Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
This video was inspired by the Come Follow Me Scripture Study Manual for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and more specifically, the lesson “Rend That Veil of Unbelief” (Nov.11-17, 2024). This lesson studies Ether 1-5 in the Book of Mormon.
It was in that talk (In his April 1972 general conference address) that my father first read in public the words he had written of the hymn: “I Believe in Christ.” His talk was entitled The Testimony of Jesus. (At the time he was not a member of the quorum of the 12 apostles, he was serving in the first council of the 70). But shortly after that general conference talk, (later that year) he was called to the apostleship.
This is My Beloved Son is a song from the LDS Children’s Songbook by (Words) Marvin K. Gardner, b. 1952 and (Music) Vanja Y. Watkins, b. 1938. Each verse talks about a different setting and point in time in which God the Father introduces his Son Jesus Christ, calling him “Beloved”. 3 Nephi chapter 11 contains the account of the voice of the Father testifying of his Son and Jesus Christ appearing to the people in the Americas after his resurrection.
Hello! Love One Another is one of the suggested songs to go along with the Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson this week. Love One Another is a popular LDS hymn with a beautiful melody and just one single verse. This arrangement is a vocal solo with an instrumental piano part and reprise of the second half of the verse at the end. The sheet music for this arrangement is available for free here.
Hello! “I Believe in Christ” is a suggested hymn to go along with the Book of Mormon lesson “We Rejoice in Christ” studying 2 Nephi 20–25. This is a vocal solo arrangement of an amazing LDS hymn written by Bruce R. McConkie. I love the personal and strong testimony of Jesus Christ that this song conveys. The free sheet music for this arrangement can be found here: http://marileekaymusic.com/sheet-music/
I hope that we can be a little more grateful, kind and in awe of the bounteous blessings we’ve all been given this month. I know I could really benefit from a more consistent and frequent shift in my perspective. I will try to do my best to express my thanks and appreciation to God and those around me this November.
I love this song, (He Sent His Son from the Children’s Songbook) it is one of my favorites. It doesn’t need a second verse, but I thought there were some things that could be added. Some things that feel true to me. To me, the added second verse is a kind of second witness to the message of the first verse.
Composing a hymn was a little more difficult than I thought it would be because of the structure of the way a hymn is set up. When I compose a contemporary song, I have a lot of freedom to switch up the rhythms and melody from verse to verse or even chorus to chorus to suit changes in lyrics.
Happy Music Monday! Here is the sheet music for I’m Gonna Be There. I have a love for Jazz music that grew during my college years. I was in a group at Utah State University called the Sunburst Singers and we did a lot of Big Band/Jazz music and I even wrote a few arrangements in that style during that time. I wanted to explore my inner jazz, with this song.
Happy Music Monday! Before I dive into my little rant today on perfectionism and creating something that is good enough, here is the sheet music for “Not Alone”. I’ve also attached the lead sheet for this song as well…