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Millennial Star (vol. 1) #1 (May 1840):
“The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee”
by Parley P. Pratt

Millennial Star (vol. 1) #1

Title: “The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee”

Medium: poem

Publication date: May 1840

Publisher: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Written by: Parley P. Pratt


3 characters in this story:

Character
(Click links for info about character
and his/her religious practice, affiliation, etc.)
Religious
Affiliation
Team(s)
[Notes]
Pub. #
app.
God Jehovah
(details) 
deity real/historical person
CBR Scale: D God
[1st app: Old Testament (1402 B.C.)] various 313
Jesus Christ Jehovah (Jesus of Nazareth)
(details) 
deity real/historical person
CBR Scale: D Christianity
[] DC 565
angels angels
(details) 
supporting character clergy/religious leader
CBR Scale: D angels
[often are messengers of God] Marvel DC 144

Reprints of this poem:
A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Europe (1840): "The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee"
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985): "The Morning Breaks"
The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee (1864): "The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee"

The poem "The Morning Breaks, the Shadows Flee" was first published on the outside cover of the inaugural issue of the Millennial Star, a periodical of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published in England. This poem was later used as the lyrics for the hymn "The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee," which was the first hymn in the 1840 Manchester Hymnal.

Below is the complete text of this poem:

The morning breaks; the shadows flee;
Lo, Zion's standard is unfurled!
The dawning of a brighter day,
The dawning of a brighter day
Majestic rises on the world.

The clouds of error disappear
Before the rays of truth divine;
The glory bursting from afar,
The glory bursting from afar
Wide o'er the nations soon will shine.

The Gentile fulness now comes in,
And Israel's blessings are at hand.
Lo, Judah's remnant, cleansed from sin,
Lo, Judah's remnant, cleansed from sin
Shall in their promised Canaan stand.

Jehovah speaks! let earth give ear,
And Gentile nations turn and live.
His mighty arm is making bare,
His mighty arm is making bare
His covenant people to receive.

Angels from heaven and truth from earth
Have met, and both have record borne;
Thus Zion's light is bursting forth,
Thus Zion's light is bursting forth
To bring her ransomed children home.

Depending on one's interpretation, "Jehovah" mentioned in the poem refers either to God, Jesus Christ, or both.