An Angel From on High

.....

Hymnal historians believe Parley P. Pratt was influenced by this text when writing his own text. The only publication I can find of "An Angel from on high descended to the earth" appeared in an unofficial LDS hymnal "A Selection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints" compiled by David W. Rogers and printed in New York in 1838.

1.An angel from on high
   Descended to the earth,
   Behold him drawning [sic] nigh
   Proclaiming loud the truth.
To witnesses who chosen were

The heavenly message to declare.

   2. To all the sons of men,

   Who dwell upon the earth,

   Obey the gospel, when

   To you it shall go forth;

In fullness now it is restored,

Believe, repent, obey the lord.

   3. Go forth ye herals go,

   Obey your lord's command;

   Let all the nations know

   His kingdom is at hand.

When man shall gain the power of faith,

He will return and reign on earth.

Hymn #197 in the 1841 Manchester Hymnal;
text by Parley P. Pratt

An Angel from on high,
The long, long silence broke -
Descending from the sky,
These gracious words he spoke:
Lo! in Cumorah's lonely hill
A sacred record lies concealed.

Sealed by Moroni's hand,
It has for ages slept,
To wait the Lord's command,
From dust again to speak;
It shall come forth to light again,
To usher in Messiah's reign.

It speaks of Joseph's seed,
And makes the remnant known -
Of nations long since dead,
Who once had dwelt alone;
The fulness of the Gospel, too,
Its pages will reveal to view.

The time is now fulfilled -
The long expected day -
Let earth obedient yield,
And darkness flee away:
Open the seals, and wide unfurl
Its light and glory to the world.

Lo! Israel, filled with joy,
Shall now be gathered home;
Their wealth and means employ,
To build Jerusalem:
While Zion shall arise and shine,
And fill the earth with truth divine.

This page is part of the "LOST HYMNS PROJECT" by Bruce T. Forbes