Truth Eternal

Hymn No. 4 from the LDS (Mormon) Hymnal
Text: Parley P. Pratt, 1807-1857
Music: Alexander Schreiner, 1901-1987

Verse 1:
Truth eternal, truth divine,
In thine ancient fulness shine!
Burst the fetters of the mind
From the millions of mankind!

Verse 2:
Truth again restored to earth,
Opened with a prophet's birth.
Priests of Heaven's royal line
Bear the keys of truth divine!

Verse 3:
Truth shall triumph as the light
Chases far the misty might.
Endless ages own its sway,
Clad in everlasting day.

Alexander Ferdinand Schreiner was born on July 31, 1901 in Nuremberg, Germany. Schreiner performed in public for the first time at age five, and after he was baptized at age eight was almost immediately appointed as a Sunday School organist. In 1912 Schreiner moved with his family to Salt Lake City.

Schreiner first performed on an organ professionally during the fall of 1917 at the American Theater of Salt Lake City. In 1920, just after graduating from high school, he took a job as a theater organist at the Rialto Theatre in Butte, Montana.[5] Schreiner first performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at age 20.

In 1924, just after returning from his mission, Schreiner was appointed an assistant organist of the Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle. Six months later Schreiner took a leave of absence from this appointment to go to Paris to further his musical studies with Henri Libert, Charles Marie Widor and Louis Verne.

After his studies in France, Schreiner returned to his position as organist in Salt Lake City from July 1926 to January 1927.

He served as organist at Grauman's Metropolitan Theatre. Schreiner also worked as an organist at the Barker Brother's Department Store. In August 1928 he resumed his position as Tabernacle Organist and also served as the chief organist at the Capitol Theatre.

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