Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985):
“The Spirit of God”
by W. W. Phelps
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This hymn was reprinted from: Collection of Sacred Hymns (1835): "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning".
This is hymn #2 in this volume.
This hymn was originally titled "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning," which is the first line of the hymn. It is also known as "Hosanna to God and the Lamb." In the 1985 hymnal, the title is shortened to "The Spirit of God."
The original version of this hymn, as published in 1835, included six stanzas. More recent publications of this hymn, including this publication in the 1985 hymnal, omit the original 4th and 5th stanzas and print the original 6th stanza as the 4th stanza (or 4th verse).
The words to this hymn, as they appear in the 1985 hymnal, are as follows:
1. The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!
The latter-day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning,
And angels are coming to visit the earth.
[Chorus]
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!
2. The Lord is extending the Saints' understanding,
Restoring their judges and all as at first.
The knowledge and power of God are expanding;
The veil o'er the earth is beginning to burst.
3. We'll call in our solemn assemblies in spirit,
To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad,
That we through our faith may begin to inherit
The visions and blessings and glories of God.
4. How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion
Shall lie down together without any ire,
And Ephraim be crowned with his blessing in Zion,
As Jesus descends with his chariot of fire!
Note that it is the original 5th verse (omitted from this publication) which mentions Moses, Aaron, and Joshua.
Notes from original source:
Accounts differ as to whether Collection of Sacred Hymns was published in 1835 or 1836. The title page states "1835," but most scholars believe the actual printing of this volume was pushed back a bit and did not happen until early 1936. This early Latter-day Saint hymnal - the first ever published by the Church - was published in Kirtland, Ohio.
The original publication of this hymn included the following chorus and six stanzas:
[Stanza 1]
The Spirit of God like a fire is burning;
The latter day glory begins to come forth;
The visions and blessings of old are returning;
The angels are coming to visit the earth.
[Chorus]
We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven:
Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!
Let glory to them in the highest be given,
Henceforth and forever: amen and amen!
[Stanza 2]
The Lord is extending the saints' understanding--
Restoring their judges and all as at first;
The knowledge and power of God are expanding
The vail o'er the earth is beginning to burst.
[Stanza 3]
We call in our solemn assemblies, in spirit,
To spread forth the kingdom of heaven abroad,
That we through our faith may begin to inherit
The visions, and blessings, and glories of God.
[Stanza 4]
We'll wash and be wash'd, and with oil be anointed
Withal not omitting the washing of feet:
For he that receiveth his PENNY appointed,
Must surely be clean at the harvest of wheat.
[Stanza 5]
Old Israel that fled from the world for his freedom,
Must come with the cloud and the pillar, amain:
A Moses, and Aaron, and Joshua lead him,
And feed him on manna from heaven again.
[Stanza 6]
How blessed the day when the lamb and the lion
Shall lie down together without any ire;
And Ephraim be crown'd with his blessing in Zion,
As Jesus descends with his chariots of fire!
]
, etc.
