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Lyrics:
1. Today, while the sun shines, work with a will;
Today all your duties with patience fulfill.
Today, while the birds sing, harbor no care;
Call life a good gift; call the world fair.
(Chorus)
Today, today, work with a will;
Today, today, your duties fulfill.
Today, today, work while you may;
Prepare for tomorrow by working today.
2. Today seek the treasure better than gold,
The peace and the joy that are found in the fold.
Today seek the gems that shine in the heart;
While here we labor, choose the better part.
3. Today seek for goodness, virtue, and truth,
As crown of your life and the grace of your youth.
Today, while the heart beats, live to be true,
Constant and faithful all the way through.
Text: L. Clark, ca. 1880, alt.
Music: Evan Stephens, 1854-1930
-History: (Source: Wikipedia)
Written By: L. Clark
Music By: Evan Stephens
Evan Stephens (June 28, 1854 – October 27, 1930) was a Latter-day Saint composer and hymn writer. He was also the director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for 26 years (1890–1916).
In 1899 the Missionary Song Book edited by Stephens was distributed in the Southern States Mission.[5]
In the 1927 English LDS Hymnbook there were 84 hymns written by Evan Stephens.[2]
His 19 works in the 1985 English language edition of the Latter-day Saint hymnal are:
- #11 “What Was Witnessed in the Heavens” (music),
- #17 “Awake, Ye Saints of God, Awake!” (music),
- #18 “The Voice of God Again is Heard” (words and music),
- #23 & #312 (Women) “We Ever Pray for Thee” (text and adaptation of music by H. A. Tuckett),
- #33 “Our Mountain Home So Dear” (music),
- #35 “For the Strength of the Hills” (music),
- #55 “Lo, the Mighty God Appearing!” (music),
- #61 “Raise Your Voices to the Lord'” (words and music),
- #74 “Praise Ye the Lord” (music),
- #91 “Father thy Children to Thee Now Raise” (words and music),
- #118 “Ye Simple Souls who Stray” (music),
- #120 “Lean on My Ample Arm” (music),
- #183 “In Remembrance of Thy Suffering” (words and music),
- #229 “Today, While the Sun Shines (music),
- #243 “Let Us All Press On” (words and music),
- #254 “True to the Faith” (words and music),
- #312 “We Ever Pray for Thee” (words and music),
- #330 “See The Mighty Angel Flying” (music), and
- #337 “O Home Beloved” (words).
He wrote several other LDS hymns that do not appear in the 1985 edition of the hymnal.
Included among his works is “Utah, We Love Thee” (also sometimes referred to as “Land of the Mountains High”) which became the official State Song of Utah in 1937. In 2003 it was designated the official State Hymn, and a new state song was named.