1. When first the glorious light of truth
Burst forth in this last age,
How few there were enrolled their names
Upon its sacred page!
And of those few how many
Have passed from earth away
And in the grave are sleeping
Till the resurrection day!
Till the resurrection day!
And in the grave are sleeping
Till the resurrection day!
2. How many on Missouri’s plain
Lie prone in death’s embrace.
Pure honest souls, too good to live
In such a wicked place!
And are they left forever
Beneath the silent clay?
Ah, no; they are but sleeping
Till the resurrection day!
Till the resurrection day!
Ah, no; they are but sleeping
Till the resurrection day!
3. And in Nauvoo, that city where
A temple cheered the brave,
A multitude of sainted souls
Have found a restful grave.
And there they now are sleeping,
But shall not sleep alway,
For soon they’ll share the glories
Of a resurrection day!
Of a resurrection day!
For soon they’ll share the glories
Of a resurrection day!
4. Our Patriarch and Prophet, too,
Were massacred; they bled
To seal their testimony and
Were numbered with the dead.
Ah, tell me, are they sleeping?
Methinks I hear them say:
“Death’s icy chains are bursting!
’Tis the resurrection day!
’Tis the resurrection day!
Death’s icy chains are bursting!
’Tis the resurrection day!”
5. And here in these sweet peaceful vales
The shafts of death are hurled,
And many faithful Saints are called
Unto a better world.
And friends are ofttimes weeping
For friends who’ve passed away,
And in their graves are sleeping
Till the resurrection day!
Till the resurrection day!
And in their graves are sleeping
Till the resurrection day!
6. Why should we mourn because we leave
These scenes of toil and pain?
Oh, happy change, the righteous go
Celestial crowns to gain!
And soon we all shall follow
To realms of endless day
And taste the joys and glories
Of a ressurrection day!
Of a ressurrection day!
And taste the joys and glories
Of a ressurrection day!