A beautiful, sacred hymn with music by Kevin G. Pace and text by Kathryn W. Hales. Inspired by the words of the Lord to Emma Smith, this hymn encourages believers to forsake worldly distractions—sin, fear, vanity, and pride—and instead seek the lasting peace and joy found in Christ. Through baptism and a commitment to His name, the faithful can enter into a better, eternal world where God's Spirit is ever-present. The hymn contrasts the fleeting nature of earthly pursuits with the enduring rewards of righteousness, emphasizing that while worldly things will perish, those who remain steadfast will inherit the eternal blessings of God's kingdom. See Doctrine and Covenants 25:10.

YouTube video: Lay Aside the Things of This World, a sacred hymn

Text:
Lay aside the things of this world,
The sin, the anger, the hate,
Seek for things of a better
Through baptism’s welcoming gate.
Lay aside the things of this world,
All depression and fear,
Seek for the things of a better,
Where God’s Spirit always is near.

Lay aside the things of this world,
All fleeting fashion or fame,
Seek for the things of a better,
By taking upon Jesus’s name.
Lay aside the things of the world,
All vanity, contention, or pride,
Seek for the things of a better,
Where God and Jesus abide.

The things of this world are fleeting,
They will end in death and decay,
The things of a better world welcome,
A place where we’ll want to stay.
The things of this world will perish,
Like the ancient city of Babylon,
But the things of a better world await
Those who are valiant and strong.