Lyrics:

1. As sisters in Zion, we’ll all work together;
The blessings of God on our labors we’ll seek.
We’ll build up his kingdom with earnest endeavor;
We’ll comfort the weary and strengthen the weak.

2. The errand of angels is given to women;
And this is a gift that, as sisters, we claim:
To do whatsoever is gentle and human,
To cheer and to bless in humanity’s name.

3. How vast is our purpose, how broad is our mission,
If we but fulfill it in spirit and deed.
Oh, naught but the Spirit’s divinest tuition
Can give us the wisdom to truly succeed.

Text: Emily H. Woodmansee, 1836-1906
Music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938. (c) 1985 IRI

-History: (Source: Wikipedia)

Written By: Emily H. Woodmansee

Emily Hill Woodmansee (March 24, 1836 – October 18, 1906)^[1] was a nineteenth century Mormon poet and hymnwriter. Although only one of her hymns “As Sisters In Zion” is included in the 1985 LDS English language edition of the LDS Church’s hymnbook, previous LDS Church hymnbooks have included more of her works.

In the 1927 LDS Church hymnbook there were eight hymns by Woodmansee. On of these was “O the Daughters of Zion, The Friends of the Poor”.^[13] One of her poems was featured in the 1941 Relief Society Centennial Anthology of Verse by Latter-day Saint women.^[3] In the 1948 hymnal there were two hymns by Woodmansee. These were “Up! Arouse Thee, O Beautiful Zion” (with music by Leroy J. Robertson) and “When Dark and Drear the Skies Appear”. ^[14] In the 1985 hymnal “As Sisters in Zion” was for the first time published as a hymn. It was recast as part of a very popular medley in 1999.

A compilation of Woodmansee’s poetry was published in 1986.^[15]

In 2004 some of her poems were again published in Discoveries: Two Centuries of Poems by Mormon Women published by the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History at Brigham Young University.^[16]

Music By: Janice Kapp Perry

Janice Kapp Perry (born 1938) is a well-known Latter-day Saint songwriter whose contributions have resulted in roughly 50 albums and songs in the LDS Church hymnal, Children’s Songbook, and 70 Favorite Children’s Songs.

Perry was born in Ogden, Utah and lives in Provo with her husband Douglas. She has five children and over a dozen grandchildren.

Perry received a degree from Brigham Young University in 1960 then set it aside for almost 20 years while she raised her children.

In the late 1970s she got her “two lucky breaks” as she calls them when she broke her ankle playing basketball, and simultaneously the family TV broke. While recuperating from her injuries, and with nothing to do, her bishop asked her to write original music for the ward roadshow, which initiated her future musical success.^[1]

Perry served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Chile with her husband from 2002 to 2004.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, Perry wrote children’s songs about each one of the 15 presidents of the LDS Church.^[2] In early 2008, Perry set Church President Gordon B. Hinckley‘s poem “What is this Thing Called Death” to music after one of her nieces died. This was done just in time for it to be sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Hinckley’s funeral.^[3]

Perry composed the hymn “As Sisters in Zion” for the LDS Hymnbook and has ten songs published in the Primary songbook. She has produced more than 50 albums of original music, numerous sacred cantatas, several full-length musicals, and her music is known world-wide throughout the Church. Her music has been performed by artists such as Gladys Knight, Brooks & Dunn, and The Osmonds-Second Generation and she has co-written with Senator Orrin Hatch.^[4]

She retired from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 2000 after 5½ years. She received the Ricks College Exemplary Woman Award in 1994, and the BYU Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1997. She and Doug enjoy traveling around the country doing firesides.

-Video:
Perry was born in Ogden, Utah and lives in Provo with her husband Douglas. She has five children and over a dozen grandchildren.
Perry received a degree from Brigham Young University in 1960 then set it aside for almost 20 years while she raised her children.
In the late 1970s she got her “two lucky breaks” as she calls them when she broke her ankle playing basketball, and simultaneously the family TV broke. While recuperating from her injuries, and with nothing to do, her bishop asked her to write original music for the ward roadshow, which initiated her future musical success.[1]
Perry served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Chile with her husband from 2002 to 2004.[citation needed]
In 2007, Perry wrote children’s songs about each one of the 15 presidents of the LDS Church.[2] In early 2008, Perry set Church President Gordon B. Hinckley’s poem “What is this Thing Called Death” to music after one of her nieces died. This was done just in time for it to be sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Hinckley’s funeral.[3]
Perry composed the hymn “As Sisters in Zion” for the LDS Hymnbook and has ten songs published in the Primary songbook. She has produced more than 50 albums of original music, numerous sacred cantatas, several full-length musicals, and her music is known world-wide throughout the Church. Her music has been performed by artists such as Gladys Knight, Brooks & Dunn, and The Osmonds-Second Generation and she has co-written with Senator Orrin Hatch.[4]
She retired from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in 2000 after 5½ years. She received the Ricks College Exemplary Woman Award in 1994, and the BYU Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1997. She and Doug enjoy traveling around the country doing firesides.
-Video: