June 4th, 2025, 11:00am MDT
In 2018, the first presidency directed the creation of a new hymn. Since May 2024, 37 new hymns have been released in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, with translations appearing in stages in several other languages, with the next batch expected this month.
Now, shortly after the year mark of the release of the first batch of Hymns – the first batch of new hymns for the house and church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided an update on the size, scope and timing of this sacred, ongoing project.
Elder Dale G. Renlund, a quorum of the 12 Apostles, said it was an ambitious and complicated effort.
“Because of the importance of sacred music in the church, the first presidency and the quorum of 12 are closely involved in all aspects of the new hymn, including the choice of hymns included in print and digital versions,” he said.
He explained that the first presidency directed the new hymns, which featured around 375 hymns and children’s songs in print. About a third is a song for worship children for use in primary and general church meetings, with hymns and children’s songs printed side by side.
The print version is expected to be ready in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French by mid-2027. Other language translations follow.
“You may not have a favorite hymn, so I keep the current hymns and enjoy the old favorites at home,” Elder Renland said.
He said some of the hymns are less familiar to many members of the church, while others are expanding their musical style.
“Each hymn has been approved by the first presidency and 12 people, and these approvals have not been underestimated,” Elder Renland said.
Steve Shank, chairman of the church’s Hymn Committee, said church President Russell M. Nelson performs through the hymns.
“You get feedback on every level,” Shank said. “Nothing happens in the corner or in the vacuum. Church leaders are very involved in this process. We make recommendations. They make decisions.”
Shank, who joined the Church News Podcast this week, said this may be the first time members have heard about 375 hymns and songs in print. But the beauty of the project is that members live in the digital age, and additional hymns can be found for members to use at church meetings and at home.
“This may include patriotic music, which is too cumbersome to include in the global hymns of all languages, but includes additional hymns to all topics that may grow over time,” he said.
Meanwhile, the number of hymns in print is the same in every meeting place or home language in the world, and unites members who sing the same music throughout the church.
Elder Renlund explained that what is being considered for inclusion in the new hymns are the 1989 English Hymns of Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints, the 1989 Children’s Song Book, and the hymns and songs of the current non-Agricultural hymns.
The church could not print all these hymns and all of these hymns, so the criteria were established at the beginning of the project to guide selection, Elder Renland said.
For each hymn considered, the following questions were asked:
Does the hymn increase our faith and worship of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ? Does Hymn teach the heart of the gospel through power and clarity? Do hymns invite fun songs at home and at church?
Thirteen new hymns were released in May 2024, followed by nine in September 2024 and 15 in February 2025, which amounted to 37 so far, with the next batch expected this month.
“Families and congregations around the world need to immediately begin using these hymns, and many wards and branches have done this in an exemplary way.
Details of the Hymn’s approval process and leader engagement
To help people understand how these 17,000 submissions are narrowed down to approved hymns, Shank spoke about the approval cycle of individual hymns.
Volunteers on the Hymn Committee begin by examining the criteria listed above. If the submission meets those needs to a sufficient level, the hymn can proceed to the next step. Or perhaps the lyrics are refined or the music will be updated.
“If the Hymn Committee is happy to think this will be a large part of the collection, it will go to our advisor,” Shank said.
Current advisors include Elder Renland. Elder Matthew L. Carpenter, president, 70 years old. President Susan H. Porter. Other apostles, the Director General of the 70s, General Secretary and organization members are also advisors to the project.
“When they are satisfied with this moving forward, it goes to the executive director of the Priesthood and Family Bureau, including several other general authorities and the presidents of all general organizations. They review and give feedback,” Shank said.
Once that feedback is addressed, the song is sent to the priesthood and family executive council. The song is currently led by 12 Apostles’ quorum Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and includes Elder Renlund, Bishop Gerald Koh, Bishop of the Relief Society, Bishop Kamille Johnson, and members of the President of Seaventy. Then they give feedback.
“When the group is finally satisfied with the new hymn, it goes to the full quorum of the 12 Apostles, who vigorously gives feedback and arguments. And when they are satisfied, it goes to the first presidency,” Shank said.
The goal of the hymnbook project is not simply to replace existing hymns and children’s collections of songs, Elder Renland said. “Instead, the goal is to increase the faith and worship of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the home and church, and to unite members around the world. The musical style is to be expanded to achieve these objectives.”
Practice and learn new hymns
Elder Renland said he loves how often the new hymns are already being used in meetings he attends.
“Before using new hymns in congregation songs, some wards use it as part of a prelude or postrude for a few weeks. Other wards present new hymns as special musical numbers.
Many members study the lyrics of new hymns and look up the included Bible references.
“Personally, I love going to the Gospel Library app, selecting music tiles, “selecting ‘hymns’ for home and church, and starting to listen to playlists of all the recordings of new hymns,” he said.
Audio recordings of all the hymns will help members learn how to sing them, Shank said. Not everyone knows how to read sheet music, so they can be heard on vocals – sometimes it’s solo, sometimes in part, and even guitar recordings and piano versions.
Shank said that the first president and quorum of the 12 Apostles don’t want people to wait until the book is released, but he doesn’t want to help them enjoy and learn about new music right now. Members can also learn new hymns at a time, rather than at a time.
He is an organist in his ward and it becomes familiar as he plays new hymns for Prelude and Postlude music. Then, when his ward sings a new hymn for the first time, he plays the entire poem, allowing people to hear it before they sing. His bishop members also stand up to speak about the hymns. These resources can be found by hymn under the lyrics view at the bottom of the page.
“One of the goals of our research resources is to let people consider sacred music as part of their evangelistic study,” Shank said.
Hymns and children’s songs are arranged side by side in new hymns, allowing families and adults to sing more children’s songs at home or in church. Many are already sung in general meetings.
Elder Renlund said: “Take advantage of the opportunities offered to enjoy these new hymns. Music is the language of the spirit and can deepen our love and gratitude for the restoration of God and His Son and this later Lord Church.”
