The Hosanna Shout

David Kenison, Orem, Utah, david@kenison.net
Written July 2001; updated September 2012, April 2020

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Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all around the world have been blessed by the remarkable wave of temple dedications in recent years.  Saints who longed to receive temple blessings but could only dream of doing so because of the time and expense involved, have had the chance not only to receive the ordinances for themselves but also to begin to serve by performing vicarious ordinances.  And tens, even hundreds of thousands have been privileged to attend sacred dedicatory services.

BEGINNINGS IN KIRTLAND

The Kirtland Temple

One of the special events associated with Temple dedications and other sacred occasions is the “Hosanna Shout.”  In our dispensation, this tradition started with the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in 1836.  Joseph shared the inspired dedicatory prayer, ending with these words:

"And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb!
"And let these, thine anointed ones, be clothed with salvation, and thy saints shout aloud for joy. Amen, and Amen." (D&C 109:79-80)

The history of the Church records that following the dedicatory prayer, “we sealed the proceedings of the day by shouting hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb, three times sealing it each time with amen, amen, and amen” (History of the Church 2:427-8).  The hymn "The Spirit of God" was also sung.  Young Erastus Snow, a 17-year-old recently converted to the new faith, received ordinances in the new temple and recorded:

"Then we all (like as did Israel when they surrounded Jericho), with one united voice, gave aloud a shout of Hosannah, Hosannah, Hosannah to God and the Lamb; Amen, amen, and amen. When this was done, the Holy Ghost shed forth upon us; some spake in tongues, some interpreted, others prophesied, some received visions of the judgments that were to be poured out upon this generation. Others saw Zion in her glory and the angels came and worshipped with us and some saw them, yea, even twelve legions of them, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof."

(Erastus Snow Journal, BYU Special Collections)

ONGOING TRADITION

The shout of rejoicing and celebration that began in Kirtland became a tradition in temple dedication services, and continues to the present.  This description of the act was recently published:

"The Hosanna Shout is whole-souled, given to the full limit of one's strength.  The congregation stands and in unison shouts the words 'Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to God and the Lamb.  Amen, Amen, and Amen,' repeating them three times.  This is usually accompanied by the rhythmic waving of white handkerchiefs with uplifted hands.  The epithet 'Lamb' relates to the condescension and atonement of Jesus Christ." (Encyclopedia of Mormonism p. 659)

On Thursday, April 6, 2000, members of the Church throughout the United States and Canada participated together in an unprecedented event:  the satellite broadcast of the dedication of the Palmyra New York temple.  Countless Church members, attending and participating in their local chapels, were given the privilege of being part of a dedication for the first time in their lives.  That opportunity was repeated with the dedication of the Winter Quarters Nebraska temple on April 22, 2001.  A third broadcast, for the rebuilt Nauvoo temple, was held on June 27, 2002, and the Hosanna Shout was again raised in thanks and supplication to God.

The Hosanna Shout is occasionally used on other sacred occasions.  For example, on April 6, 1930, the Hosanna Shout was offered in special conference sessions held around the world, commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the organization of the Church.  (See Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 5:272-273.)  A more recent instance occurred during dedication of the new Conference Center on October 8, 2000.  On that unique occasion, President Gordon B. Hinckley led Church members in the Hosanna Shout in joyous celebration of the completion of the building.  For the first time, the Hosanna Shout was broadcast on public television, radio, cable, satellite, and even Internet transmissions.

On Saturday April 4, 2020, President Russell M. Nelson announced that a Hosanna Shout would be part of the Sunday morning session of General Conference, April 4, 2020. This unique Conference is being held during the COVID-19 Pandemic with no public gatherings; all participants will be in their own homes. That is perhaps particularly significant.

Elder B. H. Roberts once wrote about the Hosanna Shout:

"This shout of 'Hosanna' is given only on very great occasions. It is usually given three times in immediate succession: and when voiced by thousands and sometimes tens of thousands in unison, and at their utmost strength, it is most impressive and inspiring. It is impossible to stand unmoved on such an occasion. It seems to fill the prairie or wood: and mountain wilderness or tabernacle, with mighty waves of sound: and the shout of men going into battle cannot be more stirring. It gives wonderful vent to religious emotions, and is followed by a feeling of reverential awe—a sense of oneness with God."

