Mormon fight songs

[Hagoth]

The musket-aiming predisposition is pretty deeply entrenched in Mormon thought.

For example:
"The wicked who fight against Zion shall surely be smitten at last."
Who is this hymn talking about and who is supposed to do the smiting? God? DesNat? The Deacons quorum? And how?

Other examples?

[acmeist]

I attended a family baptism in the summer with my daughter. She has not attended or studied the church aside from me telling her things for 9 years. We sang "Come, Come Ye Saints," and she turned and looked at me with wide eyes when this part of the 3rd verse came up:

And should we die before our journey's through
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too
With the just we shall dwell!

It sounds very death cult like we both agreed. Anyway, I reread the lyrics to that song just now, and here is a fighting lyric:

Why should we think to earn a great reward
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins, fresh courage take
Our God will never us forsake

[Reuben]

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven
Earth must atone for the blood of that man
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice
Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again

Can't wait for Earth to atone. I wonder what that's supposed to look like.

Last time I heard this song, I was struck by the vast gulf between what you can learn from history about "Brother Joseph" and the propaganda you learn at church.

Can you even have a religious fight song without delusional arrogance?

[DPRoberts]

A couple come to mind right off. I'll probably remember more as the day goes.

Behold A Royal Army

Up Awake Ye Defenders of Zion (a Charles W. Penrose text set to The Red White and Blue).

. Up, awake, ye defenders of Zion!
The foe’s at the door of your homes;
Let each heart be the heart of a lion,
Unyielding and proud as he roams.
Remember the trials of Missouri;
Forget not the courage of Nauvoo.
When the enemy host ["God-hating foe" in the old hymnbook] is before you,
Stand firm and be faithful and true.
Stand firm and be faithful and true,
Stand firm and be faithful and true;
When the enemy host is before you,
Stand firm and be faithful and true.

2. By His power is Zion surrounded;
Her warriors are noble and brave,
And their faith on Jehovah is founded,
Whose power is mighty to save.
In each soldier a brave heart is beating,
Tho our numbers, compared, may be few.
We’ll not rest till our foes are retreating,
And we’ll always be faithful and true.
And we’ll always be faithful and true,
And we’ll always be faithful and true;
We’ll not rest till our foes are retreating,
And we’ll always be faithful and true.

3. Tho, assisted by legions infernal,
The plundering foemen advance,
With a host from the regions eternal
We’ll scatter their troops at a glance.
Soon the kingdom will be independent;
In wonder the nations will view
Our Zion in glory resplendent;
Then let us be faithful and true.
Then let us be faithful and true,
Then let us be faithful and true;
Our Zion in glory resplendent;
Then let us be faithful and true.

Also a third verse left out of the current hymnbook

3. Shall we bear with oppression forever?
Shall we tamely submit to the foe,
While the ties of our kindred they sever
And the blood of our prophets shall flow?
No! the thought sets the heart wildly beating;
Our vows at each pulse we renew:
Ne’er to rest till our foes are retreating,
And to be ever faithful and true,
And to be ever faithful and true,
And to be ever faithful and true;
Ne’er to rest till our foes are retreating,
And to be ever faithful and true

eta: correct the author of Up Awake, add the current text, the old third verse, and for readability

[Just This Guy]

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven
Earth must atone for the blood of that man
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice
Millions shall know "Brother Joseph" again

Even more interesting is the original lyrics said that "Illinois must atone for the blood of that man". I have heard some say that that was fulfilled by the damage done to the state during the Civil War.

Also the line "Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, / Plead unto heav'n, while the earth lauds his fame." was originally "Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, / Stain Illinois, while the earth lauds his fame."

[DPRoberts]

Not in the current hymnbook, but in the previous LDS hymnal was this gem of a verse to The Star-Spangled Banner. Bloody conflict seems to have been a staple of 19th century anthems.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

[DPRoberts]

A couple more are

Hope of Israel

We Are All Enlisted

[nibbler]

Roman Catholic and used by many Christian denominations, but Onward, Christian Soldiers.

There's lots of warlike imagery in our hymns and doctrines. The way people often talk about the Second Coming comes off as more of a revenge fantasy than anything else.

Even more interesting is the original lyrics said that "Illinois must atone for the blood of that man". I have heard some say that that was fulfilled by the damage done to the state during the Civil War.

What did all the other damaged states do to Joseph? Because as we all know, the universe revolves around the church.

[RubinHighlander]

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.
Haste to the battle, quick to the field;
Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield.
Stand by our colors; proudly they wave!
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.
We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.
2. Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear;
Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks!
We are waiting now for soldiers; who’ll volunteer?
Rally round the standard of the cross.
Hark! ’tis our Captain calls you today;
Lose not a moment, make no delay!
Fight for our Savior; come, come away!
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.
3. Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;
We shall gain the vict’ry by and by.
Dangers may gather—why should we fear?
Jesus, our Leader, ever is near.
He will protect us, comfort, and cheer.
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

[Hagoth]

Remember when you taught your toddler that we don't hit people when we don't like what they do or say? Maybe sometime in the next century we'll grow out of the toddler stage.

Why wait, Mr. Holland? Be a grownup and start hammering on that sword right now, even if it gives Mr. Oaks and Mr. Nelson a frowny face. Maybe we can all plant crops together before too many people die.