Hymn No. 133, Father in Heaven -- Da Yw Ein Byd

 Cymanfa Ganu 2026, diolch yn fawr iawn, fy ffrind!

My dear friend in Pwllheli (or "ym Mhwllheli," for proper mutation) sent me a video of this year's "Cymanfa Ganu" or "Hymn Singing Festival" from the 2026 National Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire, Wales. I participated with my friends over there a few years ago. It was amazing to sing along with a large group of Welsh in and joy! What a great tradition to maintain! (I need to sort a way to get back to another one!)

I was excited to identify lyrics in Welsh to fit another hymn tune in the 1985 LDS Hymnbook. it's not quite the same meaning in the two tongues, but beautiful in both in praise of the Lord (even if the Welsh verses are a bit more asking forgiveness for our failings therein.)

LDS Hymn No. 133, "Father in Heaven"

Da Yw Ein Byd

Da yw ein byd, wrth lenwi'n hysguboriau
Heb hidio dim an newyn ein heneidiau

Maddua, O Dduw, na fynnwn weled eisiau

Gwir Fara'r Bywyd.

Digon i ni yw'r hyn nad yw'n digoni,

Yfwn o ffrwd nad yw yn disychedu;

Maddau, O Dduw, i ni sydd yn dirmygu

Fynnon y Bywyd.

Cod ni, O Dduw, o wacter byd materol,

Rho ynom flys am brofi'r maeth ysbrydol;

Cawn wrth dy fwrdd ddanteithion gwledd dragwyddol

Arlwy y Bywyd.

California Is the Place You Ought To Be!

Finally completing my full collection of books by Dr. Ronald D. Dennis, I was reading The Call of Zion: The Story of the First Welsh Mormon Emigration, (Religious Studies Center, Provo, Utah 1987). And I came across a piece of a translation of a hymn attributed to Dan Jones. It was about California, which in 1848, would have included the new Mormon settlements of 1847 near the Great Salt Lake. Utah Territory would not be organized until the Act of 1850. And Brigham Young was still envisioning a "State of Deseret" stretching over the Sierra to the Pacific Coast in what is now Southern California.

The hymn appears in the 1852 Welsh Hymnal at No. 193 which I thought I had recognized and I found it with the clear keyword of "California." The rest of the lyric seems to fit my weak vocabulary. I wish I knew the tune. 

I now produce the Welsh (Cymraeg) version and the English translation that Dr. Dennis provides in his book noted above, at App. E, Translated Document 1, p. 125.

Pan fo'r haint yn medi'r gwledydd-
   Medi dyn fel gwellt y maes;
Pan fo chwa ei afiach awel
   Un diffrwytho'r ddaer las,
California,
   Draw i'r moroedd maith, i me.

Hymn No. 166, Abide with Me -- Trig Gyda Mi

This hymn, found here, has several more verses. These are the ones used in the modern, LDS Hymnal.

(Gweddi am bresennoldeb Crist) [Prayer for the Presence of Christ] Trig gyda mi, fy Nuw, mae'r dydd yn ffoi, Cysgodau'r hwyr o'm hamgylch sy'n crynhôi; Diflana nerth y ddaear hon, a'i bri, Cynorthwy'r gwan, O! aros gyda mi. Nid digon gair, na brysiog wel'd Dy wedd, Ond gwna Dy drigfan gyda mi mewn hedd, Yn ostyngedig, addfwyn, gyfaill cu, Nid fel ymdeithydd, aros gyda mi. 1847 Henry Francis Lyte 1793-1847 Tunes [10.10.10.10]:     Abide with me (1847 H F Lyte 1793-1847)     Evening Hymn / Eventide (W H Monk 1823-89)     Morecambe (1870 F C Atkinson 1841-96)     Penitentia (Edward Dearle 1806-91) (Cyf.) John Roberts (Ieuan Gwyllt) 1822-77 Tonau [10.10.10.10]:     Berlin (F Mendelssohn 1809-47)     Ellers (E J Hopkins 1818-1901)     Emyn Hwyrol / Eventide (W H Monk 1823-89)     Troyte's Chant (A H D Troyte 1811-57)