Abide With Me, 'Tis Eventide

It's been far too long since I posted anything here--over a week! I have been working on another in-depth post on religious expression in the public schools, but need more time to lay my thoughts out properly. In the meantime, I want to share with my readers another of my dearest treasures--a beautiful hymn!

Three weeks ago today I presented Abide With Me, a hymn especially beloved in the United Kingdom. Tonight, I'd like to present this beautiful rendition of a very similar work, Abide With Me, Tis Eventide by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The text was written in 1884 by American minister M. Lowrie Hofford (1825-1888), and was set to music composed by Harrison Millard (1829-1895). The two hymns both express how very much we need the Lord as a guide, a comfort, and a protector every hour of every day--and how we're filled with light and confidence when that closeness is achieved. Even the music to both hymns is quiet and poignant.

So, if you need a balm for your soul tonight, here it is! The text follows the video below.

Abide with me, 'tis eventide!
The day is past and gone;
The shadows of the evening fall;
The night is coming on!
Within my heart a welcome Guest,
Within my home abide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide!
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide!

Abide with me, 'tis eventide!
Thy walk today with me
Has made my heart within me burn,
As I communed with Thee.
Thy earnest words have filled my soul
And kept me near Thy side.

O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide!
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide!

Abide with me, 'tis eventide!
And lone will be the night,
If I cannot commune with Thee,
Nor find in Thee my light.
The darkness of the world, I fear,
Would in my home abide.

O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide!
O Savior, stay this night with me;
Behold, 'tis eventide!