(History of the Church, 7:629)

MEANING AND PURPOSE OF THE HOSANNA SHOUT

For some Church members unfamiliar with the practice, the Hosanna Shout can seem unusual or even awkward.  We often sing together in our congregational worship services, but we're not used to "shouting" in that setting.  We're not used to the physical elements this particular action includes, waving a handkerchief during the shout.  It is helpful to understand the significance and meaning of the event in order to gain the full benefit and joy of the experience.

The Bible Dictionary lists the following for the word hosanna:

"HOSANNA = save now.  The word is taken from Ps. 118:25, one of the Psalms of the Hallel. The chanting of this psalm was connected at the Feast of Tabernacles with the waving of palm branches; hence the use of the word by the multitudes at our Lord’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:9, 15; Mark 11:9, 10; John 12:13)."

According to this definition, the “Hosanna Shout” has roots in ancient Jewish festivals and is a cry of praise or supplication to God for salvation.  The practice of waving handkerchiefs today is analogous to the palm branches that were waved anciently in the Feast of the Tabernacles.  During that festival, the celebrations included a priest of the Israelites reciting this prayer each day for a week:

"Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord." (Psalm 118:25-26)

On the seventh and last day of the feast, which came to be called the Great Hosanna, the people would stand before the temple with trumpets sounding, waving palm branches, and repeatedly shouting "Hosanna!"

A later reflection of the same customs occurred as Jesus entered into Jerusalem during his final week.  President Harold B. Lee commented on those events:

"The Triumphal Entry"

"My text is taken from the 'Hosanna shout' which sounded from the multitude who jubilantly acclaimed Jesus, the lowly Nazarene, as He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem from Bethany on a colt that had been borrowed for that occasion. As the animal upon which He rode had been designated in their literature as the ancient symbol of Jewish royalty (Zechariah 9:9) and their acquaintanceship with the might of His messianic power impressed the appropriateness of His kingly right to such an entry, they cast their garments before Him and cast palm branches and other foliage in His path as though carpeting the way of a king. What might at first have been but the humble testimony of a faithful few increased into a mighty chorus of voices as the multitude shouted in harmony: 'Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord.' (Luke 19:38.) 'Hosanna to the Son of David.'" (Matthew 21:9.)

(Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye In Holy Places, p. 39)

Similar expressions were offered by the Nephites as they recognized the coming of the Savior to their midst:

"And when they had all gone forth and had witnessed for themselves, they did cry out with one accord, saying:
"Hosanna!  Blessed be the name of the Most High God!  And they did fall down at the feet of Jesus, and did worship him." (3 Nephi 11:16-17)

It's probably intuitive why we "shout" as a part of this event — in order to indicate the complete joy and eagerness we are feeling, and raising our voices to the very heavens. Waving a handkerchief as we are shouting includes our physical body and not just our mind, voice, or spirit. In essence, we're symbolically involving the whole being in this act of praise, gratitude, and worship.

It seems particularly appropriate and fitting that the petition for salvation ("Hosanna — save us now") should be associated with the Holy Temple, where the fullness of the ordinances of salvation are offered.

HOSANNA SHOUT AND THE NAUVOO TEMPLE

The original Nauvoo Temple, 1846

The building of the original Nauvoo temple in came at a time of great trial for the Saints. As the walls of the temple grew higher in the early 1840s, the persecution against the Saints seemed to increase proportionately.  Perhaps the enemies of the Church sensed the importance of the building to the young Church, and feared that its completion would only increase the determination of the Saints to remain in their “City Beautiful.”

Then came the tragic events of June 27, 1844.  The Prophet and his brother were martyred.  For a short period, work on the temple stopped.  But then, under the inspired urging of Brigham Young and others of the Twelve, the work increased at a renewed pace.

"At the time of President Smith’s death the Nauvoo temple was but one story high, yet on the twenty‑fourth of May, 1845, eleven months after his martyrdom, about six o’clock in the morning, the capstone was laid amid the general rejoicing and shouts of 'Hosanna' from the assembled thousands of the saints."

