Joel Hills Johnson — Inspiration for 'High on the Mountain Top'

On February 19, 1853, while living in the Iron County area of Utah (where he helped found the settlement of Enoch and had been called to settle new pioneer colonies), Joel Hills Johnson experienced a profound moment of spiritual inspiration and composed the lyrics to the hymn "High on the Mountain Top." Johnson, who authored over 1,000 hymns and poems, described his creative work as a spiritual endeavor and sometimes prayed for the Holy Spirit to guide his pen; he later recalled the ease and power with which the words came as a divine gift. The hymn vividly describes the restoration of the gospel, the gathering of the Saints to the mountains of Zion, and the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the Lord's house being established on the tops of the mountains. The composition written that day became one of the most iconic anthems of the Latter-day Saint movement.

Fuller account of this event (as retold in High on the Mountain Top by Joel H Johnson, josephsmithsermons.org):

The story of High on the Mountain Top by Joel H Johnson. This is the story behind the writing of "HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP" by Joel Hills Johnson as told by his wife Margaret Threlkeld Johnson to her grandson Bernard A. Johnson. Joel H. Johnson established a sawmill in Mill Creek Canyon soon after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley. Sawing lumber for the "Building up of Zion" was Joel's church calling. Being a warm spring day, Joel sought the shady side of his wagon, leaned back against the wheel and waited. As was his habit, he pulled out a piece of paper and prepared to write. He found himself thinking about the breeze and how it must be making 'Old Glory' ripple. In his mind he pictured how it must look there on the top of the peak under the clear blue sky as it waved and fluttered in the breeze. His mind painted such a wonderful picture. Almost as if written by unseen hands, words began to appear on the paper: "High on the mountain top, A banner is unfurled. Ye nations now look up; In Deseret doth truth Rear up its royal head; Though nations may oppose, Still wider it shall spread; Yes, truth and justice, love and grace, In Deseret find ample place, He originally titled his poem "DESERET". It was later changed to HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP.