician-reviewers evaluated the merits of 388 submissions in the first round alone. Bless them! It would have been fun to know how far any of my hymn submissions, or anyone else\u2019s for that matter, made it through each of the four rounds. The letter does give some additional stats, however:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The print version of Hymns for Home and Church will be a collection of about 375 hymns and children\u2019s songs, that originate in 17 languages. The new book will include approximately 50 of the 17,000 submitted hymns and songs. More hymns will be published in the digital version of Hymns for Home and Church, including new works submitted by Church members. Submitters whose works are being considered for inclusion have been contacted previously.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

The sobering number there is that 50 songs out of 17,000 made the cut. That\u2019s a one in 340 chance that your hymn submission was selected. To put that in perspective, your odds would have been ten times better applying for admission to Harvard this year (one in 31 were admitted this year). Your odds of winning some amount of money in the Powerball lottery (which is one in 25) are fourteen times more likely than getting your hymn submission chosen! Congrats to the elite group whose hymns made it through such a daunting gauntlet.<\/span><\/p>\n

The email concludes with heartfelt words and encouragement to share our creations with others.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Again, we wish to express our gratitude for your participation in this historic project. We hope you will share your faith-filled work with family and friends. The testimony and conviction of your creation can bless your home, your branch or ward, and your community. We pray that the Lord will bless you in your continued service.<\/i><\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, in that spirit, let me share my four submissions with you. Which one do you like the best? Were you one of the hymn submitters, too? What are your thoughts on the new hymnbook and the process they went through? Let me know in the comments!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"An<\/p>\n

From Distant Lands We Gather In<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

CMD (Common Meter Doubled) 8 6 8 6 8 6 8 6 (i.e., As Zion\u2019s Youth in Latter-days, It Came upon the Midnight Clear, I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From distant lands we gather in, \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

To Zion\u2019s stakes, Christ\u2019s fold.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

United in our fight with sin,\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

As prophecies foretold! <\/span><\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s gath\u2019ring has now begun, <\/span><\/p>\n

From nations far and wide, <\/span><\/p>\n

The promises for Abra\u2019m\u2019s seed<\/span><\/p>\n

Fulfilled before our eyes!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Alaskan snows to Panama,\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Cal\u2019fornia to New York,\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

The promised gath\u2019ring has begun, <\/span><\/p>\n

Each land to do its part!<\/span><\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s pines to Mexico,<\/span><\/p>\n

Rainforests of Brazil,<\/span><\/p>\n

Chile and Argentina, too;<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All Americas do fill.<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From Sweden\u2019s lakes to sunny Spain,\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Britain to Alps renowned; \u00a0 <\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s blood is rich in the veins, \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through Europe\u2019s cultured towns! <\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And God is hast\u2019ning Africa,<\/span><\/p>\n

From Kenya to Congo,<\/span><\/p>\n

Nigeria and Ghana, too<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s mission\u2019ry work to do!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In Asian lands, God\u2019s love doth span, <\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Philippines, Thailand so; <\/span><\/p>\n

The ancient realms China, Japan <\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s servants too must go!<\/span><\/p>\n

He remembers isles of the sea,<\/span><\/p>\n

Samoa, Tonga, too;<\/span><\/p>\n

Lands down under and palm treed lands,<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Christ\u2019s global church is true!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our Heavenly Home<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7 7 7 7 7 7 (i.e., For the Beauty of the Earth, God is Love, Rock of Ages)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Come together all as one,<\/span><\/p>\n

Sing forth of our Heavenly Home,<\/span><\/p>\n

Father, Mother, Siblings, Son<\/span><\/p>\n

We left Heav\u2019n to Earth to roam<\/span><\/p>\n

Unified in what is right,<\/span><\/p>\n

Yearning towards celestial light.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Led by mighty Father in Heav\u2019n,<\/span> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our family\u2019s Eternal Head–<\/span><\/p>\n

God the Father, Elohim<\/span><\/p>\n

Presides, hears our prayers to Him\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoping we\u2019ll return to He,<\/span><\/p>\n

