Utah State Hymn

"Utah We Love Thee"

Words and Music by Evan Stephen

Adopted on February 17, 1937(Song).
Change to Hymn (May 5, 2003)

The song, "Utah, We Love Thee", words and music by Evan Stephens, was adopted on February 17, 1937 as Utah official song and then designated as the official state hymn of Utah by the Utah Legislature on March 13, 2003.

Utah State Hymn: "Utah We Love Thee"

"Utah We Love Thee"

Land of the mountains high, Utah, we love thee,
Land of the sunny sky, Utah, we love thee!
Far in the glorious west, throned on the mountain's crest,
In robes of statehood dressed, Utah, we love thee!

Columbia's brightest star, Utah, we love thee,
Thy luster shines afar, Utah, we love thee!
Bright in our banner's blue, among her sisters true
She proudly comes to view, Utah, we love thee!

Land of the pioneers, Utah, we love thee,
Grow with the coming years, Utah, we love thee!
With wealth and peace in store, to fame and glory soar,
God guarded, evermore, Utah, we love thee!

Origin of Song: "Utah We Love Thee"

'Utah, We Love Thee,' was written by Evan Stephens as Utah was obtaining statehood. Utah had experienced great changes from the arrival of the pioneers in 1847 to long awaited statehood in 1896. The size of the territory had diminished while settlements spread throughout the land, Utah's citizens included people from a variety of countries, cultures and religions. Technology had advanced from handcarts and candles to streetcars and electric lights. On January 4, 1896 Utah entered the Union. The people had great celebrations! 'Utah, We Love Thee' was adopted by the Utah State Legislature on February 19, 1917. Because statehood was on the mind of the composer, there are many references to Utah taking its rightful place in the union.

In 2003, the Utah State Legislature, in HB223, voted to change the state song to "Utah, This is the Place." In 1996, Sam and Gary Francis wrote "Utah, This is the Place" for Utah´s centennial celebration. Rep. Dana Love, R-Syracuse, sponsored the change at the behest of the Cook Elementary School in Syracuse. See the Utah State Song for more information.

The first Utah State Song (now State Hymn), entitled Utah We Love Thee written by Evan Stephens, was adopted by the State Legislature on February 17, 1937, to become effective on February 24, 1937 (Utah Code). The author builds the theme of this song about Utah's mountains, sunny skies, State flag, pioneers, and closes by predicting that Utah will grow along the lines of wealth, peace, fame, and glory. He also stresses the great love of the people of Utah for their State. This song with words and music was published by the Deseret Sunday School Union, Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1917.

Utah Law

The law designating the hymn "Utah We Love Thee" by Evan Stephens as the official Utah state hymn is found in the Utah Statutes, Title 63, Chapter 13, Section 63-13-5.5 (17).

TITLE 63. State Affairs in General.
CHAPTER 13. Miscellaneous Provisions.
SECTION 63-13-5.5. State Symbols.

63-13-5.5. State symbols.
(1) Utah's state animal is the elk.
(2) Utah's state bird is the sea gull.
(3) Utah's state centennial astronomical symbol is the Beehive Cluster located in the constellation of Cancer the Crab.
(4) Utah's state centennial star is Dubhe, one of the seven bright stars composing the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major.
(5) Utah's state centennial tartan, which honors the first Scots known to have been in Utah and those Utahns of Scottish heritage, shall have a pattern or repeating-half-sett of white-2, blue-6, red-6, blue-4, red-6, green-18, red-6, and white-4 to represent the tartan worn anciently by the Logan and Skene clans, with the addition of a white stripe.
(6) Utah's state cooking pot is the dutch oven.
(7) Utah's state emblem is the beehive.
(8) Utah's state fish is the Bonneville cutthroat trout.
(9) Utah's state flower is the sego lily.
(10) Utah's state folk dance is the square dance, the folk dance that is called, cued, or prompted to the dancers and includes squares, rounds, clogging, contra, line, and heritage dances.
(11) Utah's state fossil is the Allosaurus.
(12) Utah's state fruit is the cherry.
(13) Utah's state vegetable is the Spanish sweet onion.
(14) Utah's historic state vegetable is the sugar beet.
(15) Utah's state gem is topaz, as is prominently found in the Thomas Mountain Range in Juab County, Utah.
(16) Utah's state grass is Indian rice grass.
(17) Utah's state hymn is "Utah We Love Thee" by Evan Stephens.
(18) Utah's state insect is the honeybee.
(19) Utah's state mineral is copper.
(20) Utah's state motto is "Industry."
(21) Utah's state railroad museum is Ogden Union Station.
(22) Utah's state rock is coal.
(23) Utah's state song is "Utah This is the Place" by Sam and Gary Francis.
(24) Utah's state tree is the blue spruce.