Kanji and the Hymnal and 以心伝心

There's something I want to see in the new Japanese Hymnal.

The current (and previous) Japanese Hymnal has what I consider a problem. When you're singing a song you are not very familiar with, it can sometimes be hard to tell what the words mean. It can often be difficult to tell what you are supposed to be singing. 

The Japanese printed with the musical parts is only written in 仮名 (かな/kana -- the pronunciation alphabets). No punctuation is included. 

The 漢字 (かんじ/kanji) lyrics, with punctuation, are shown below the parts for reference. In the physical Hymnal, that's often on a separate page, often on the page before or after. Sometimes you have to turn a page to read it.

It's difficult to focus on both the tune and the meaning when the Kanji are separate. Why?

Japanese has four primary scripts, or sets of letters/characters, used in writing the language:

• Kanji  (漢字 -- the logographic/ideographic symbols somewhat shared with Chinese), 
• hiragana (ひらがな -- the cursive phonetic script),  
• katakana (カタカナ -- the block phonetic script often used for foreign words or emphasis), 
• and Romaji (the phonetic script borrowed from Latin-based languages).
  

Three of those are phonetic scripts. They are useful for reading the (standard) pronunciation of Japanese words and phrases, but they aren't as useful for carrying the meaning.

There are two primary reasons:

• Japanese contains a lot of homophones (words that sound the same), and it often isn't easy to tell which meaning is meant without more clues than pronunciation. 
• This is compounded by the fact that Japanese does not use space to delimit words. It is often hard to tell where one word ends and the next begins.

(I have been meaning to write about this for more than twenty-five years, but I keep getting home after church and forgetting, or something else takes priority. But I think it's important, and becoming more important the later it gets.)

I have no time now to dig the more problematic examples back up, so I'll just use one of the hymns we sang today, "'Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love, #176 in the English Hymnal, 「たぐいなき愛を」 ("Tagui-naki Ai wo") #101 in the Japanese. (I sang it at home while attending via the Line chat/meeting app on my cell phone.)

The first phrase of the first verse goes like this in the kana:

ひとのためてんをくだりてしにたもう
 Hitonotameten'wo kudariteshinitamou

The Kanji looks like this:

人のため天を降りて、死にたもう
Hito no tame Ten wo kudarite, shini tamou

If you are familiar with the doctrine of Jesus descending (kudarite) from Heaven (Ten) to die (shini-tamou) for man (hito no tame), that's an easy read. 

If you are a new or young member of the Church (or a foreigner), the word "die" can get swallowed in the inflectional ambiguities (kudariteshi) in the unfamiliar archaic Japanese.

The next phrase includes the archaic word "kusushiki" (in archaic inflection). With the Kanji form, 「奇すしき」, I'm inclined to believe that people will still recognize it (from 「奇跡」、 "kiseki", or miracle). Without the Kanji, again, for new/young members and foreigners, not so much.

The first phrase of the second verse goes like this:

あんそくびにあいはてししゅのしるし
Ansokubiniaihateshishunoshirushi

With the Kanji:

安息日に会い、果てし主のしるし
Ansokubi ni ai, hateshi shu no shirushi

With the Kanji and the comma, 「果てし」 ("hateshi") (going to extremity, or completing) is clearly modifying 「主」  (shu) (Lord). Without, 「あいは」 (ai ha => ai wa) can easily be misread as "concerning love". 

(The hiragana "ha" in certain positions changes to read as the topical particle, "wa".)

In the first phrase of the third verse, the phrase 

こもしもともも
komoshimotomomo
子も師も友も
ko mo shi mo tomo mo

occurs. 「師」 (shi) means "teacher" here, but is not a vocabulary word in the ordinary vernacular. It could be considered an abbreviation of 「教師」, which is common, but young children and foreigners will be distracted by it. Without the Kanji they may confuse it for 「死」 (death, pronounced "shi" in the ordinary vernacular).

One more from this song, in the second phrase of the last verse, we have

しゅのみなにホザナ
shunominanihozana
主の御名にホザナ
Shu no Mi-na ni hozana

Here, "Mi-na" is 「御名」, or "revered name", thus "Hosanna to the name of the Lord". But "mina" in the ordinary vernacular is 「皆」, "all", or "everyone", so that can easily be read "Hosanna to all of the Lord's people!"

The sincere, mature member will not be distracted by any of this. In fact, it may become an excuse to study the words of the hymns. The principle of 以心伝心 (ishin denshin, mutual understanding) will motivate the necessary seeking.

But many new members, children, and investigators won't have that mutual understanding, and will never find the motivation to study the lyrics.

And they will lose an important source of meaning and strength.

(As near as I can tell, demanding mutual understanding is not the path the Lord took in His teaching.)

Well, I've run out of time to do this the right way, showing my suggested approach piece-by-piece, so I'm going to risk copyright offense and post here something that sort-of shows my suggested approach -- mixing the Kanji with the kana:

If I'd had more time, I could have pasted in punctuation.

It's not ideal. Perhaps the 漢字 should be enclosed in parenthesis or something. But I think we need something to help us find the connection to the meaning when we're singing.

English to Japanese Cross-index of Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

やっと、末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会の英語賛美歌（1985年版）から日本語賛美歌への相対索引を組み合わせるほどの時間をとることができました。（反対方向はすでに賛美歌集に存在します。）
Finally was able to take the time to construct this cross-index of English to Japanese hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 version). (A cross-index of Japanese to English hymns is available in the Japanese Hymnbook.)

曲番が負の場合は、片方の賛美歌集のみにある歌です。Negative numbers mean the hymn is not in the other hymnbook.

The Morning Breaks	1		夜明けだ，夜明けだ	1
The Spirit of God	2		主のみたまは火のごと燃え	3
Now Let Us Rejoice	3		いざ救いの日を楽しまん	5
Truth Eternal	4			-159
High on the Mountain Top	5		山の上に	2
Redeemer of Israel	6		イスラエルの救い主	4
Israel, Israel, God Is Calling	7		悩めるイスラエル	6
Awake and Arise	8		目覚めよ，起て	7
Come, Rejoice	9		来たれ，喜べや	8
Come, Sing to the Lord	10			-158
What Was Witnessed in the Heavens?	11		何を天に見しか	9
’Twas Witnessed in the Morning Sky	12			-157
An Angel from on High	13		長き沈黙破りて出づ	10
Sweet Is the Peace the Gospel Brings	14			-156
I Saw a Mighty Angel Fly	15			-155
What Glorious Scenes Mine Eyes Behold	16			-154
Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake!	17			-153
The Voice of God Again Is Heard	18			-152
We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet	19		感謝を神に捧げん	11
God of Power, God of Right	20		力の神よ	12
Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice	21		来たれ，予言者より	13
We Listen to a Prophet’s Voice	22			-151
We Ever Pray for Thee	23			-150
God Bless Our Prophet Dear	24		わが予言者に祝福あれ	14
Now We’ll Sing with One Accord	25			-149
Joseph Smith’s First Prayer	26		麗しき朝よ	18
Praise to the Man	27		たたえよ，主の召したまいし	16
Saints, Behold How Great Jehovah	28			-148
A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief	29		悩める旅人	15
Come, Come, Ye Saints	30		恐れず来たれ，聖徒	17
O God, Our Help in Ages Past	31		ああ，神いつでも	19
The Happy Day at Last Has Come	32		楽しき日は来て	20
Our Mountain Home So Dear	33		山の家	21
O Ye Mountains High	34		高き山よ	22
For the Strength of the Hills	35		山の強さのため	23
They, the Builders of the Nation	36		国を造りたる	24
The Wintry Day, Descending to Its Close	37			-147
Come, All Ye Saints of Zion	38			-146
O Saints of Zion	39			-145
Arise, O Glorious Zion	40			-144
Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise	41			-143
Hail to the Brightness of Zion’s Glad Morning!	42		シオンの朝は輝き	25
Zion Stands with Hills Surrounded	43		山に囲まれて	26
Beautiful Zion, Built Above	44		み空に麗し	27
Lead Me into Life Eternal	45			-142
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken	46			-141
We Will Sing of Zion	47			-140
Glorious Things Are Sung of Zion	48			-139
Adam-ondi-Ahman	49			-138
Come, Thou Glorious Day of Promise	50			-137
Sons of Michael, He Approaches	51			-136
The Day Dawn Is Breaking	52		明けゆく空	28
Let Earth’s Inhabitants Rejoice	53			-135
Behold, the Mountain of the Lord	54			-134
Lo, the Mighty God Appearing!	55			-133
Softly Beams the Sacred Dawning	56			-132
We’re Not Ashamed to Own Our Lord	57			-131
Come, Ye Children of the Lord	58		来たれ，主の子ら	31
Come, O Thou King of Kings	59		来ませ，王の王	29
Battle Hymn of the Republic	60		リパブリック賛歌	30
Raise Your Voices to the Lord	61			-130
All Creatures of Our God and King	62		神は造り主	34
Great King of Heaven	63			-129
On This Day of Joy and Gladness	64			-128
Come, All Ye Saints Who Dwell on Earth	65			-127
Rejoice, the Lord Is King!	66		喜べ，主を	32
Glory to God on High	67		神に栄え	33
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God	68		神はわが砦	36
All Glory, Laud, and Honor	69			-126
Sing Praise to Him	70			-125
With Songs of Praise	71			-124
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty	72		造り主の主	37
Praise the Lord with Heart and Voice	73		たたえよ神を	38
Praise Ye the Lord	74			-123
In Hymns of Praise	75			-122
God of Our Fathers, We Come unto Thee	76		父なる神のもとに	43
Great Is the Lord	77			-121
God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand	78		全能の父なる神よ	40
With All the Power of Heart and Tongue	79			-120
God of Our Fathers, Known of Old	80			-119
Press Forward, Saints	81			-118
For All the Saints	82			-117
Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah	83		導きたまえよ	41
Faith of Our Fathers	84		いにしえの聖徒の	42
How Firm a Foundation	85		主のみ言葉	46
How Great Thou Art	86		わが主よ、わが神	44
God Is Love	87		神は愛なり	45
Great God, Attend While Zion Sings	88			-116
The Lord Is My Light	89		主は光	47
From All That Dwell below the Skies	90			-115
Father, Thy Children to Thee Now Raise	91		父よ、子らはうたう	48
For the Beauty of the Earth	92		地は麗しく	50
Prayer of Thanksgiving	93		感謝の祈り	49
Come, Ye Thankful People	94		来たりてうたえ	51
Now Thank We All Our God	95			-114
Dearest Children, God Is Near You	96			-113
Lead, Kindly Light	97		取り巻く闇の中を	52
I Need Thee Every Hour	98		絶えず頼り主求む	53
Nearer, Dear Savior, to Thee	99		主に近づかん	54
Nearer, My God, to Thee	100		神よ，汝れに近寄らん	55
Guide Me to Thee	101		主よ，導きたまえ	56
Jesus, Lover of My Soul	102		主イエスよ，愛もて	57
Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer	103		尊き救い主	58
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me	104		主よ，荒海を導きたまえ	61
Master, the Tempest Is Raging	105		主よ，嵐すさび	59
God Speed the Right	106		正義を守れと主に祈る	60
Lord, Accept Our True Devotion	107		主よ，祈り受けて	62
The Lord Is My Shepherd	108		主はわが飼い手	63
The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare	109		飼い主はわれを	65
Cast Thy Burden upon the Lord	110			-112
Rock of Ages	111		主よ，汝がみ手に	64
Savior, Redeemer of My Soul	112			-111
Our Savior’s Love	113			-110
Come unto Him	114			-109
Come, Ye Disconsolate	115			-108
Come, Follow Me	116		われに来よ	66
Come unto Jesus	117		主に来たれ	67
Ye Simple Souls Who Stray	118			-107
Come, We That Love the Lord	119		来たれ，友よ	68
Lean on My Ample Arm	120			-106
