This is the first video in a series of hymn or song arrangements to go along with the Come Follow Me Sunday School lessons for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
“As I Search the Holy Scriptures” is an LDS hymn written by Cleta Marianne Johnson Fisher 1932-2018. She was a blind, single woman with no children, but guide dogs who she loved dearly. She was a very accomplished woman in education, service and music. For example, she sung with the Tabernacle choir for 18 years. She wrote a beautiful Self Obituary that has more details about her life.
She said: “Music has been such an important part of my life..I had the special blessing and privilege of being author/composer to Hymn #277, “As I Search the Holy Scriptures,” in the LDS hymnal. My life has been filled with music. Now, I shall joyously be singing with the choirs of God, and I shall be looking forward to meeting each of you, as one by one in turn, you too shall join this exquisite heavenly choir, God’s choir!”
In our Study sections this week we learn about an amazing King of Judah who came from a line of very wicked Kings. They find the book of the law of Moses which had been lost their people for a few generations and read it. President Spencer W. Kimball said The story of King Josiah in the Old Testament is a most profitable one to “liken … unto [our]selves.” (1 Ne. 19:24.) To me, it is one of the finest stories in all of the scriptures….When the book of the law was read to Josiah, he “rent his clothes” and wept before the Lord. “Great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us,” he said, “because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book….” (2 Kings 22:13.) The king then read the book before all the people, and at that time they all made a covenant to obey all the Lord’s commandments “with all their heart and all their soul.” (2 Kings 23:3.) Josiah acted on this and worked to tear down evil practices. … “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” [2 Kings 23:25.] I feel strongly that we must all of us return to the scriptures just as King Josiah did and let them work mightily within us, impelling us to an unwavering determination to serve the Lord. Josiah had the law of Moses only. In our scriptures we have the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness; and if a taste is sweet, in fulness there is joy.”