Heads up! If you’d like a free chapter from my new book, Considering the Cross: How Calvary Connects Us with Christ, you can get one here.
Recently, I’ve been studying what the hymns teach about the Savior’s Atonement. Initially, I didn’t realize that Emma Smith worked on two different hymnbooks in her lifetime, and that the Church has published many additional hymnals since. Looking at the earliest three hymnbooks gives us a window in what the early Latter-day Saints felt was spiritually significant.
One of my favorite hymns from Emma’s 1835 hymnbook is “Arise, My Soul Arise.” This hymn portrays Christ’s wounds on the cross as praying for us and pleading for our forgiveness.
My name is written on his hands . . .
Five bleeding wounds he bears,
Receiv’d on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers,
They strongly speak for me;
Forgive him, O forgive, they cry,
Nor let that ransom’d sinner die!
If you’d like to explore the earliest hymnbooks in-depth, here are links to Emma’s 1835 and 1841 hymnbooks, as well as the 1840 hymnbook that was created by Apostles serving as missionaries in England.
Contemporary music can also bring us closer to Jesus Christ. Here’s a playlist of some of my favorite music that focuses on Jesus Christ. I’d love to hear your comments below of music that helps you feel more connected with Jesus Christ.
