Amazing Grace

[FMCoug]

Originally Posted by Tex

This is an interesting suggestion, given the "we should not be commanded in all things" position taken by some in the other thread.

I'll add this to the growing list of things CGers think SLC should clarify. I find it fascinating that despite the heavy criticism the high church leaders take around here, those same folks keep clamoring for more rules.

Which part of "while it irks me" didn't you get? The only reason I even suggested it was to get some of the hardliners out there to lighten up. THEY are the ones who feel the need to be commanded in all things.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by FMCoug

Which part of "while it irks me" didn't you get? The only reason I even suggested it was to get some of the hardliners out there to lighten up. THEY are the ones who feel the need to be commanded in all things.

Sorry, must have glazed over that.

I once served with a bishop who took a hardline "the handbook says" approach to the ward that I really disagreed with.

I like Elder Ballard's counsel last fall: "Second, be innovative. As we work to magnify our callings, we should seek the inspiration of the Spirit to solve problems in ways that will best help the people we serve. We have handbooks of instruction, and their guidelines should be followed. But within that framework are substantial opportunities to think, to be creative, and to make use of individual talents. The instruction to magnify our callings is not a command to embellish and complicate them. To innovate does not necessarily mean to expand; very often it means to simplify."

http://lds.org/conference/talk/displ...-646-7,00.html

[YOhio]

I love that song. I have about ten different versions on my iPod.

Blind Boys of Alabama (Southern Gospel style)



Dropkick Murphys (Irish-rock bagpipe style)



Jay Red Eagle (Native American style)



and Elvis

[Surfah]

Originally Posted by Tex

I don't know why it wasn't included in 1985, but I'd make a gut wager that it had more to do with evolving tastes rather than doctrinal differences. Come Thou Fount was also eliminated, though it has since seen a revival since the Wilburg arrangement. I doubt it was removed for doctrinal problems.

I asked Elder Pinnock who served on the committee for the hymn selection several years ago why Come Thou Fount was removed and he stated it was doctrinal. Specifically the line that says "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love."

[Mr. Incredible]

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

Is that song really considered inappropriate by many members of the church?

That's the first I've ever heard of that.

I've never heard that either. Good thing because I like the song.

My current ward has minimal musical talent...

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by FMCoug

Since this came up quite a bit in the other threads I thought maybe it warranted its own. In my opinion, the fact that this song is considered inappropriate by so many members is symptomatic of the bigger problem we have with a major misunderstanding of grace amongst members of the church. I don't think there is anything in the lyrics of that song that is not in harmony with our doctrine and understanding of the atonement. But since so many LDS over-emphasize works, they consider a song that focuses on grace to be incorrect.

My wife sang this hymn at my Mom's funeral (in a Methodist church) and a member of our ward actually said she was "sorry you had to do that but I guess since it wasn't an LDS funeral it's okay" Wow.

Preach it brother.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by surfah33

I asked Elder Pinnock who served on the committee for the hymn selection several years ago why Come Thou Fount was removed and he stated it was doctrinal. Specifically the line that says "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love."

Hmmm, interesting that he would say that, given that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang the Wilberg arrangement in the Saturday Morning Session of General Conference just this past April, including those lines.

If what Pinnock told you is true, apparently something changed about potential doctrinal concerns.

[SoCalCoug]

Originally Posted by Tex

Hmmm, interesting that he would say that, given that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang the Wilberg arrangement in the Saturday Morning Session of General Conference just this past April, including those lines.

If what Pinnock told you is true, apparently something changed about potential doctrinal concerns.

When you play it backwards, it says "Do your home teaching early in the month" - so they changed their minds.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by surfah33

I asked Elder Pinnock who served on the committee for the hymn selection several years ago why Come Thou Fount was removed and he stated it was doctrinal. Specifically the line that says "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love."

Boy, what a lame reason to drop it. Must have had some real uptight folks on that committee.

[Archaea]

Our culture might just be the most uptight, humorless, group of individuals next to the Taliban. We prefer realism and idealism in art to the exclusion of abstractionism and nonobjective art, we seek only the most boring, least interesting of nineteenth century hymns, resort to very monotone expresssions, yet still we possess authority from the Divine.

We are a very dry and humorless group, are we not? Thank goodness for the malcontents, else there'd be no variety at all.