We participate in worship through congregational singing—and many LDS hymns use language that acknowledges the hims in the congregation but not the hers. In this respect, are hymns a measure of Church doctrine? At Christmas, do we seek only “Peace on earth, good will to men”? What about the sisters when I offer to “divide my gifts from thee with every brother that I see who has the need of help from me?” Is the male generic still intended to include every human being? Was “he” ever intended as inclusive? The second half of this session includes a group sing-along of re-written hymns by Nadine Hansen as well as selections from the classic Music and the Broken Word by Paul Toscano and illustrated by Cal Grondahl.

Charlene Durham, Alan Eastman, Vickie Eastman