I’m a Pilgrim, I’m a Stranger	121			-105
Though Deepening Trials	122		試しは多くも	69
Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee	123			-104
Be Still, My Soul	124			-103
How Gentle God’s Commands	125		いともやさし	70
How Long, O Lord Most Holy and True	126			-102
Does the Journey Seem Long?	127			-101
When Faith Endures	128			-100
Where Can I Turn for Peace?	129			-99
Be Thou Humble	130		高ぶり慎み	71
More Holiness Give Me	131		さらに聖くなお努めん	74
God Is in His Holy Temple	132			-98
Father in Heaven	133		天の御父	76
I Believe in Christ	134		救い主，われ信ず	72
My Redeemer Lives	135		贖いの主	73
I Know That My Redeemer Lives	136		主は生けにりと知る	75
Testimony	137		証	77
Bless Our Fast, We Pray	138			-97
In Fasting We Approach Thee	139			-96
Did You Think to Pray?	140		部屋を出る前に	78
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee	141		主イエスよ，わが胸	80
Sweet Hour of Prayer	142		祈りは楽しき	81
Let the Holy Spirit Guide	143		みたまはわれに	82
Secret Prayer	144		ひそかな祈り	79
Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire	145		祈りは魂の	83
Gently Raise the Sacred Strain	146		賛歌を捧げん	84
Sweet Is the Work	147		わが神，わが王	87
Sabbath Day	148			-95
As the Dew from Heaven Distilling	149		草の露は，主の	86
O Thou Kind and Gracious Father	150			-94
We Meet, Dear Lord	151			-93
God Be with You Till We Meet Again	152		神よ，また逢うまで	85
Lord, We Ask Thee Ere We Part	153		わかれに願う	93
Father, This Hour Has Been One of Joy	154			-92
We Have Partaken of Thy Love	155			-91
Sing We Now at Parting	156		わかれまた	88
Thy Spirit, Lord, Has Stirred Our Souls	157			-90
Before Thee, Lord, I Bow My Head	158		み前にぬかずき	89
Now the Day Is Over	159		日は暮れゆき	95
Softly Now the Light of Day	160		陽は暮れゆきて	90
The Lord Be with Us	161			-89
Lord, We Come before Thee Now	162			-88
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing	163		心に平和と	91
Great God, to Thee My Evening Song	164			-87
Abide with Me; ’Tis Eventide	165		主よ，われと共に	94
Abide with Me!	166		日は暮れ	92
Come, Let Us Sing an Evening Hymn	167			-86
As the Shadows Fall	168			-85
As Now We Take the Sacrament	169			-84
God, Our Father, Hear Us Pray	170		父なる神よ	96
With Humble Heart	171			-83
In Humility, Our Savior	172		われら祈りまつる	97
While of These Emblems We Partake (SAUL)	173			-82
While of These Emblems We Partake (AEOLIAN)	174		聖餐受くとき	98
O God, the Eternal Father	175		天にまします永遠なる父	99
’Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love (MEREDITH)	176		たぐいなき愛	101
’Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love (HANCOCK)	177			-81
O Lord of Hosts	178		主よ裂きしパンと	102
Again, Our Dear Redeeming Lord	179			-80
Father in Heaven, We Do Believe	180			-79
Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King	181		ナザレ出しわが主よ	100
We’ll Sing All Hail to Jesus’ Name	182		主の御名をたたえん	105
In Remembrance of Thy Suffering	183		罪人のために	103
Upon the Cross of Calvary	184		カルバリに	106
Reverently and Meekly Now	185		敬い崇め	104
Again We Meet around the Board	186			-78
God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son	187		神は世を愛し	107
Thy Will, O Lord, Be Done	188			-77
O Thou, Before the World Began	189			-76
In Memory of the Crucified	190		十字架を覚え	111
Behold the Great Redeemer Die	191		見よ，罪のために	108
He Died! The Great Redeemer Died	192			-75
I Stand All Amazed	193		主イエスの愛に	109
There Is a Green Hill Far Away	194		街を離れたる青き丘に	110
How Great the Wisdom and the Love	195		高きに満ちたる	112
Jesus, Once of Humble Birth	196		いやしく生まれ	113
O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown	197			-74
That Easter Morn	198			-73
He Is Risen!	199		主はよみがえりぬ	114
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today	200		主はよみがえりぬ（アレルヤ）	115
Joy to the World	201		もろびと，こぞりて	116
Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful	202		神の御子は今宵しも	117
Angels We Have Heard on High	203		み使い空に	119
Silent Night	204		聖し，この夜	118
Once in Royal David’s City	205			-72
Away in a Manger	206		天を降りし神の御子	120
It Came upon the Midnight Clear	207		天なる神には	121
O Little Town of Bethlehem	208		ああ，ベツレヘムよ	122
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing	209		天には栄え	123
With Wondering Awe	210		奇しきあか星	125
While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks	211		羊飼いらが	124
Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains	212		昔，ユダヤの野辺に	126
The First Noel	213		牧人，羊を	127
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day	214		なつかしい鐘は鳴る	128
Ring Out, Wild Bells	215			-71
We Are Sowing	216		日々によき種と	133
Come, Let Us Anew	217		来たれ，旅を共に続けん	135
We Give Thee But Thine Own	218			-70
Because I Have Been Given Much	219		主の恵み、人にも分かたん	138
Lord, I Would Follow Thee	220		われ主を愛して	134
Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd	221		羊を守れる羊飼いの愛	136
Hear Thou Our Hymn, O Lord	222			-69
Have I Done Any Good?	223		今日われ善きことせしか	137
I Have Work Enough to Do	224		陽の落ちね間に	145
We Are Marching On to Glory	225			-68
Improve the Shining Moments	226		時を惜しみて	146
There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today	227		心に光りあり	139
You Can Make the Pathway Bright	228		心の中に光を持てば	141
Today, While the Sun Shines	229		日の照る間に働け	142
Scatter Sunshine	230		光を道にまけ	143
Father, Cheer Our Souls Tonight	231			-67
Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words	232		親しく語り合わん	140
