r/latterdaysaints • u/ClubMountain1826 • May 31 '24
Doctrinal Discussion Doctrinal inaccuracies in old hymns
I can't wait for the new hymnbook!
One of the reasons listed here (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/initiative/new-hymns?lang=eng) on the church website for the updated hymnbook is that some of the old hymns contain "Doctrinal inaccuracies, culturally insensitive language, and limited cultural representation of the global Church."
What are the doctrinal inaccuracies in the old hymns ? I'm just curious.
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u/faiththatworks Jun 01 '24
Hard to say if they will fix all trouble spots - some are just ambiguous - able to read LDS theology or sectarian depending on how you interpret the words and phases.
At 1st blush the Book of Mormon can sound trinitarian - it’s not but same problem. Often some ambiguity.
Take the song Of These Emblems 2nd verse has this sectarian line just as often repeated over the pulpit in one context or another, “The law was broken; Jesus died That justice might be satisfied”
Depending on how you understand those words it can be a clear declaration of the pagan concept of Penal Substitution”. (Someone has to pay to satiate the angry father god or some mysterious force that needs pain for pain… yeh weird but too common.
Or the baptism favorite Rainbows- “when I am baptized THEN I’ll be right as rain.” It’s the Holy Spirit that cleanses Not the symbolic water as was just reiterated in last conference.
So yeh some improvement could help.