(B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 2:472)

In spite of the growing persecution, the Saints truly felt the joy of the progress of their holy temple.  Elder Roberts recorded further:

"As President Brigham Young finished laying the capstone he then stood upon it and said:

“'The last stone is laid upon the temple, and I pray the Almighty in the name of Jesus to defend us in this place, and sustain us until the temple is finished and we have all got our endowments.'

"The whole congregation then following the motion of President Young and shouted as loud as possible: 'Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! to God and the Lamb! Amen! Amen! and Amen!'

“'So let it be, thou Almighty God,' solemnly concluded President Young."

(B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 2:473)

Work on the temple continued even after the Saints began to leave on their westward journey in February 1846.  Many members of the Church did not even get to attend the final dedication of their Holy House, but those who did felt special power in joining in the Hosanna Shout.

HOSANNA SHOUT AND THE SALT LAKE TEMPLE

The capstone ceremony, Salt Lake Temple, 1892

When the capstone of the Salt Lake temple was laid on April 6, 1892, a year before the dedication, there was a special ceremony.  There were as many as 50,000 Church members in attendance on Temple Square to celebrate the completion of the external structure of the temple after 39 years of labor, and to recommit to complete the interior within the coming year.  WIlford Woodruff, president of the Church, stated:

"If there is any scene on the face of this earth that will attract the attention of the God of heaven and the heavenly hosts, it is the one before us to-day-the assembling of this people, the shout of 'Hosanna!'"

Lorenzo Snow, then the president of the Quorum of Twelve, spoke and suggested that the first Hosanna Shout had occurred in the preexistence “when all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7); he reminded the crowd of Saints:

"We want every man and every woman to shout these words to the very extent of their voice, so that every house in this city may tremble, the people in every portion of this city may hear it and it may reach to the eternal worlds."

President Wilford Woodruff placed the final capstone in place, and under the direction of Elder Snow, the Saints then shouted, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna! to God and the Lamb! Amen! Amen! Amen!” repeated three times.

One member of the Church in attendance reported, “The eyes of thousands were moistened with tears. The ground seemed to tremble with the volume of the sound which sent forth its echoes to the surrounding hills.”  The congregation then sang, “The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning.”  (See Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, “Every Window, Every Spire Speaks of the Things of God,” Ensign, March 1993, p. 19)

A year later the finished temple was dedicated by President Woodruff. Emmeline B. Wells reported about the Hosanna Shout that accompanied that event:

"This shout of Hosanna thrilled the hearts of the vast multitude, and echoed grandly through the magnificent building.  So exultant and enraptured were the saints in their rejoicing that their faces beamed with gladness, and the whole place seemed glorified and sanctified."

In a subsequent service, President Woodruff reported:

“'The Heavenly Host were in attendance at the [first] dedication [service]. If the eyes of the congregation could be opened they would [have] seen Joseph and Hyrum [Smith], Brigham Young, John Taylor and all the good men who had lived in this dispensation assembled with us, as also Esaias, Jeremiah, and all the Holy Prophets and Apostles who had prophesied of the latter day work.... They were rejoicing with us in this building which had been accepted of the Lord and [when] the [Hosanna] shout had reached the throne of the Almighty,' they too had joined in the joyous shout."  (Quoted in LaRene Gaunt, “The Power of God Was with Us,” Ensign, March 1993, p. 29)

CONCLUSION

At the end of the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple, an inspired prayer now part of our scriptures, Joseph Smith said:

"And help us by the power of thy Spirit, that we may mingle our voices with those bright, shining seraphs around thy throne, with acclamations of praise, singing Hosanna to God and the Lamb!

"And let these, thine anointed ones, be clothed with salvation, and thy saints shout aloud for joy. Amen, and Amen."  (D&C 109:79-80)

As thousands of Saints join together in shouting Hosanna to God with each grand dedication or special, sacred event, we certainly have much to be joyful about, and should be grateful to God for the blessings of the Restoration of the Gospel in this dispensation, which help to “grant us salvation.”