Nay, Speak No Ill	233		悪を言うな	150
Jesus, Mighty King in Zion	234			-66
Should You Feel Inclined to Censure	235		人の過ちを	147
Lord, Accept into Thy Kingdom	236			-65
Do What Is Right	237		正しかれ	151
Behold Thy Sons and Daughters, Lord	238			-64
Choose the Right	239		選べ，正義を	152
Know This, That Every Soul Is Free	240			-63
Count Your Blessings	241		み恵み数えあげ	153
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow	242		愛の神，賛めよ	144
Let Us All Press On	243		神のみ業に進みて	149
Come Along, Come Along	244		来たれ，来たれ	154
This House We Dedicate to Thee	245		この家，父なる神に捧ぐ	148
Onward, Christian Soldiers	246		戦い進め	155
We Love Thy House, O God	247		いとまされる	158
Up, Awake, Ye Defenders of Zion	248			-62
Called to Serve	249		われらは天の王に	157
We Are All Enlisted	250		戦い止むまで	162
Behold! A Royal Army	251		見よ，王の軍は	160
Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel	252		世はよく働く人求む	161
Like Ten Thousand Legions Marching	253			-61
True to the Faith	254		シオンの若者，真理を守り	163
Carry On	255		山のごとく強く	167
As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days	256			-60
Rejoice! A Glorious Sound Is Heard	257			-59
O Thou Rock of Our Salvation	258		力強き主よ	164
Hope of Israel	259		シオンのつわもの	159
Who’s on the Lord’s Side?	260		主の方には	165
Thy Servants Are Prepared	261			-58
Go, Ye Messengers of Glory	262			-57
Go Forth with Faith	263		信仰もて行け	168
Hark, All Ye Nations!	264		天よりの声聞け	166
Arise, O God, and Shine	265			-56
The Time Is Far Spent	266		時過ぎて	169
How Wondrous and Great	267			-55
Come, All Whose Souls Are Lighted	268		高き知恵もて	170
Jehovah, Lord of Heaven and Earth	269		エホバ，天地の主	171
I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go	270		み旨のまま行かん	172
Oh, Holy Words of Truth and Love	271		高きに導く	173
Oh Say, What Is Truth?	272		真理は何と言えば	175
Truth Reflects upon Our Senses	273		真理，胸に照り	174
The Iron Rod	274		鉄の棒	176
Men Are That They Might Have Joy	275			-54
Come Away to the Sunday School	276			-53
As I Search the Holy Scriptures	277		われみ言葉読む	177
Thanks for the Sabbath School	278			-52
Thy Holy Word	279			-51
Welcome, Welcome, Sabbath Morning	280		楽し安息の日	178
Help Me Teach with Inspiration	281		主よ霊感もて	182
We Meet Again in Sabbath School	282			-50
The Glorious Gospel Light Has Shone	283			-49
If You Could Hie to Kolob	284			-48
God Moves in a Mysterious Way	285			-47
Oh, What Songs of the Heart	286		われら天にまた会うとき	179
Rise, Ye Saints, and Temples Enter	287		起て，宮に入りて	183
How Beautiful Thy Temples, Lord	288			-46
Holy Temples on Mount Zion	289			-45
Rejoice, Ye Saints of Latter Days	290			-44
Turn Your Hearts	291			-43
O My Father	292		高きに栄えて	180
Each Life That Touches Ours for Good	293			-42
Love at Home	294		家庭の愛	181
O Love That Glorifies the Son	295			-41
Our Father, by Whose Name	296			-40
From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise	297			-39
Home Can Be a Heaven on Earth	298		愛ある家は	186
Children of Our Heavenly Father	299			-38
Families Can Be Together Forever	300		家庭は永遠に	187
I Am a Child of God	301		神の子です	189
I Know My Father Lives	302		お父さまは生きています	190
Keep the Commandments	303		戒めを守る人を	193
Teach Me to Walk in the Light	304		光の中進もう	194
The Light Divine	305		神の光受け	191
God’s Daily Care	306			-37
In Our Lovely Deseret	307		神の聖徒の	185
Love One Another	308		共に愛し合え	192
As Sisters in Zion (Women)	309		シオンの娘	195
A Key Was Turned in Latter Days (Women)	310			-36
We Meet Again as Sisters (Women)	311			-35
We Ever Pray for Thee (Women)	312			-34
God Is Love (Women)	313			-33
How Gentle God’s Commands (Women)	314			-32
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (Women)	315			-31
The Lord Is My Shepherd (Women)	316			-30
Sweet Is the Work (Women)	317			-29
Love at Home (Women)	318			-28
Ye Elders of Israel (Men)	319		イスラエルの長老たちよ	196
The Priesthood of Our Lord (Men)	320			-27
Ye Who Are Called to Labor (Men)	321		み言葉により	197
Come, All Ye Sons of God (Men)	322		神権持つ子らよ	199
Rise Up, O Men of God (Men’s Choir)	323			-26
Rise Up, O Men of God (Men)	324			-25
See the Mighty Priesthood Gathered (Men’s Choir)	325			-24
Come, Come, Ye Saints (Men’s Choir)	326			-23
Go, Ye Messengers of Heaven (Men’s Choir)	327			-22
An Angel from on High (Men’s Choir)	328			-21
Thy Servants Are Prepared (Men’s Choir)	329			-20
See, the Mighty Angel Flying (Men’s Choir)	330			-19
Oh Say, What Is Truth? (Men’s Choir)	331			-18
Come, O Thou King of Kings (Men’s Choir)	332			-17
High on the Mountain Top (Men’s Choir)	333			-16
I Need Thee Every Hour (Men’s Choir)	334			-15
Brightly Beams Our Father’s Mercy (Men’s Choir)	335		天父は灯台のごとく	200
School Thy Feelings (Men’s Choir)	336		心を迎えよ	198
O Home Beloved (Men’s Choir)	337			-14
America the Beautiful	338			-13
My Country, ’Tis of Thee	339			-12
The Star-Spangled Banner	340			-11
God Save the King	341			-10
Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam	-1		光となるように	188
Oh, I Had Such a Prettty Dream, Mama	-2		母よ、われ美しき夢見ぬ	184
Waiting for the Reapers	-3		刈り手をまちつつ	156
My Jesus, As Thou Wilt	-4		主のみ旨に従い行かん	132
Let Us Treat Each Other Kindly	-5		やさしく交わらん	131
Behold the Lamb of God	-6		天の装いの子羊、見よ	130
Verdant Spring and Rosy Summer	-7		若葉の春	129
The Joy and the Song	-8		主をたたえん	39
Kind and Heavenly Father	-9		やさしき天の父よ	35

