The Solid Rocks Were Rent in Twain

Lyrics

• Copyright: Public Domain

Lyrics from A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Europe, 1840

Hymn 259
L.M.
1. The solid rocks were rent in twain,
When Christ the Lamb of God was slain;
The sun in darkness veiled his face,
The mountains moved and left their place.

2. And all creation groaned in pain
Till the Messiah rose again;
When earth did cease her dreadful groans,
The sun unveiled his face and shone;

3. The righteous that were spared alive,
With joy and wonder did believe,
And soon together they convened
Conversing on the things they'd seen;

4. Which had been given for a sign;
When lo, they heard a voice divine,
And as the heavenly voice they heard,
The Lord of glory soon appeared.

SECOND PART.

5. With joy and wonder all amazed,
Upon their glorious Lord they gazed,
And wist not what the vision meant,
But thought it was an angel sent.

6. While in their midst the smiling stood,
Proclaimed himself the son of God;
He said, Come forth and feel and see,
That you may witness bear of me.

7. And when they all had felt and seen
Where once the nails and spear had been
Hosanna they aloud proclaimed,
And blessed and praised his holy name.

8. He then proceeded to make plain
His gospel to the sons of men,
The prophecies he did unfold,
Yea, things that were in days of old.

9. And every thing that should transpire
Till element should melt with fire,
Commanding them for to record
The sayings of their risen Lord;

10. That generation should be blessed,
And with him in his kingdom rest;
But O what scenes of sorrow rolled
When he the future did unfold!

PART THIRD.

11. Four generations shall not pass
Until they'd turn from righteousness,
The Nephite nation be destroyed,
The Lamanites reject his word,

12. The gospel taken from their midst,
The record of their fathers hid,
They dwindle long in unbelief,
And ages pass without relief,

13. Until the Gentiles from afar
Should smite them in a dreadful war,
And take possession of their land,
And they should have no power to stand.

14. But as their remnants wander far,
In darkness, sorrow, and despair,
Lo! from the earth their record comes
To gather Israel to their homes.

15. First to the Gentiles 'tis revealed,
The prophecy must be fulfilled;
That they may know and understand
His gospel, and no more contend.

16. Hear, O ye Gentiles! and repent;
To you is this salvation sent;
God to the Gentiles lifts his hand,
To gather Israel to their land.