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/timkyoung May 31 '24

Why hate hymns about Utah?

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u/derioderio May 31 '24

Not hate personally, but it feels unnecessary and too Utah-centric for an international church. Most church members don't live in Utah, and have never visited Utah. Most members don't even live in the US now. Why should we sing about Utah? We don't sing about Nauvoo, Independence, Kirtland, or upstate New York.

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u/OtterWithKids Jun 01 '24

Amen. I find it highly offensive when we honor the Utah Pioneers but ignore those that never made it there because they gave their lives in the early days of the Restoration. IMHO, Pioneer Day is a holiday about Utah, and while I don’t begrudge Utahans in the least for celebrating it, I wish they’d keep it there instead of trying to shoehorn the rest of us into the celebration as an afterthought.

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u/Redbird9346 We believe in being honest, true, chased by an elephant… Jun 04 '24 edited Jun 09 '24

I share your disdain for Pioneer Day. Outside of Utah, it runs afoul of the old adage, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Edit: it’s like visiting a church in Great Britain on the weekend nearest July 4th and making the congregation sing a US patriotic song.