Lyrics:

1. Arise, O glorious Zion,
Thou joy of latter days,
Whom countless Saints rely on
To gain a resting place.
Arise and shine in splendor
Amid the world’s deep night,
For God, thy sure defender,
Is now thy life and light.

2. From Zion’s favored dwelling
The gospel issues forth,
The covenant revealing
To gather all the earth;
And Saints, the message bringing
To all the sons of men,
With the redeemed shall, singing,
To Zion come again.

3. Thru painful tribulation
We walk the narrow road
And battle with temptation
To gain the blest abode.
But patient, firm endurance,
With glory in our view,
The Spirit’s bright assurance
Will bring us conq’rors through.

4. Oh, grant, Eternal Father,
That we may faithful be,
With all the just to gather,
And thy salvation see!
Then, with the hosts of heaven,
We’ll sing th’immortal theme:
To him be glory given
Whose blood did us redeem.

Text: William G. Mills, 1822-1895
Music: George Careless, 1839-1932

-History: (Source: Wikipedia)

George Edward Percy Careless (September 24, 1839 – March 5, 1932) was a prominent Latter-day Saint composer and conductor.

Careless was born in London, England.^[1] As a child he studied at the Royal Academy in London. He performed at Exeter Hall, Drury Lane and the Crystal Palace.

In the early 1860s Careless joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in 1864 he immigrated to Utah Territory. It was while on the ship crossing the ocean that he wrote a musical arrangement for Parley P. Pratt‘s hymn The Morning Breaks.

Shortly after coming to Salt Lake City, Careless became the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as well as of the Salt Lake Theatre orchestra. He also conducted performances by the Salt Lake Opera Company. Among his students was the future conductor of the Tabernacle choir, J. Spencer Cornwall.^[2]

Besides The Morning Breaks (hymn #1), Careless also composed the music to the following hymns in the 1985 Latter-day Saint hymnal: #40 “Arise, O Glorious Zion”, #122 “Though Deepening Trials”, #145 “Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire”, #150 “O Thou Kind and Gracious Father”, #178 “O Lord of Hosts”, #186 “Again We Meet Around the Board”, #191 “Behold the Great Redeemer Died” and #192 “He Died! The Great Redeemer Died”.