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)