How Firm Our Foundation Is

The hymn, sung by The Choir At Tabernacle Square, “How Firm a Foundation” was the perfect opening for the October 2023 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If the conference were a baseball team, this would be the ideal leadoff hitter. The lyrics discuss how we have a foundation that God has laid for us to build on. In this post, I will examine each of the verses the choir sang (1-3, 7) and show how that foundation has been laid so that the children of God know what we build our lives upon.

Verse One

How firm a foundation, ye Saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
Who unto the Savior, who unto the Savior,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

How Firm a Foundation – Verse 1

Our foundation is laid because we have faith in the word of God. We have been blessed with the scriptures. Each book we have helps us to increase our faith in Jesus Christ, who President Nelson has proclaimed is The Answer to all.

The Savior is the one we all must flee to for refuge from the world. His words bring us to Him. The words of His living prophets keep us grounded in that refuge. This allows us to build our lives on that foundation and to follow the Covenant Path.

Verse Two

In ev’ry condition—in sickness, in health,
In poverty’s vale or abounding in wealth,
At home or abroad, on the land or the sea—
As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,
As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be.

How Firm a Foundation – Verse 2

This verse is a general view of the different conditions we go through in life. It’s interesting to note that even if we are healthy, wealthy, and “at home” still need succor (relief). How many people do we know where everything looks like it is going great on the outside, but underneath are suffering?

This verse lets us know that no matter how good or how bad our situation is, Christ is still there and is still supporting us and bringing us relief. It states “In every condition” (emphasis added) He is there and will succor us as needed.

Verse 3

Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

How Firm a Foundation – Verse 3

I love the first line of this verse. It tells us that we have no need to fear as He is with us. Fear can lead to dismay and this verse tells us to not be dismayed as well.

God is there, and will still give us aid. He is always there to help us, strengthen us, and lift us up so we can stand. The foundation that has been laid for us is strong enough to support us and put us on solid ground.

However, causing us to stand is not enough. He also upholds us, meaning keeping us standing upright through His “righteous, omnipotent hand.” Omnipotent means all-powerful. That He is and if anyone can uphold us, it is He who is the Master of the Universe.

Verse 7

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I cannot, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, I’ll never, no never,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

How Firm a Foundation – Verse 7

The final verse of the hymn talks about how we can help others come to the foundation that has been laid. How can we, as disciples of Christ, desert someone who has come unto Him? How can we leave that soul to the buffetings of Satan and not give some relief? Just as Christ succors us in “every condition”, so should we succor our friends and neighbors. Even if they don’t believe in Christ!

I love the last part of this verse where we state we will never forsake these souls. It is the call to love our neighbors. As a parent, I understand this feeling. There is no way I will ever forsake my children. I can’t, I love them too much. In the same way, we should never forsake our neighbors. We must love them the way Christ loves them. We must support them, forgive them, work with them, and as feasibly as possible, bring Christ to them.

Conclusion

“How Firm a Foundation” was the perfect hymn to open the October 2023 General Conference. Its message of Christ being with us to give us relief and our responsibility of loving our neighbors set up a mindset of learning for the addresses that were given. Fear not! He is with us! We, as disciples, can then bring Him to others, who in turn will have the succor they need “As [their] days may demand.”