In June 2018, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that a revised hymnbook, combining the general hymnbook and the children’s songbook, would be published within the next three years.  The timeline has been extended due to COVID, the number of potential new hymns submitted by composers and authors (numbering in the thousands), the need to translate the songs into over 50 languages, and the difficulty of determining which hymns and songs to include in (and exclude from) the 500-song collection. The anticipated date for the new hymnbook to be published in English is 2026 with the project completion date
now 2030.

In the meantime, small collections of hymns and songs are being released digitally with the first batch becoming available in May 2024. These hymns are being published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French with other languages to follow.

The first group of 13 hymns includes “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” which was in the 1948 edition of the hymnbook but not in the 1985 edition.  Popularized by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, this song is probably the best known of the “new” hymns in this first group.

“Gethsemane,” an Easter hymn beloved by Primary children, is in this first group along with one other Easter hymn and three Christmas hymns, including “What Child Is This?” Two new Sacrament hymns are in this first group.

Nothing has been announced about which hymns will not be in the final version of the hymnbook although national anthems and other songs specific to a country will not be included because this book is for use in the worldwide Church. When the new hymnbook was first announced, the article in “Church News” did state that the popular pioneer song, “Faith in Every Footstep,” would be in the new book.

The new hymns are available online. Most of the wards in the Malad Idaho Stake have already begun to incorporate the new hymns in church meetings. In keeping with the current hymnbook, all of the hymns are published in simple keys so that they are easy to learn, sing, and play.

The new hymnbook addresses several problems that have arisen with the current collection of hymns, including difficulty of providing consistent hymns across the many languages now spoken by Church members. Doctrinal inaccuracies, culturally insensitive language, and limited cultural representations in a global Church led to the realization that a new hymnbook that is more universal and accurate was needed. In addition, licensing laws differ among countries, impacting digital use. As all Church members know, some hymns are not sung very often and could be removed to provide space for better known songs that may be easier to play
and sing.

The complete list of hymns available in this first batch follows:

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

“When the Savior Comes Again”

“It Is Well with My Soul”

“I Will Walk with Jesus”

“His Eye Is on the Sparrow

“Think a Sacred Song”

“As Bread Is Broken”

“Bread of Life, Living Water”

“Gethsemane”

“Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”

“He Is Born, the Divine Christ Child”

“What Child Is this?

“Star Bright”