Sunday in Priesthood opening exercises we sang “How Firm a Foundation”. It is one of the all-time favorite hymns, everybody knows it, and the Deacon leading the music could actually handle 4/4. But, every time I get to the last line, I inwardly chuckle.
When I was that deacon, the last line was not “Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled.” It was “You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled.” – It always cracked me up. I could always imaging waving and shouting “Yoo-hoo, Jesus”. (Probably from growing up with a dad who always watched Hee-Haw.) I didn’t even know about the chocolate drink Yoo-hoo until much later. Which is an even funnier visual.
Apparently someone in the Church Music Department has a similarly odd brain. In the 1985 hymnal, the change was made – and “You who” was banished from the hymn. So I decided to dig in and learn more about this classic Mormon hymn.
First thing I learned: It isn’t a classic Mormon hymn. (Bummer.) Turns out it was written in 1787 by one of three men: John Keene, Kirkham, and John Keith. Nobody really knows which. It has been included in the hymnals of many different Christian denominations since then. (It just seems like it should have been one of ours.)
Second thing: It was originally called “Exceeding Great and Precious Promises” which is a reference found in 2 Peter 1:4.
“Whereby are given unto us Exceeding Great and Precious Promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”.
Couldn’t figure out why, since that line isn’t in the hymn, but Peter was probably happy about it.
President Andrew Jackson was a big fan of this hymn. Interesting story about that here. It was sung at his funeral, his wife’s funeral, as well as Robert E. Lee’s.
Even though we can’t claim it, and we fiddled with the original words, it is still one of the best, most powerful hymns that we can sing.
– With or without a chocolate drink in hand.
As I was searching the internet for the hymn as I remember it I came across your blog. I am 52 and remember it as You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled as well 🙂
Moreover, it was basically the favorite hymn of the Confederate States. Things we don’t know! XD
Hahaha! NO! I didn’t doubt…I just wanted to see for myself. How could I doubt you MMM?
Sharline:
You doubted me?
HA! I went to grab my copy of “Hymns and Children’s Songs” You know, light brown with blue flowery patterns…and sure enough, there it was! I was 3 when the hymnal got changed, so obviously I needed to see it . 😛
This was my old ward’s anthem. Seriously. We sand it almost every other Sunday. I’m not kidding. One Sunday, I remember singing it in Sacrament, then later in RS, and then afterwards at a baptism. It drove me crazy. Now that I’m not in that ward anymore whenever we do sing it at our new ward (in a different state) it brings really strong feelings of love and appreciation for the strength we received during our trials while in the old ward. It has become a powerful hymn for me now (not that it wasn’t before…it just has a deeper meaning for me now). Thanks for the insights on the hymn!
How about wearing this shirt while singing loudly? Check it out at Corny Christian. That will really entertain (or embarrass) your kids.
http://cornychristian.com/2011/02/11/yoo-hoo-christian-t-shirt-pic/
Or how about this Yoo-Hoo for Jesus at Tin Can Church?
http://www.tincanchurch.com/page3.html
Ya know, now that I think about it, they might be encouraging me to convince the rest of the ward I need to be locked up for good.
Are you sure it “entertains your kids to no end” or “embarrasses you kid’s to no end”?
(Mine would be under the pews, hiding)
I still sing the old words outloud “you who unto Jesus” “The world has no need for a drone” and even this classic in its original form “Long may his blood which was shed by assasins/Stain Illinois while the earth lauds his fame” Yep, those were the original words. This is my one and I think only intentional form of rebellion against church orthodoxy. And it entertains my kids to no end.
Oh. And “How Firm a Foundation” is my absolute favorite hymn. Especially the last verse which you will note the Tabernacle Choir sings skipping several verses. I think there is profound meaning to it.
Well, since the hymn was originally written in the 1700’s, those weren’t really the original words, but I do remember them, now that you mention them.
We just sang that today and I can’t get the old words out of my head.
Another middle ager here who always sings YooHoo, mentally 🙂
Great blog.
There are so many hymns that I almost laugh during thanks to my husband, like the line “a shadow by day a pillar by night” he always says “pillow by night”-so all he has to do is look at me during that hymn and I have to fight laughing
I sorely miss the yoo hoo and say it in my head every time we sing the song…
I do this too 🙂
This is a favorite. So much so that I’ve been trying to learn how to play it with ‘both’ hands on the piano. Hymn Made Easy of course. Thanks for the bit of History.
I love Yoo hoo~!