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?And it shall be given thee, also, to make a selection of sacred hymns, as it shall be given thee, which is pleasing unto me, to be had in my church. For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads.?
?Doctrine and Covenants 25:11-12
The Prophet Joseph Smith received this revelation for his wife, Emma, to compile a collection of hymns for the church. Many saints at the time were writing, arranging and collecting hymns. Because of the harsh persecutions and constant uprooting of their communities, the assignment took Emma several years to fulfill.
The Collection of Sacred Hymns was finally finished and published in 1835. It contained 90 hymns. In 1841, she compiled another edition with this one containing 304 hymns. Since these editions by Emma, several other editions have been put together with updated selections and published for use as the official hymnbook of the Church.
