Oh, How Great Is Our Joy
#1033 Hymns—For Home and ChurchLyrics
The Story Behind “Oh, How Great Is Our Joy”
Two missionaries jailed for singing, new words written overnight in a Mexico City cell — and a century later, the beloved 'himno 88' enters the English hymnbook.
Arrested for Singing
In 1910, Andrés Carlos González — recognized as the first native Mexican called as a full-time missionary in the Church's history — was singing on a Mexico City street corner with his companion to draw a crowd. The hymn was 'In the Sweet By-and-By,' in Spanish. Local residents objected: that hymn belonged to the Protestants, and these Mormon elders had no right to it. The police were summoned, and the missionaries were jailed.
That night in the cell, with Mexico in the turmoil of revolution and no certainty he would see his family again, González wrote new Spanish words to the same melody — words about the joy of laboring in the Lord's vineyard. As his family tells the story, when the elders were released, they went straight back to the same corner and sang the same tune. This time, the words were their own.
El Himno Número 88
The hymn was published in the Church's 1912 Spanish hymnal under the title 'Despedida' — 'Farewell' — for its final verse, which looks past the grave to a reunion in the world to come. Generations of Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saints have known it as 'Placentero nos es trabajar,' or simply by its number in the Spanish hymnal: el himno 88. It became the traditional song of missionary farewells across Latin America.
González himself became a quiet giant of the Latin American Church — a high councilor, a mission presidency counselor, and the first native Mexican stake patriarch. More than one hundred of his descendants have served missions, many of them singing his hymn on their way out the door.
Crossing into English
On June 12, 2025, the hymn made history again: released as #1033, 'Oh, How Great Is Our Joy' became the first hymn from the Spanish hymnbook ever brought into the Church's English hymnal.
His grandson, Elder Clate W. Mask Jr., said, 'We have met so many people who have known and loved the hymn all over Latin America.' Another grandson put the family's hope simply: 'The joy he had is what he found in the gospel... I hope others can get from that hymn how great it is to be involved in the work.'
Did You Know?
- Andrés C. González was the first native Mexican called as a full-time missionary in the Church's history.
- As the family story is told, he wrote the hymn overnight in a Mexico City jail cell — so his companions could sing a tune the police couldn't object to.
- Spanish-speaking Saints know it simply as 'el himno 88' — its number in the Spanish hymnal — and sing it at missionary farewells.
- It became the first hymn ever translated from the Spanish hymnbook into the Church's English hymnal (2025).
- More than 100 of González's descendants have served missions.
Scripture Connections
- Jacob 5:70–71 — The Lord of the vineyard calls laborers to serve with Him one last time — the hymn's picture of joyful work.
- Doctrine and Covenants 18:15–16 — 'How great shall be your joy' with one soul — or many — brought unto Christ.
- Alma 17:2–3 — The joy of missionary companions reunited in the work — the hymn's fellowship of laborers.
Talk About It
Questions to spark a conversation with your family or Primary class:
- The missionaries were punished for singing — and answered by writing a better song. What can we learn from responding to opposition with creativity instead of anger?
- The hymn says working in the Lord's vineyard is 'placentero' — pleasant, joyful. When has serving someone actually made you happier?
- This hymn is sung when missionaries say goodbye. Why do you think its last verse looks forward to a reunion in heaven?
- González's joy has echoed through more than a hundred missionary descendants. What trait would you like to pass down through your family?
Teaching Resources
Attribution
Music by: Joseph P. Webster, 1868; alt. | SWEET BY AND BY
Text by: Andrés C. González, 1912; English transl. 2025
Audio files from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints