The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the full new hymnbook will be released in mid-2027 with 375 hymns and children’s songs.
It is expected to be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French, with other languages to follow. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the new hymnbook "is an ambitious and complex project."
“Because of the importance of sacred music in the Church, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have been intimately involved in every aspect of the new hymnbook, including the selection of hymns to be included in the print and digital versions,” Elder Renlund said.
Each hymn was approved by the First Presidency based on five criteria:
- Increase faith in and worship of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
- Teach the core doctrine of the gospel with power and clarity.
- Invite joyful singing at home and at church.
- Comfort the weary and inspire members to endure in faith.
- Unify members throughout the Church.
Many people have been involved in producing the new hymnbook for the past few years. This includes selecting hymns, arranging music, editing lyrics, researching the hymns and then finally translating them into other languages.
Brent Yorgason, a BYU professor of music theory, has played an important role in putting together the new hymnbook.
“It adds a new additional way for us to worship and become closer to Christ,” Yorgason said. “It's also an opportunity for composers and poets to be able to share their testimonies with new hymns that we've never sung before.”
Yorgason, Brett Nelson and Wade Kotter make up the hymnologist committee.
Yorgason said he was set apart as a service missionary to do the work. He volunteers up to 20 hours a week to research the history of the hymns and the people who wrote them.
“We all have specific abilities, and we can all build the kingdom of God together,” Yorgason said. “But the way I do it is quite different than how an elders quorum president or someone else might do it.”
The Church began gradually releasing the new hymns in May 2024, starting with 13 new hymns published in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Additional batches of hymns were released September 2024 and February 2025.
In the Gospel Library app, users can find an “about this hymn” feature at the bottom of every new hymn released with a short blurb of information gathered by the hymnologists.
Yorgason said some of these hymns have origins that go back hundreds of years, while others are brand new. A few of his favorite hymns that have been released so far include “Oh, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” and “As Bread is Broken.”
Yorgason occasionally teaches a hymnology class at BYU and said anyone interested should keep an eye out for when he will be teaching it in future semesters.
BYU student Liz Chudleigh said she is really picky about hymns, but loves many of the new hymns.
“I think that expanding the hymnbook is really cool because music is one of the strongest ways I feel the Spirit,” Chudleigh said. “I'm so excited to have more hymns that touch on different gospel principles and help me feel the Spirit in different ways.”
BYU student Emma Hansen is excited to see hymns she has loved for so many years be added to the Church’s official hymnbook.
“These hymns are so perfect as hymns and now have the opportunity to sing them in church,” Hansen said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a global church with more than 17 million members. When completed, the hymnbook is anticipated to be available in 50 languages.
“Families and congregations around the world should begin using all these hymns right away,” Elder Renlund said. “Many wards and branches have done this in exemplary ways. Please continue to do so.”
“Hymns—For Home and Church” can be found in the Gospel Library app, the Sacred Music app and on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.