Lyrics:

1. Softly beams the sacred dawning
Of the great millennial morn,
And to Saints gives welcome warning
That the day is hast’ning on,
That the day is hast’ning on.

2. Splendid, rising o’er the mountains,
Glowing with celestial cheer,
Streaming from eternal fountains,
Rays of living light appear,
Rays of living light appear.

3. Swiftly flee the clouds of darkness;
Speedily the mists retire;
Nature’s universal blackness
Is consumed by heav’nly fire,
Is consumed by heav’nly fire.

4. Yea, the fair sabbatic era,
When the world will be at rest,
Rapidly is drawing nearer;
Then all Israel will be blest,
Then all Israel will be blest.

Text: John Jaques, 1827-1900

Music: J. Spencer Cornwall, 1888-1983. (c) J. Spencer Cornwall, 1983. This hymn may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

-History: (Source: Wikipedia)

Joseph Spencer Cornwall^[1] (February 23, 1888 – February 26, 1983)^[2] was a conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the mid-20th century.

Cornwall was born at Mill Creek, Utah Territory.^[3]

Cornwall was the conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1935 to 1957.^[4] Under his leadership the choir made some of its first trips outside of the United States. Probably the most noted of these was when it performed at the dedication of the Swiss Temple.

Cornwall was also a writer. He wrote “The Story of Our Mormon Hymns”, as well as a centennial history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, A Century of Singing published by Deseret Book in 1958.

Among his early music instructors was George Careless.

As choir director Cornwall tried to raise the level of quality in the choir.^[5]

Cornwall composed the music to John Jaques’s hymn “Softly Beams the Sacred Dawning”, which is hymn #56 in the 1985 LDS Church hymnal.