How Great Thou Art

Tomorrow is my first French test. And while I could come out of it extremely joyous, pleased with my knowledge, and thrilled for my grade, my hopes aren't quite that optimistic. As such, I want to share with you my favorite bit of French linguistic "trivia", before I end up hating everything from french conjugation to french fries.

A few years ago, I picked up a French Hymn book, and at that moment, realized that the French use the "tutoyer form" (Tu, ton, tes, etc) to address Heavenly Father in prayer and praise, as opposed to the "vousvoyer form" (vous, vos, etc). The difference is simple: You use "Tutoyer" to address one person who you know quite intimately. A child, a peer, your parents, or your friends. You use "Vousvoyer" to address one person formally, such as a boss, teacher, or superior, or to address multiple people at once.

This BLEW MY MIND. It meant, basically, that the French address our Father in Heaven as our Father. He is our God, He is our Maker, and He is the literal Best of all. And yet, they address him as affectionately and personally as you would your friend, or your earthly father.

I've always loved that. I thought about it constantly, comparing it to the "we adress Heavenly Father formally, with respect" that we learn in Primary. I didn't stop using "Thee, Thine, Thou" in prayers, but did think about it...my attitude in praying changed, and my personal testimony and relationship with Heavenly Father quite honestly grew.

NOW are you ready to have YOUR Anglo-Saxon mind COMPLETELY BLOWN?

This morning in French, while reviewing for our test, our teacher reminded us the purpose of tutoyer vs. vousvoyer. He told us, "In modern English, we use "you" to mean both singular and plural, formal and informal. English speakers used to have two separate terms-" (I know what you're thinking. Thee, Thine, Thou is formal, right? WRONG!) "-'You' was only used for plural or formal addresses, and 'Thou' was used for singular, affectionate people."

Now you can clean your bits of brain off your keyboards, wipe the drool off your face, and be amazed with me. As we pray to Heavenly Father, using the language we've grown up using in the Church, we're not being overly formal. We're being incredibly personal! We address him in our prayers as our Father, Friend, and Helper. Who also happens to be Almighty God. We pray in utmost humility and worship him in our unworthy state, yes, but ask his loving favor as his children, who love him as a Father first.

Goodness Gracious. I just...wow. C: He is so...unbelievable. It's true, what He said, that every thing testifies of him. Even in the very language we use every day of our life. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have one Awesome God on our side.


"How Great Thou Art" can be found in the hymnal