See the Mighty Priesthood Gathered
325

Text: Jean L. Kaberry (1918–1997; LDS)
Music: Robert P. Manookin (1918–1997; LDS)
Tune name: RICHARD

This stirring hymn for men’s voices causes to happen the very scene it describes: “the mighty priesthood [is] gathered,” and “proud their voices blend together, / Raising hymns to Father’s praise.” The power of the priesthood will usher in the time when “all darkness flees away.”

An important part of this hymn’s message is that priesthood authority and tradition are a family heritage, passed down from father to son. Verse one mentions “Son and father jointly serving.” Verse two mentions the precepts taught by Adam to his son Seth. And verse three is an admonition to younger priesthood holders to cherish and maintain these traditions: “Come, ye sons, and walk uprightly, / As your noble fathers trod.” This latter phrase also implies that sons without priesthood- bearing fathers follow in the footsteps of their spiritual fathers— faithful priesthood holders of past years and of earlier dispensations.

Robert P. Manookin shared this background on the hymn: “While we were in New Zealand as temple missionaries, my wife and I received correspondence from our friends Jerry and JoAnn Ottley. [Brother Ottley was at that time the director of the Tabernacle Choir.] In that correspondence Jerry asked for an anthem for male chorus that could be used in a priesthood session of general conference. I asked our dear friend, Jean L. Kaberry, to write a priesthood poem, and this was the result. The men of the Tabernacle Choir and Mormon Youth Chorus subsequently sang the anthem version in general conference. Later, during the preparation of the 1985 hymnbook, Brother Michael Moody approached me and asked if I would make a hymn setting of the anthem that could be used in the hymn-book.”

The tune name, RICHARD, honors the son of the composer.

Verse one includes an unusual word, serried. From a French word meaning “to press,” it means “pressed together, as in ranks.” Jean Kaberry noted, “I have always thrilled to the sight of a large gathering of priesthood. I used the word serried, hoping to create an impression of row upon row of fathers and sons.”

When the singers are learning this hymn, it would be helpful to mention in advance that they should be prepared to skip to the third ending as they finish the final verse. Some may not be familiar with this convention of music- printing, and the congregation will need to be ready to skip from the word Loudly to the word sound.