When Earth in Bondage Long Had Lain

Lyrics

Lyrics from A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Use of the Latter Day Saints, 1844

Hymn 36
1. When Earth in bondage long had lain,
And darkness o'er the nations reigned,
And all men's precepts proved in vain,
A perfect system to obtain:

2. A voice commissioned from on high,
Hark, hark, it is the angel's cry,
Descended from the throne of light,
His garments shining clear and white.

3. He comes the gospel to reveal
In fulness, to the sons of men;
Lo! from Cumorah's lonely hill,
There comes a record of God's will!

4. Translated by the power of God,
His voice bears record to his word:
Again an angel did appear,
As witnesses do record bear.

5. Restored the priesthood long sing lost,
In truth and power, as at the first;
Thus men commissioned from on high,
Came forth and did repentance cry.

6. Baptizing those who did believe,
That they the spirit might receive
In fullness, as in days of old,
And have one shepherd and one fold.

7. Ye Gentile nations, cease your strife,
And listen to the words of life;
Turn from your sins with one accord,
Prepare to meet your coming Lord.

8. Let Judah's remnants, far and near
The glorious proclamation hear,
For Israel and the Gentiles too,
The way to Zion shall pursue.

9. Their voices and their tongues employ
In songs of everlasting joy;
The mountains and the hills rejoice,
Let all creation hear his voice.

10. From north to south from east to west,
In thee all nations shall be blest;
When Abram and his seed shall stand
Unnumbered on the promised last.

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

Hymn 258
L.M.
1. When earth in bondage long had lain,
And darkness o'er the nations reigned,
And all man's precepts proved in vain,
A perfect system to obtain:

2. A voice commissioned from on high;
Hark, hark, it is the angel's cry,
Descending from the throne of light,
His garments shining clear and white.

3. He comes the gospel to reveal
In fullness, to the sons of men;
Lo! from Cumorah's lonely hill,
There comes a record of God's will.

4. Translated by the power of God,
His voice bears record to his word;
Again an angel did appear,
As witnesses do record bear.

5. Restored the priesthood, long since lost,
In truth and power as at the first.
Thus men commissioned from on high,
Came forth and did repentance cry:

6. Baptising those who did believe,
That they the spirit might receive,
In fullness as in days of old,
And have one shepherd and one fold.

SECOND PART.

7. Ye Gentile nations, cease your strife,
And listen to the words of life;
Turn from your sins with one accord,
Prepare to meet your coming Lord.

8. Let Judah's remnants far and near
The glorious proclamation hear,
For Israel and the Gentiles too,
The way to Zion shall pursue.

9. Their voices and their tongues employ
In songs of everlasting joy;
The mountains and the hills rejoice,
Let all creation hear his voice.

10. From north to south, from east to west,
In thee all nations shall be blessed,
When Abram and his seed shall stand
Unnumbered on the promised land.

Lyrics from Latter-day Saints Psalmody, 1889

Hymn 3
1. When Earth in bondage long had lain,
And darkness o'er the nations reigned,
And all man's precepts proved in vain,
A perfect system to obtain:

2. A voice resounded from on high,
Hark! Hark! it is the angel's cry,
Descending from the throne of light,
His garments shining clear and white.

3. He comes to show the gospel plan
In fulness to the sons of man;
Lo! from Cumorah's lonely hill,
There comes a record of God's will.

4. Translated by the power of God,
His voice bears record to His word;
Again an angel did appear,
As witnesses do record bear.

5. Restored the Priesthood, long since lost,
In truth and power as at the first;
Thus men commissioned from on high,
Came forth and did repentance cry.

6. Baptizing those who did believe,
That they the spirit might recieve
In fullness as in days of old,
And have one Shepherd and one fold.