Comments on: Why aren’t the national anthems of all countries included in the hymnbook? https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/ Moral answers to everyday concerns, curiosities, and uncertainties. Gramps considers all questions on all topics from all sources. Wed, 29 Sep 2021 03:16:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Arnie https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33775 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:34:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33775 If there were one country per language, then perhaps it would be prudent to include the national anthem for each country in the respective hymnals. Some languages are used in dozens of countries (Spanish and French for example), and including all the national anthems for the respective language would be logistically difficult, and might detract from the overall purpose of the book. The church saw fit to include The Star Spangled Banner and God Save the King in the 1985 English version (which I suppose you could call the “current flagship version”), probably because a very sizable portion of church pupulation were in places where singing those songs were appropriate.

]]> By: James https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33642 Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:21:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33642 There are probably a lot of reasons for a lot of different countries. In Japan’s case, for instance, public displays of nationalism such as singing the national anthem or flying the national flag are simply not appropriate In most non-governmental contexts, and it’s just not something Japanese members wouldn’t sing in Church, and this goes for most Asian nations. And the Japanese hymnal certainly doesn’t have any other nation’s anthems.

The English hymnal contains national anthems for the two English-speaking nations that made up the vast majority of members at the time. That’s just how it is. There’s no “corrupting political influence” in the hymnal or in this worldwide Church.

]]> By: Jeffrey https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33633 Tue, 16 Dec 2014 16:24:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33633 I think when the English hymnbook was made, the vast majority of English-speaking members loved either in the United States or in countries where God Save the [Queen] had some kind of official recognition. (God Save the King is the last hymn in the book. Why they chose King instead of Queen when Elizabeth is still on the throne is anyone’s guess.) I know for a fact that in Spanish and Portuguese hymnbooks no anthems are included, but that they’re told they can include anthems with proper Priesthood approval.

]]> By: Joseph Willis https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33632 Tue, 16 Dec 2014 15:46:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33632 It saddens me that the secular concept of political correctness has crept into the Church. Political correctness is devoid of understanding and compassion. The answer is that thirty years ago when the current edition was prepared, the United States was the predominant target group for the hymnal. I have sufficient faith in the Church that, now that the demographics have changed, the Church will make appropriate adjustments, whenever in the future, a new edition of the hymnal is prepared. Also, from a logistical perspective, if the Church included all national anthems of the approximate 196 countries in the world, the hymnal would almost double in size and it would become a book of national anthems rather than a Church hymnal.

]]> By: Sharee https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33630 Tue, 16 Dec 2014 02:20:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33630 In reply to Robert.

Robert, if you were to go to France, you might find the French national anthem in the hymnbook, but not the US one. The Italian hymnbok likely contains Italy’s national anthem. I have to confess I don’t know this for sure, but it seems a reasonable assumption. Why would you expect to find national anthems from all over the world in the US hymnbook? There wouldn’t be room for any other hymns.

]]> By: Emmazareen https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33629 Mon, 15 Dec 2014 23:33:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33629 In reply to Sharee.

They are! And also all the American version of Christmas songs so we end up having to sing American versions to songs such as Away in a Manger or Little Town of Bethlehem. It’s not fun!

]]> By: Sharee https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33625 Sun, 14 Dec 2014 06:24:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33625 The hymnbooks in other countries don’t necessarily have the same hymns in them. I understand they vary depending on what hymns are known in the particular country. I’ve heard people mention Christmas hymns being different in another country. I hardly think American patriotic songs would be found in French or German hymnbooks.

]]> By: Robert https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33617 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 15:47:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33617 This doesn’t answer the question as to WHY the US and British national anthems are in the hymnbook, but none of the others are.

]]> By: A Lee https://askgramps.org/why-arent-the-national-anthems-of-all-countries-included-in-the-hymnbook/#comment-33616 Sat, 13 Dec 2014 15:39:00 +0000 http://en.elds.org/askgramps-org/?p=31008#comment-33616 In Hawaii they paste “Aloha Oe” in the back of the hymnbook

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