Open Your Hymnals

When we talk about Adventist hymn writers, one name is almost impossible to ignore: Franklin E. Belden.If you grew up Adventist, you have probably sung his hymns without realizing it. His words and tunes are woven deeply into our hymnody. He was gifted, prolific, practical, and remarkably tuned in to what congregations could sing.But here is where the story becomes uncomfortable.Franklin Belden was not only one of the most important hymn writers in early Seventh-day Adventism. He was also a man who eventually separated himself from the church, resisted Ellen White’s counsel, became deeply embittered, and, according to those who visited him near the end of his life, died without being reconciled to the faith he had once served through song.Chapters

References:“Brother, Be Faithful.” Hymnary.org, https://hymnary.org/text/o_brother_be_faithful_soon_jesus_will_co. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. “Hymns.” Encyclopedia.com, https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/performing-arts/music-theory-forms-and-instruments/hymns. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. “O Brother, Be Faithful.” Amazing Facts Bible Universe, https://manna.amazingfacts.org/amazingfacts/website/bibleuniverse/hymns/sheetmusic/o-brother-be-faithful.pdf. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. “Responsorial Singing.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/art/responsorial-singing. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. “Hymn.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/hymn. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vom_Himmel_hoch%2C_da_komm_ich_her. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026. 

Resources:“Advent Pioneers Biographical Sketches and Pictures.” Ellen G. White Writings, m.egwwritings.org.“Battle Creek, Mich., Tuesday, March 10, 1903.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 80, no. 10, 10 Mar. 1903, Adventist Archives.“General Conference Session of 1888.” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, encyclopedia.adventist.org.“Pathways of the Pioneers – Uriah Smith.” Ellen G. White Estate, whiteestate.org.“The Battle Creek Church, Uriah Smith, and the Testimonies.” Ellen G. White Writings, text.egwwritings.org.“Uriah Smith.” EGW – Pioneer of the Month, Ellen G. White Estate, whiteestate.org.“Adventist Education, Origins of.” Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists, encyclopedia.adventist.org.“Wherefore Adventist Education?” Journal of Adventist Education, journalofadventisteducation.org.CHAPTERS(00:00) Intro(02:23) Losing a leg(04:25) Leaving Adventism(06:48) Coming back to hope(10:46) A man of the page(13:47) Creativity thru invention(15:51) Signs of weakness(17:21) Established but mistaken(21:18) Closing chapter(24:39) Lessons from Uriah Smith’s life

In this episode, we will talk about one of the three hymns Annie Smith wrote: “How Far From Home?”

A spotlight on Annie Smith and the pivotal role she played in the early days of the Adventist movement.

In Part 2, we slow down and sit with the words themselves. We’ll take a deeper dive into the hymn text—what it’s actually saying, why it resonates so powerfully with Adventist hope, and how it can be lived out in practical ways in everyday life. Then we’ll listen with fresh ears as the Almost Home piano arrangement interprets that same longing, urgency, and promise in sound—turning theology into music you can feel.Music score available here: https://shop.hymnsforworship.org/collection/hymn-arrangementsTranscript available here: https://hymnsforworship.org/the-morning-trumpet-how-o-when-shall-i-see-jesus-became-an-adventist-hymn-part-2/

Resources Mentioned:1. - TTBB (Mack Wilberg)2. - SATB (Mark Hayes)3. -SATB (Lloyd Larson)4. - SSA (Ken Berg) 5. (Irene Bennett) 6. (JV Himes & Josiah Litch) 7. (BF White)Resources Used:1. (piano accompaniment)2. (Sofia Tsatalbasidis & Thomas Mayhew) 3. (AJ Consolacion II)Purchase Resources: (For the scores I don’t own, I receive a small commission without additional costs to you)1. - Music sheet 2. - Hymns sheet with transpositions 3. - Piano accompaniment for congregation 4. - (Mack Wilberg) 5. - (Mark Hayes) 6. - (Ken Berg) 7. - (Lloyd Larson)Transcript available here: https://hymnsforworship.org/the-morning-trumpet-how-o-when-shall-i-see-jesus-became-an-adventist-hymn-part-1/Chapters:(0:00) Welcome and what’s ahead(01:28) Podcast Intro(02:14) My early memories of this hymn(04:34) Word vs. Melody: When hymn text meets tune(05:18) The man behind the words: John Leland(09:12) The birth of ‘O When Shall I See Jesus’(10:13) Morning Trumpet: The tune that shaped the hymn(13:20) Vocal rendition of ‘O When Shall I See Jesus’(15:50) O When Shall I See Jesus enters Adventist hymnody

Resources mentioned:1. (Bryn Terfel)2. (Ted Wilson)3. (Oliver Jacques)4. (Ludwig van Beethoven)5. (Gustav Holst / Jean Sibelius)6. (C. Mervyn Maxwell)7. (John MacDuff)8. (WIlliam Williams)9. (Hymns for Worship)10. (Hymns for Worship)11. (Hymns for Worship)  12. 13.14. - Audio15. - Music sheetTranscript available here: https://hymnsforworship.org/the-three-messages-and-revelation-14-an-overlooked-early-adventist-hymn/Chapters:(00:00) Episode Intro(02:45) Podcast Intro(03:31) How Hymns Are Created(04:36) CWM RHONDDA and the Gymanfa Ganu(06:59) Three Texts in the SDA Hymnal Using This Hymn Tune(09:50) Discovering the Three Angels' Messages(11:50) What's So Special About the Three Angels' Messages(14:29) The Message of the Three Angels(19:45) Almost Home: The Three Angels Piano Arrangement(25:19) Conclusion