Elder Alex Bennett's Mission Blog

The Siberian Battalion Hymn

Words by Elder Douglas Simmons and Elder Alex Byers
Melody taken from “Highland Cathedral” by Ulrich Roever and Michael Korbn
Written and Compiled for the Siberian Battalion in April, 2010

The Inspiration for this song came from three sources. First, the melody itself, a popular bagpipe song called “Highland Cathedral”, second, a scripture in Jeremiah found by Earl Taylor, an old friend of the Simmons before they left home, and, third, the reference to young lions in Isaiah and 2 Nephi.
(Jeremiah16: 16) – Speaking of the gathering of Israel in the last days. "Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
(2 Nephi 15:29) – Speaking of the Lord in the last days . . ." And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe and none shall deliver it."

The words of the chorus are sung first and repeated between the verses, ending with the chorus one more time. Elder Simmons wrote the chorus and Elder Byers wrote the verses. Other verses should be added by later generations of the Siberian Battalion.

We are the (Elders or Sisters) of Siberia.
We are the young lions Isaiah saw.
We are the hunters who have come ‘afar,
Searching out all of scattered Israel.

Verse
Called of God by a prophet’s voice
We take shield of faith in hand, swift to the fray.
Armed with perfect obedience
Ready to serve we stand.

Chorus

Like the army of Helaman
We know we do not fight alone. We will not fail
With God as our strength and Christ our light
We bring brothers and sisters home.