 

Gratitude for Bad Habits?

An FB friend expressed gratitude for bad habits.

Interesting thought, isn't it? Bad habits waste our time and other resources, cause friction with family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc., cost us pain, heartache, and anguish.

I don't know what habits she was thinking of, but I think I have an idea what she means.

Paul mentions a thorn in his side, and he talks about glorying in infirmities. We can read that several ways.

Like any human, I have a number of bad habits. Among other things, I tend to pay too much attention to detail, and when I don't I tend to be too willing to just let things ride. And I also have a bad habit of getting down on myself when I don't measure up to what I think people expect of me.

There is a bad habit that cost me my relationship with the first woman I was engaged with. 

Maybe it was just as well. Even though she was an English-speaking American and we ostensibly shared our religion and a number of interests, she would have had at least as hard a time understanding me as the woman I married.

Some bad habits are actual bad habits. 

 Others are not so much bad habits as aspects of our personality that somebody decides to complain about.

Trying to overcome bad habits can make us stronger.

Trying to overcome our own personality traits that some people decide to complain about can bring us face-to-face with God, if we try hard enough that He has to tell us to knock it off. 

Isaiah 55 has some interesting things to say. One of those is how God's ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts are higher than ours.

If you think about it, mortal humans have no hope to ever know much about much. Even as a group, our technologies, histories, cultures, everything we do tends to fall apart well before we can amass much knowledge, even about ourselves. 

Mortality means we can only get closer to perfection than we have been in the past. At the end of the day, we aren't much closer, and even at the ends of our lives, we fall short of perfection. 

God's ways and thoughts excel ours. Since our understanding is based on our thoughts, even our understanding of God's thoughts and ways falls short.

One thing we tend to ignore is that this means even our ideals fall short.

If you can't accept that, let me ask you to pick an ideal and explain it to me without resorting to your imperfect understanding and mine.

All of our ideals fall short of the glory of God.

Does this mean ideals are bad? No, not really. They are useful for pushing us forward, pushing us to do and be better.

But there comes a time to see where each ideal falls short of the glory of God, find better ideals, and move beyond the old ones.

This is where bad habits come in.

Bad habits are generally what we do in response to something we should be doing or getting but aren't.

Maybe we see green leaves on vegetables as non-ideal. They have a stronger taste, and they tend to be the outer leaves, so they tend to pick up dirt, pesticides, and agricultural chemicals. In our limited ideals, we throw them away.

And then we end up lacking certain B vitamins. And we develop certain bad habits, say overeating, or using tobacco, beer, coffee, etc., trying to stave off the need for those vitamins.

We use our willpower to quit those habits, but it's not enough. Until we figure out what our bad habits are trying to compensate for, the bad habits keep coming back.

So the bad habits can help us figure out where our ideals fall short, help us to find better ways to meet our real needs.

Paul's thorn in the flesh, which he talks about in 2 Corinthians 12, is often explained as a reference to pride and humility. But it's not just for abstract humility.

#GiveThanks

人を正すクスリ

例え、物事を正しく理解させ、正しい方を選ばせるクスリが存在するとすれば、どこまで効くでしょう？

そのクスリは人を成長させる力をもつでしょう?

Science vs. Religion!

Every now and again, someone brings up the old debate about science versus religion.

I had a religion teacher once who claimed that science was us pushing outward, and religion was God pouring knowledge in on us.

