Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

English pastor and hymn writer Robert Robinson had a life-changing experience at age 16. One night he attended a religious revival meeting in London, not to worship, but to heckle the minister. He later wrote that he went to the meeting “to pity the folly of the preacher, the infatuation of the hearers, and to abhor the doctrine.” Instead, Robinson left the meeting changed, deeply convinced of his own sinfulness. In his early 20s, he became a preacher himself and wrote “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” his powerful plea for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

This text was included in Emma Smith’s second hymn collection, published in Nauvoo in 1841. Like the original 1835 hymnal, the Nauvoo hymnal contained only texts, which could be sung with any tunes that matched their meter. “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” next appeared in the Church’s 1948 hymnal, paired with the American folk tune we know today. By 1985 it was not being sung frequently by members of the Church and was not included in Hymns (1985). Later an arrangement by Mack Wilberg, director of The Tabernacle Choir on Temple Square, created a new appreciation for the hymn, and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” returned in Hymns—For Home and Church.

Find lyrics, sheet music, and recordings for Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Scriptures

Principles

Jesus Christ made it possible for us to return home to God.
When we humbly turn to Him, Jesus Christ will change our hearts to align with God’s will.
Through the Lord’s grace and merciful help, we can overcome our fallen nature.

Questions to Ponder

Why does Jesus Christ deserve our endless expressions of gratitude and praise?
When have you felt God reaching out to rescue you?
When have your efforts to turn to God led you to feel His love and guidance?

Related Gospel Study Guides

From Topics and Questions, Gospel Library:

Activities for Families

Teach what it means to “tune” your heart. Explain to your children that musical instruments need to be tuned to sound beautiful. When they’re out of tune, the music doesn’t sound right. Our hearts are similar—we need to tune them to God so we can feel His love and guidance.
- You can demonstrate being in and out of tune by singing a few lines of the hymn or playing them on an instrument, first out of tune and then in tune. Invite your family to sing along. Talk about which way sounded better and why. Then talk about how to have a heart tuned to God. You might share examples of choices that can make our hearts out of tune or in tune with Him.
- While playing the hymn in the background, pass around a small object. Occasionally pause the music. The person holding the object says one thing he or she can do to tune his or her heart to God that day.
Teach about being “prone to wander.” While on a walk with your children, explain that just as they need to stay on the path to reach their destination, we also need to stay on God’s path to return to live with Him. As you see things that could distract your children from where you are going, sing or talk about the line “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Explain how easy it is to get distracted and wander. Ask your children how this is like our journey back to Heavenly Father. Remind them that we should do our best each day to stay on the path God has given us, but that even when we wander, He lovingly invites us back.