March 14th, 2025, 12:00 PM MDT
The first presidency of the 12 Apostles and quorum invite members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to celebrate and focus on Easter season.
Three new Easter-specific hymns have been released in the latest batch of new hymns. And several other new releases are also particularly suited to Easter observance, said Sam Bostwick, who is working on sacred music in the church’s priesthood and family department.
“It is very powerful to study and teach the gospel from hymns, as lyrics poetry and musical melody help us to get into our hearts and hearts,” Bostwick said.
Hymns can be found in the “Hymns – For Homes and Churches” section of churchfjesuschrist.org, the Gospel Library, and the Sacred Music App.
These songs could be sung by the ward congregations, choirs, small groups, or soloists during Sunday meetings leading up to Easter. They can also be heard at home.
People can learn more about them by using the Gospel Library’s “About Hymns” resources. Each hymn chapter contains hymn stories, details about hymn writers, and research prompts, biblical references, and linked resources.
Song-specific chapters are linked near the bottom of the “Lyrics” view of the Gospel Library, Music Library, or the Divine Music App’s digital hymn page.
Latest Easter Indigenous Hymns
1. “We’ll see the day he’ll stand up.”
This hymn evokes the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but in fact, it is written by the 18th century British preacher Charles Wesley, and describes a chapter on this hymn when the resurrected Savior ascended to heaven after spending 40 days with his disciples.
The third poem is:
“Look, he lifts his hands up! Allela!
See, he shows the print of love! Allelau!
Hark! His elegant gifts, awards, allelau!
Blessings of his church below. Alleluia! “
2. “Please ring the Easter Anthem Ring.”
Larry A. Hiller, a longtime writer and editor of church magazines, was invited to write new texts in 2011 for George J. Elvie’s 1868 song. In April 2012, it was published in a Spot Sign, “State, Saint, Rejoice.” Then, in 2024, Hiller revised the text to reinforce the message of joy in Jesus Christ’s tone sin and resurrection, the chapter on the hymn states.
The lyrics to this hymn are as follows:
“lo, how the cross was naked,
How empty the grave is?
Spend the night brightly and fair during Easter
I wiped away all of the darkness.
Because Jesus died,
Everything will be restored
When Ev’ry Soul draws the living breath
Through Christ, the resurrected Lord. ”
3. “Were you there?”
This chapter on the hymn explains it belongs to the African American spiritual singing tradition, prompting singers to imagine witnessing the death and resurrection of their Savior.
The first three verses end with an expression of sorrow, while the fourth verse features a declaration of joy, crying out “glory.”
“Were you there when he rose from death?
Were you there when he rose from death?
oh! Sometimes I feel like I scream for glory! glory! glory!
Were you there when he rose from death? ”
Other new hymns that can be used for Easter Observe
“Gessemane”
YouTube videos from the church of the main children’s choir singing the song in October 2024 have been viewed over a million times. Other videos are also available, shared across social media and viewed countless times. Melanie Hoffman wrote this hymn, writing words and music, and lyric “Declaration:
“The battle was won by Jesus!”
“Look at the wounds on Jesus’ hand.”
Jesus Christ, the Savior, used the word “look” in his teachings. This hymn invites people to see visible reminders of the love of Jesus Christ, says the chapter on the hymn. The music and lyrics were written by John V. Pearson and David R. Naylor.
The lyrics contain these lines.
“Now open your broken heart wide
And let’s put your Savior in! ”
“This is Christ.”
When the late President James E. Faust was a member of the quorum of the 12 Apostles, he sends his thoughts and the Bible to composer Michael Finlinson Moody, explaining a chapter on this hymn. Moody asked Yang Underwood Pinborough to help him write the text. When President Faust passed away in 2007, the tabernacle choir sang it at his funeral.
“This is Christ, the holy Son of God.
Our Savior, Lord, Savior of Mankind.
This is Christ, the healing man of our souls,
He groomed us with love. ”