Head of Holy Family!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At His side Mother in Heav\u2019n,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Glorious, helpmeet, Goddess dear.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Shares His love for Their children,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our hearts we feel Her near.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cheering us to make it home,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Open arms to bid welcome!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Firstborn Son, Jehovah strong,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One in purpose with our God;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Saves from sin, and all our wrongs,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through the Atonement He wrought.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without Christ, Heav\u2019n\u2019s family fails,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through Him, all good doth prevail!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How we yearn for that embrace!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Back with Them in glory\u2019s height.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Heav\u2019nly Parents, brilliant place,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Familiar home, warmth, feels right.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Back with Father, Mother, Christ,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Holy Fam\u2019ly, loving light!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prepare Hearts for Sanctified Bread<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8 7 8 7 D (i.e., In Remembrance of Thy Suffering, O My Father)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prepare hearts for sanctified bread,<\/span><\/p>\n

Remembrance, of Christ\u2019s body;<\/span><\/p>\n

Which He suffered to lay down dead,<\/span><\/p>\n

Then brought back, triumphantly!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Cause of Him, we again shall live;<\/span><\/p>\n

Physical death He conquered!<\/span><\/p>\n

Resurrection\u2019s joy He did give;<\/span><\/p>\n

We witness this with this bread.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prepare for sanctified water,<\/span><\/p>\n

Remembrance, of thy Son\u2019s blood;<\/span><\/p>\n

Which shed for us, in the Garden;<\/span><\/p>\n

Where He worked the Atonement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Cause of Him, we return to Thee,<\/span><\/p>\n

Spiritual death gone, we\u2019re free!<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s accept Christ, follow Him home;\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We witness this with this drink.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now we come to Thee, dear Father,<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking on us thy Son\u2019s name;<\/span><\/p>\n

Being born new with this ordinance,<\/span><\/p>\n

As if we\u2019re baptized once more!<\/span><\/p>\n

May His Spirit, be one with us,<\/span><\/p>\n

All throughout this coming week,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Until we\u2019re back at this table,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To partake again once more.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Covenant Path<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LM (Long Meter) 8 8 8 8 (i.e., Come, Follow Me; My Redeemer Lives; I Heard the Bells)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Our Heav\u2019nly Parents sent us forth,<\/span><\/p>\n

To make a choice while here on earth:<\/span><\/p>\n

Turn towards the Light, heed Darkness\u2019 wrath?<\/span><\/p>\n

I choose to walk the cov\u2019nant path.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Faith, repentance began my steps,<\/span><\/p>\n

Scripture and prayer furthered my prep;<\/span><\/p>\n

Raised up clean from baptism\u2019s bath,<\/span><\/p>\n

Started me down the cov\u2019nant path.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Holy Ghost, my Spir\u2019tual Sight,<\/span><\/p>\n

Leads me on towards temples of light;<\/span><\/p>\n

With sacred vows, pledge all I hath,<\/span><\/p>\n

House of the Lord on the cov\u2019nant path.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I follow Him though I am meek,<\/span><\/p>\n

Renew cov\u2019nants, partake each week,<\/span><\/p>\n

Repent, correct, when times I lack,<\/span><\/p>\n

Home to God on the cov\u2019nant path.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Guest post by Mike Winder Last Monday, \u201cthanks, but no thanks\u201d emails went out from \u201cChurch Music Team\u201d to thousands of would-be-hymnwriters throughout the world. I know, because I was among the 19,000 that received mine. Sent over the signature of \u201cElder Matthew L. Carpenter, Quorum of the Seventy, General Authority adviser, hymnbook revision\u201d the courteous and professional email brought to a close the dream of psalmists and musicians around the globe that pined to have their lyrical and musical creations included in the new hymnbook\u2014a once in a generation opportunity that some of us just had to try for! The email began:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10404,"featured_media":53635,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1058,2909],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guest-bloggers","category-hymns"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Hymn-illustration.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10404"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53633"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53637,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53633\/revisions\/53637"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}