Focused on the Better Land

The Review didn’t reprint articles often. While many topics were explored and revisited, it wasn’t typically by the same article by the same author. But there were some exceptions.

“The Better Land” was the first poem to be printed in The Present Truth, the predecessor of the Review. Subsequently, this poem was reprinted in the Review six times, twice appearing on the cover.1 It was mentioned three other times.2 Perhaps it was shared so often (and we are sharing it again) because of the story behind it.

The author, William Henry Hyde, witnessed Ellen White in vision in 1845.3 White describes that Hyde, seated behind her, wrote these words while hearing her description. He then stood up in front and sang it for those present.4 In the hymn are highlighted words she used to describe what she saw such as “life’s pure river,” “green fields,” “roses of Sharon,” and more. The hymn was published in several hymnals. including the current Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, number 453.

Ellen White could be heard singing this hymn, as it was one of her favorites. Her focus and that of the Review was on Jesus, His return, and the heaven that awaits. It’s no wonder the hymn speaks to many even today.

The Better Land5

By W. H. Hyde6

We have heard from the bright, the holy land;
We have heard, and our hearts are glad;
For we were a lonely pilgrim band,
And weary, and worn, and sad.
They tell us the pilgrims have a dwelling there—
No longer are homeless ones;
And we know that the goodly land is fair,
Where life’s pure river runs.

They say green fields are waving there,
That never a blight shall know;
And the deserts wild are blooming fair,
And the roses of Sharon grow.
There are lovely birds in the bowers green,
Their songs are blithe and sweet;
And their warblings, gushing ever new,
The angels’ harpings greet.

We have heard of the palms, the robes, the crowns,
And the silvery band in white;
Of the city fair, with pearly gates,
All radiant with light.
We have heard of the angels there, and saints,
With their harps of gold, how they sing;
Of the mount with the fruitful tree of life,
Of the leaves that healing bring.

The King of that country, He is fair,
He’s the joy and light of the place!
In His beauty we shall behold Him there,
And bask in His smiling face.
We’ll be there, we’ll be there, in a little while,
We’ll join the pure and the blest;
We’ll have the palm, the robe, the crown,
And forever be at rest.

1 Review and Herald, Apr. 14, 1910; Dec. 11, 1916; May 5, 1949; Mar. 22, 1956; Feb. 6, 1969; Apr. 18, 1985.

2 Review and Herald, July 10, 1930; June 13, 1940; July 4, 1946.

3 Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1948), vol. 1, pp. 68-70.

4 Ellen White, Life Sketches manuscript, p. 134.

5 To hear this tune or to sing along while it is played, visit https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/453-we-have-heard/.

6 While Hyde was impressed by the vision and its contents, he eventually left the Advent movement and does not seem to have reunited with the church again. [encyclopedia.adventist.org]