Well, that wasn't exactly what he said, but there were sure a number of the students in his class that took it that way.

I won't argue that it's completely meaningless, but I will argue that one should not use the observation to define religion or science.

Here's how I define science, and I definitely will not claim it is a perfect definition:

Science is humans studying the tangible world around themselves, recording observations, making experiments, developing theories and testing them against the observations and experimental results, and sharing what they've learned. In sharing, there is a strong emphasis on reproducibility of results.

And religion:

Religion is humans studying the intangible world around them, recording observations, making experiments, developing theories and testing them (though sometimes not testing them too well), and sharing what they've learned. In sharing, the emphasis is not strong on reproducibility of results, because it is understood that language about the intangible world (by definition) cannot generally be precise enough to ascertain whether results have been reproduced in any but a broad sense.

Note two things.

One, religion is also the work of human beings -- fallible human beings.

Two, nothing in my definition eliminates inspiration from either. Any good scientist will acknowledge the role of serendipity in the progress of science. I'm not going to insist that everyone see the hand of God in serendipity, but if God is the creator of the universe -- if God is the source and essence of the grand unifying principle by which the universe operates -- trying to argue that serendipity is not God's hand is futile.

(For me, the grand unifying principle that so many physicists seek is quite obviously God, but that observation is so full of the hidden burden of semantics that, much as I wish all could see it, I cannot demand that anyone see it.)

My definitions. They work for me (for now). Your mileage may vary.

Molasses on a Straw, or a Club?

(This is a conversation example, but it is primarily religious in content, so I am putting it here instead of my Random Eikaiwa blog.

Bee: Oh, that Brigham Young. He makes me soooo mad.

Kay: I know! He was such an evil person.

Non-chan: What did he do? I thought he was a prophet.

Kay: He was! And that's the problem with this Church.

Bee: Well, we shouldn't paint the whole church bad just because of him.

Hal: Hi guys, whatcha talking about?

Non-chan: Brigham Young.

Kay: Ssshhh.

Bee: Nothing.

Hal: Oh, Brigham Young. Seems like every ten years or so, somebody digs up something he said, quotes it out of context, and makes a fuss about it. Then somebody with a cooler head explains it, and it wasn't that bad after all.

Kay: See. Hal just doesn't know anything.

Hal: Yeah. I'm out of it. Haven't got a clue. So, what's got your back up?

Non-chan: Backup?

Hal: Sorry. Old expression. What's making, uhm, whom, mad?

Non-chan: Yeah, Bee, what is upsetting you?

Bee: He was such a violent person! He said you should hit people who don't understand over the head with a two-by-four!

Non-chan: No way! Really!

Kay: I've heard of that.

Bee: I have the quote right here:

You may pound one Elder over the head with a two-by-four, and he does not know but what you have handed him a straw dipped in molasses to suck.

Kay: Very violent.

Hal: Oh, boy. And everybody complains when I get dramatic.

Non-chan: Huh?

Hal: (Face-palms.)

Bee: What? I'm not being dumb. It says it right here!

Hal: Quoted out of context.

Non-chan: What's a two-by-four?

Kay: It's a piece of wood that you build a house out of. Four inches wide, two inches thick, however long. That's ten centimeters wide and five centimeters thick.

Bee: Like hitting someone over the head with a baseball bat.

Kay: Or worse.

Hal: Okay, I looked it up on the Internet, and here it is, with a little more context:

You may, figuratively speaking, pound one Elder over the head with a
club, and he does not know but what you have handed him a straw dipped
in molasses to suck. There are others, if you speak a word to them, or take
a straw and chasten them, whose hearts are broken; they are as tender in
their feelings as an infant, and will melt like wax before the flame. You must
not chasten them severely; you must chasten according to the spirit that is
in the person. Some you may talk to all day long, and they do not know
what you are talking about. There is a great variety. Treat people as they are
(Discourses of Brigham Young, Widtsoe, p. 150).

Bee: Quoting more doesn't change what he said! He said we should hit people over the head with a club!

Kay: He at least said we could!

Non-chan: I'm not sure that's what he meant.

Hal: It was a figure of expression, and an example of different ways people take things when you tell them they are wrong. Some people, you can use strong language with. Some you have to be careful. There is a great variety -- many different kinds of people, and we should treat people as they are.

Non-chan: He even said, "figuratively speaking".

Kay: But he said "pound one elder over the head with a club"!

Bee: And he said you can talk all day to some people and they still don't understand. Hmm.

Kay: Hey!

Bee: Okay, maybe he didn't say we should.

Kay: Don't just give up the fight!

Bee: I'm not saying I like him, just that maybe I was misinterpreting this one.

Hal: I think he may have said too much on occasion, but that also was part of the way people discussed things back then. Different times, different ways of talking, even though it looks like the same English. Let me see if I can find something on a similar subject. Ah. This is from the unabridged Journal of Discourses, coincidentally on page 150 of volume nine:

Break not the spirit of any person ....

Kay: I want that in context!

Hal: Okay.

What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually.
Brother Joseph W. Young remarked this morning that he wished the people to receive the word of the Lord through his servants, be dictated by them, and have no will of their own. I would express it in this wise: God has placed within us a will, and we should be satisfied to have it controlled by the will of the Almighty.

Non-chan: Almighty?

Bee: That's God. I'll read for a bit.

Let the human will be indomitable for right. It has been the custom of parents to break the will until it is weakened, and the noble, Godlike powers of the child are reduced to a comparative state of imbecility and cowardice. Let that heaven-born property of human agents be properly tempered and wisely directed, instead of pursuing the opposite course, and it will conquer in the cause of right. Break not the spirit of any person, but guide it to feel that it is its greatest delight and highest ambition to be controlled by the revelations of Jesus Christ; then the will of man becomes Godlike in overcoming the evil that is sown in the flesh, until God shall reign within us to will and do of his good pleasure.

Kay: Whoa, whoa! That's too much!

Bee: He says one thing, then he says another. He worries that members of the Church will trust their leaders too much and lose their willpower, but then he says that we should subject our will perfectly to God.

Non-chan: Is God a man?

Kay: But, ... our leaders are our representatives of God.

Hal: But not God. Can I read a bit more?

Kay: Let me.

Let all persons be fervent in prayer, until they know the things of God for themselves and become certain that they are walking in the path that leads to everlasting life; then will envy, the child of ignorance, vanish, and there will be no disposition in any man to place himself above another; for such a feeling meets no countenance in the order of heaven. (Volume 9, Journal of Discourses, Brigham Young, page 150.)

Kay: But, if we lose our will to God, we still lose our will?

Hal: Who gave us our will?

Kay: The natural man is an enemy to God.

Hal: That's from the third chapter of Mosiah, but read the whole thing:

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 3: 19.)

Non-chan: How do we tell the difference between the Holy Spirit and unholy spirits?

Bee: Isn't that what our leaders teach us?

Hal: Well, let's look at seventh chapter of Moroni:

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. (Book of Mormon, Moroni 7: 16.)

Non-chan: That sounds like your conscience.

Hal: Precisely.

Kay: But of course, it doesn't mean everything.

Hal: Everything which invites us to do good and believe in that God that helps us do good.

Kay: But thinking for yourself is bad.

Hal: Brigham Young said his son had said something that sounded like that, but he somewhat politely disagreed. Rather strongly disagreed.

Bee: But if we disagree with our leaders, that must be wrong, right?

Non-chan: Maybe it depends on how we go about disagreeing?

Hal: I think so.

Kay: But our leaders can't be wrong, can they?

Non-chan: If they couldn't be wrong, why would Brigham Young worry?

Hal: I've prayed about it, and the answer I get is that helping our leaders get things right is part of that influence for good that Brigham Young talks about, when we know for ourselves.

Bee: Can you back that up in scriptures?

Hal: Sort of. But if I just convince you of it, then you haven't found out for yourself. It's there if you'll look and pray, but I have to warn you about one thing.

Bee: What's that?

Hal: Once you start listening to God, it's better to keep listening. Thinking you know it all is a really bad habit.

Kay: So said from the know it all.

Hal: Mea culpa. My bad. Forgive me of that, huh?

Blessings from the Isolation Order -- 隔離指示から恵み

Today I was blessed by the isolation directives (that are finally being lifted, a bit at a time).
[JMR202006071112 和訳追加 Japanese translation added:{}.]
{今日、やっと少しずつ取り除かれて行く隔離指示に特別に恵まれました。}

Still no general church meetings, still partaking of the tokens of Jesus' sacrifice in isolation.
{まだまだ教会の一般な集会ができず、イエス様の犠牲のしるしをまだまだ隔離のままいただくしかない。}

Started with a hymn, randomly picked Hymn #52 in the Japanese Hymnal, 「取り巻く闇の中を」 ("Torimaku Yami no Naka wo").
{先ずは賛美歌を、ほぼ手当り次第に日本語賛美歌の 52番の「取り巻く闇の中を」 を選んで歌いました。}

Since I could, I sang it again in English: #97, "Lead Kindly Light".
{差し止める理由なく、また英語で歌いました。これは英語賛美歌の 97番の "Lead Kindly Light"です。}

I'm stuck in the middle of verse 3, can't yet sing through the words, "... 'til The night is gone.". (... over moor and fen, over crag and torrent, until the night is gone. And with the morning those angel faces smile, which I have loved long since and lost awhile.!)
{三連の途中に行き詰まり、「夜明けまで」という言葉を歌い通せません。（〜夜が明けるまで山や谷を越えつつ、しばし亡くされてありし天使の笑顔会わん。）}

You really don't have the opportunity to break down like this in public meetings. It's not that you have to put on a front, it's that you have too many things to take care of, too many things to participate in, too many responsibilities. And you assume the quiet moments in between will be enough, so you give an ear to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit, but you don't give them your whole heart.
{一般の集会にこういうように気力が打ちのめされることは赦されません。見せかけの表情の要求のためではなく、片付けるものも、参加するものも、責任も多いためです。その落ち着きの隙で間に合うという思い込みで聖なる御霊のささやきに耳は貸しているけど、真心を譲らず、完全に心底までには微かに受け届かせてしまう。}

Well, sometimes you do have the opportunity, but I am now under the full focus, full flow of the Spirit of God, and it overpowers me. It's taking away certain foolish strength, and leaving me more able to do whatever it is I must do tomorrow. And the rest of today.
{まあ、偶々はこういう機会が与えられながら、今は全く、神の御霊の焦点に充てられ、その流れに沈まれており、圧倒されております。あるバカ力を取り除かれ、何になろうとする明日の仕事のための能力を残されるままです。（今日の残りの時間も。）}

Random is not random.
{成り行き任せは無作為ではありません。}

My plans are not the Lords. At best I have bits and pieces of His plans in there. His plans take precedence.
{儂の計画と主の計画には差がある。主の計画の散りや破片が俺の計画にあるぐらいでしょう。主の意図するものを最優先にすべし。}

Complaining is not evil, if I keep my heart open, and listen, while I complain, and when I'm done complaining.
{不平を漏らしておる間、またブツブツ言い終わってから耳を覚まし心開きのままにするなら、不平を言うのは罪悪ではありません。}

