Lyrics:

1. Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks and sing,
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truths at night.

2. Sweet is the day of sacred rest.
No mortal care shall seize my breast.
Oh, may my heart in tune be found,
Like David’s harp of solemn sound!

3. My heart shall triumph in my Lord
And bless his works and bless his word.
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine!
How deep thy counsels, how divine!

4. But, oh, what triumph shall I raise
To thy dear name through endless days,
When in the realms of joy I see
Thy face in full felicity!

5. Sin, my worst enemy before,
Shall vex my eyes and ears no more.
My inward foes shall all be slain,
Nor Satan break my peace again.

6. Then shall I see and hear and know
All I desired and wished below,
And every pow’r find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Music: John J. McClellan, 1874-1925

-History: (Source: Wikipedia)

Written By: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748), was an English hymn-writer, theologian and logician. He was recognised as the “Father of English Hymnody“, as he was the first prolific and popular English hymnwriter, credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today and have been translated into many languages.

Some of Watts’ hymns are:

• Joy to the world! (arranged by Lowell Mason to an older melody originating from Handel)
• Come ye that love the Lord (often sung with the chorus [and titled] “We’re marching to Zion”)
• Come Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove
• Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
• O God, Our Help in Ages Past
• When I survey the wondrous cross
• Alas! and did my Saviour bleed
• This is the day the Lord has made
• ‘Tis by Thy strength the mountains stand

Many of his hymns are included in the Methodist hymn book Hymns and Psalms. Many of his texts are also used in the American hymnal The Sacred Harp, using what is known as theshape note singing technique.

Music By: John J. McClellan

John Jasper McClellan, Jr. (April 20, 1874 – August 2, 1925)^[1] served as the chief organist of the organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsfrom 1900 to 1925.

McClellan was in Payson, Utah Territory.^[2] By the age of eleven McClellan was serving as a church organist in Payson. McClellan’s father, also John J. McClellan, served as mayor of Payson from 1887 to 1890.^[3]

In 1891, McClellan went to Saginaw, Michigan, where he studied under Albert W. Platte.^[4] He then went to the Ann Arbor Conservatory where he studied under Johann Erich Schmaal. He also studied with Alberto Jonas while there. He served as organist of St. Thomas Catholic Church while in Ann Arbor. He also served as pianist of the Ann Arbor Choral Union.^[4]

In 1896, McClellan returned to Utah where he taught music at LDS College and at Brigham Young Academy (the forerunner of Brigham Young University). It was during this time that McClellan married Mary Douglass. They eventually became the parents of five children.^[2][4] He also served as the pianist for the Salt Lake Opera Company.

In 1899, McClellan went to Berlin, Germany where he studied with Xaver Scharwenka and Ernest Jedliczka. While in Berlin, McClellan edited and published a new edition of the LDShymnal in German.^[4]

McClellan became the organist of the Salt Lake Tabernacle in 1900. In this capacity, he accompanied the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and inaugurated the free weekly organ recitals at the tabernacle.

In the 1985 English edition of the LDS hymnal, the music for “Sweet Is the Work” (hymn #147) was composed by McClellan.

McClellan was a member of the Church Music Committee of the LDS Church when it was first formed.^[5]

Among those who studied under McClellan were Alexander Schreiner,^[6] Sidney B. Sperry^[7] and J. Spencer Cornwall.^[2]