Hello! I Stand All Amazed is one of the suggested songs to go along with the Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson this week. I Stand All Amazed, in some places called, “I Stand Amazed”, was written by Charles H. Gabriel (1856 – 1932). He was a prolific composer of gospel songs and tunes many of which are available today in various Christian hymnals. From a young age, his talent as a musician was recognized in his hometown of Wilton, Iowa. He eventually served as music director at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in San Francisco, CA in the 1890s and later in Chicago, started his own publishing company. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1982. I couldn’t find any information about the background or inspiration for this specific hymn, but I think the spirit and message of the lyrics speak for themselves!
This lesson studies Mosiah Chapters 25-28 in which the children of King Mosiah and Alma the elder go about trying to destroy the church, participating in much wickedness and persuading others to follow them; but… a miracle happens to change the course of their lives. The Come Follow Me Manual includes this introduction: “After nearly three generations of living in separate lands, the Nephites were one people again. Limhi’s people, Alma’s people, and Mosiah’s people—even the people of Zarahemla, who were not descended from Nephi—were now all “numbered with the Nephites” (Mosiah 25:13). Many of them also wanted to become members of the Lord’s Church, as Alma’s people had. So all those who “were desirous to take upon them the name of Christ” were baptized, “and they were called the people of God” (Mosiah 25:23–24). After years of conflict and captivity, it seemed that the Nephites would finally enjoy a period of peace.
But before long, unbelievers began persecuting the Saints. What made this especially heartbreaking was that many of these unbelievers were the believers’ own children—the “rising generation” (Mosiah 26:1), including the sons of Mosiah and one son of Alma. The account tells of a miraculous visit of an angel. But the true miracle of this story is not just about angels appearing to wayward sons. Conversion is a miracle that, in one way or another, needs to happen in all of us.”
This hymn truly speaks to the redeemer power of Jesus Christ and his mercy and grace despite our wayward and sinful ways as we turn to him and repent. “Oh it is wonderful, that he should care for me…enough to die for me! Oh it is wonderful! Wonderful to me!”
- 8 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.
- 11 And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;
- 14 And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.
- 15 And now behold, can ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me before you? And I am sent from God.
- 19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father.
- 23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:
- 24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
- 25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
- 26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
- 29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.
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Media sources: ChurchofJesusChrist.org (Film: “Alma the younger is Converted Unto the Lord”), and nature photography/videography by Steve Pierce and Brad Leishman.
*Please let me know if you would like the sheet music done for any of the arrangements I don’t have sheet music for yet and I am happy to do them! You can find the songs I already have sheet music for here: http://marileekaymusic.com/sheet-music/
Composer: Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932
This video is published on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MarileeKayMusic/ and short reels of the video are posted throughout the week on Instagram @MarileeKayMusic
Excellent work, Marilee. And thanks for the background about the composer.