Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
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.
How Gentle God’s Commands is an old Christian Hymn written by Text: Philip Doddridge and Music: Hans Georg Nägeli.
Philip Doddridge (1702-1751) was an English Nonconformist (specifically, Congregationalist) minister, educator, and hymnwriter. Doddridge was known for ending his sermons with newly crafted hymns as summaries of the lessons, but his hymns were not published during his lifetime. The first posthumous edition contained 370 hymns.
Hans Georg Nägeli (26 May 1773 – 26 December 1836) was a composer and music publisher. Nägeli was born in Wetzikon, Switzerland. He studied under his father as a child and then opened a private music shop and publishing firm in the 1790s.
Hello! “Disciple of Christ” is a song by Nik Day. It is the youth theme song this year and I chose it for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson entitled, “Preserved by His Marvelous Power”. This arrangement is a collaboration with my triplet nephews on my husband’s side! Nathan, Josh and Zack did such a great job. It was a super fun project to work on with them. They had sung it in Church recently so I told them we should record it together. Brad’s sister, Carrie, had written the harmony part they sang together and I added my little spin on it. I am so happy with how it turned out and how well it fits into our Come Follow Me lesson.
Text by Eliza R. Snow: In the midst of the Missouri persecutions in the late 1830s, Joseph Smith called on Eliza to write on behalf of her people and in their defense.4 She accepted the challenge, and by the 1850s, she became known as “Zion’s Poetess.” She wrote more than 500 poems in which she chronicled the history and beliefs of the Saints. Many of her poems became beloved hymns and were sung around pioneer campfires, in meeting rooms, and in temples. (source)
Hello! This week I created a vocal arrangement of the old Christian hymn, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, which is one of the suggested songs for this week’s Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson. I pushed myself on the speed of the left hand notes for the instrumental section and last verse of the song. It took some practice for me to get it up to speed and I had to record it multiple times to get it right. I never know what I am going to do with a hymn when I first look at it. I just start playing around with it and eventually come up with something. It takes some effort! ha ha.
Hello! This week, I created a piano arrangement of the upbeat hymn, Called to Serve, which is one of the suggested songs for this week’s Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson. I had a blast putting it together. This lesson studies Alma 17-22 and is called “I Will Make an Instrument of Thee”. It is an astounding and exciting section of scripture!
Hello! Come Unto Jesus is one of the suggested songs for this week’s Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson studying Alma 13-16. This lesson is called “Enter into the Rest of the Lord” which phrase can be found in Alma chapter 13:
Hello! This week, for our Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson, I chose to select The Lord is My Shepherd. This is an arrangement I did for a men’s musical number we needed at our recent church conference for the adults in our area. I had adapted it from a previous piano solo to suit this Men’s trio. RD Parsons, Kevin Forbush and Josh Pack are on vocals and did such a wonderful job recording and interpreting this beautiful hymn. I am grateful to them for allowing me to record and film them for this setting!
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! Keep the Commandments is one of the suggested songs to go along with the Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson this week. This is a short and simple piano solo arrangement. This lesson studies Mosiah chapters 11-17. In this section, King Noah rules in wickedness, Abinadi prophesies that the people will be taken into bondage & King Noah will die because of their wickedness. Abinadi is imprisoned. He speaks to the false priests and King Noah, teaching them the Ten Commandments and that Salvation does not come through the law of Moses alone, but through Jesus Christ. Alma, one of the wicked priests, believes his words. Abinadi suffers death by fire and Alma writes his words, separating himself from King Noah and the priests.