Hymn #6 in the current LDS hymnal, “Redeemer of Israel,” is one of the classic LDS hymns and is frequently sung at General Conference by the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Written by William W. Phelps with music by Freeman Lewis, it is a stirring song which always hits my heart in a poignant way. The melody is worshipful, but also invigorating.
The lyrics to the hymn speak of the Redeemer of Israel who is our only delight. When I sing that line, it reminds me of the joy our relationship with our Savior brings us. The word “delight” invoke feelings of pleasure, that we commune with the Savior not because we have to, but because it is a joyous thing to do. The next lines speak of His relationship with us—He is our shadow by day, our pillar by night, our king, and our deliverer. He is truly our all.
As the song progresses, the analogy is drawn that we are as sheep who are lost and He will gather us in. We are also wandering in the wilderness of sin, and He will gather us in from that state of despair also. Freedom will be ours.
This hymn was included in Emma Smith’s first collection, and was written by Phelps as inspired by a poem by an eighteenth-century Englishman by the name of Joseph Swain. Swain’s hymn (perhaps we might call it a Swain song? Sorry . . . bad joke . . . ) was quite similar, but Phelps took the language and made it more richly evocative in imagery, and changed the phrases to be more acceptable to the Latter-day Saint ideology. Today, Phelps’ version is one of the most widely recognized of the LDS hymns.
You can read the words to this hymn by clicking here.
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