Anthem: Temple Idaho
By Anton J.T. Sorensen, Bountiful
Shiloh’s knocking at the portals
Oh ye saints of Idaho,
Bringing feast of pentecostal
Well of living waters flow.
Fill your lamps with oil of gladness,
Dress thyself in robes of white,
Love sweet joy dispel thy sadness
In the gospel’s holy light.
Holy Shiloh blest Redeemer,
By our living faith we will
Bring to pass soul’s exaltation
In Thy temple on the hill.
We will open wide the portals,
Let the prisoners go free,
Bring to them sweet joy immortal
Through the blessed priesthood key.
With great hope and expectation
We shall hail that glorious day
When in spirit jubilation
We stand by this mortal clay.
By a host of friends be greeted
Who are dressed in robes of white,
For whom prison doors receded
Through the blessed gospel light.
There behold the living flowers
From the seed we sowed in tears;
Fruitage from the golden hours
through our earth life’s happy years.
May our souls in exclamation
Heaven’s pearls like dew distill,
Bring to pass soul’s exaltation
In God’s temple on the hill.
CHORUS
Sing hosanna ever praising
God the Father and the Son,
Sing hosanna ever praising
God the Father and the Son.
(1942)
I assume this was written for the Idaho Falls Temple dedication. Do you know if it was actually performed there?
The IF temple was originally planned to be completed in 1942, but WWII caused construction to lag, and it wasn’t dedicated until 1945.
I don’t think it was performed, lindberg — at least my (unpublished) source would suggest not. I like that people like Bro. Sorensen were moved by occasions like this to express their faith in poetry.
Thanks, Ardis. I also found it interesting that he used the “temple on the hill” phrase twice — especially since the Idaho Falls Temple is definitely not on a hill. 🙂