And I felt inspired to record this. Not the whole of the revelation I am receiving, but this part.
{これを記録に残すよう、促しを感じておる。その霊感や掲示の全てではなく、この一部だけです。}

One step ahead, Lord, when you will. When you will not let me see, bless me that either the place I put my foot will be solid long enough to move ahead, or that you will catch me before too long as I fall again. If Oliver Granger had a promise about the times he fell, I can trust you as well.
{主よ、み旨のとき、一歩先ぐらい。見させていただけないときは、足を置く処が先に進めるほど堅固に間に合うにでも、また転び落ちる我が救われるにでも、恵んでください。たとえ、オリバー・グレンジャーには転び落ちる度の約束が与えられていたとすれば、我も信用して上げる可。}

I Am a Child of God -- Missing Verse

Song #2 in the English Children's Songbook, where it has four verses.

Hymn # 301 in the English Hymnal, where it has only the first three verses.

 In neither case does it directly mention Jesus Christ.

I suppose I may be demanding too much perfection, but it seems to me that it is therefore missing a verse.

So, I propose an additional verse, to be sung after either verse two or verse three. It should go something like this:

I am a child of God,

And Jesus is my brother.

Because He lived and died for me

I can return to Mother.

But there are some rhythm problems. Worse, there are some  interpretational issues.

First, He lived and died, and He lives again. That He resurrected brings the hope of the resurrection to us, as well.

Children and people with less complete understanding of the news Jesus brings us may not be aware that He lives again, so we should say that, if we talk about His living and dying for us.

Second, while those who are well-versed in the true doctrines will recognize that returning to Heavenly Mother implies returning to Heavenly Father, Children and those new to the principles of the Gospel will not recognize that. Again, we need to be explicit:

I am a child of God,
And Jesus is my brother.
Because He lived and died, and lives again for me,
I can return to Heavenly Father and Mother.

And now the rhythm is completely off.

Know This That Every Soul Is Free, Hymn #240

Hymn #240 from the current English Hymnbook
現存の英語賛美歌の240番

(I hear there is a new Hymnbook in the works.)
(新しい賛美歌が企画中だそうです。)

It's not in the Japanese Hymnbook, unfortunately. So I'm going to offer a crude translation. (Crude, because my Japanese is not up to a proper translation.)
残念ながら、日本語賛美歌に掲載されていないので、自分なりの無作法な日本語に翻訳してあげる。

The original author of the lyrics is apparently unknown (anonymous).
元の作詞はわかっている限り不明、つまり匿名。

Official cross-references include:
公式の参考聖句は以下を含む：

• 2 Nephi 10: 23, 24
• and Helaman 14: 30, 31

I can offer several more, the following two for starters:
その他、幾らかを提案できるけど、先ずは以下の二箇所の聖句、それぞれ全書：

2 Nephi 2 (particularly v. 27特に, but read the whole chapter)
Mosiah 29 (particularly v. 34特に, but again, read the whole chapter)

The lyrics:
その歌詞：

Know This, That Every Soul Is Free

悟れ、人は皆自由

Anonymous, ca. 1805, Boston, MASS. 

作詞：匿名（マサチューセッツ州ボストン市1805年頃）

Included in the first hymnbook of the nascent Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会の初賛美歌に掲載される。

Know this, that ev’ry soul is free

悟れ、全ての人は自由である

To choose his life and what he’ll be;
その人生とその行方を選ぶに

For this eternal truth is giv’n:

なぜなら、この永遠の真理が与えられている
That God will force no man to heav’n.

つまり、神は人を天に押し込ませてくださることは、一切に無い。

He’ll call, persuade, direct aright,

正しい道に呼ばれ、説かれ、案内される
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,

また、分別、思いやりや光を以て恵まれる

In nameless ways be good and kind,

言い尽くせない方法にして善良に優しくその摂理を与えられる

But never force the human mind.

然し、人の心を強いられることは、一切に無い。

Freedom and reason make us men;

自由及び理性は人を成す
Take these away, what are we then?

来れらを無くしては人は何であろう？
Mere animals, and just as well

本の動物で、それなりには

The beasts may think of heav’n or hell.

 獣が天国や地獄を考えるであろう。

May we no more our pow’rs abuse,

これ以上は我々の権力の無駄扱いを辞めよう 

But ways of truth and goodness choose;

やめて、事実上の全量と真理ある道を選ぼう

Our God is pleased when we improve

我々の神は喜ばれるは、我々が上達して

His grace and seek his perfect love.

その神の恵みを活かし、その完全な哀れある愛を求めて身につけるとき。

(Link to me singing this in rough form on youtube. 8-* ユーチューブ上掲載して荒れた声で歌って上げている。)

Being Prepared for the "End Times"

(From a post on FB:)

Studying from the Come Follow Me manual for March 2-8 since we don't have church today.

These words hit me a little hard:

The next time you partake of the Sacrament (ergo, of the Lord's Supper) ..."
(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/come-follow-me-for-individuals-and-families-book-of-mormon-2020/10?lang=eng&fbclid=IwAR0lKIdnO7IJrSx1a_keahIa_qXF5j5ly0vzpBtZ5lV9g42M9cK6sRwWe6M)

It will be at least a few weeks yet, before this wave of the overflowing scourge passes. The economic repercussions will be felt for a while.

But the Apocolypse says it gets a lot worse before He comes again.

People talk about end times. They are here. Stored food and taking care of your health may get you some more time to repent in this world. Money, less and less.

Why not repent now and turn your heart towards God, so you can be prepared for what comes after?