Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
Hello! “Israel, Israel, God Is Calling” is one of the suggested hymns this week to go along with the Come Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson. This arrangement is a modern, dynamic and unique version of the song and the sheet music for it can be found on my website: http://marileekaymusic.com/sheet-music/ It’s a fun one to sing and play!
Hello! “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” is a suggested hymn for the Book of Mormon lesson “I Will Prepare the Way before You” studying 1 Nephi 16–22. As I was arranging this hymn, the lyrics truly touched me and brought tears to my eyes. I had never thought before about how personal and heart wrenching these lyrics really are. I am glad the Come Follow Me lesson offers this as a hymn to go with this lesson. There are so many ups and downs that happen for Lehi’s family during these sections. They all have to endure much, and as they do, (some enduring better than others) they are able to accomplish their journey with the Lord leading them, helping them and comforting them all along the way.
Hello! As I Search the Holy Scriptures is a suggested hymn for the Book of Mormon lesson “I Will Go and Do” studying the 1 Nephi 1–5. This is a revamped version of a previous arrangement of this hymn I posted as the first video in this series back in July 2022.
Each year, the Church of Jesus Christ studies a book of scripture during Sunday school class each week and are encouraged to study the lessons at home with their families as well. During 2023 we studied the New Testament. This year, 2024, we are studying the Book of Mormon; which members of this church believe to be another testament of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, Once of Humble Birth , is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson “Glory, and Power, Be unto … the Lamb for Ever” studying Revelation 1–5. Kevin Forbush worked with me again on this song and it was great working with him. We wanted to keep the song sacred and reverent since this is a hymn that is usually sung right before the most sacred part of an LDS church meeting, the sacrament. With his guitar parts and harmony it turned out to sound somewhat like a lullaby, while still honoring the juxtaposition between the extreme suffering Jesus Christ endured with the glorious triumph over death and hell that is now his and really all of ours.
I Need Thee Every Hour, is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson Jesus Christ, “the Author of Eternal Salvation” studying Hebrews 1–6. This is the second time I am posting this song. The first time was August 2022 for the Old Testament lesson in the middle section of Psalms. It was one of my earlier arrangements in this series. It is such a beautiful and personal hymn.
Paul is a great example to me of someone who continuously rejoiced in the Lord. There have been times in my life when thinking of the grace of Jesus Christ, his atonement and resurrection and the ability for us to be forgiven through repentance and to be saved…has been the only thing that has given me hope and peace! I am forever grateful for the mercy of God and his Son.
I Feel My Savior’s Love from the Children’s Songbook, is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson “Overcome Evil with Good” studying Romans 7-16. This song was also published for the Old Testament lesson studying Jeremiah and Lamentations.
I Know That My Redeemer Lives is the hymn I chose to do this week. The suggested song for the New Testament lesson “A Minister and a Witness” was actually “My Redeemer Lives” which has a similar title, but different lyrics and music. I decided to use a previously recorded version (done for the book of Job in the Old Testament) since I felt it still fit very well with the message of the lesson in Acts chapters 22-28.
I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go is the suggested song for the New Testament lesson “What Wilt Thou Have Me to Do?” studying the acts of the apostles as recorded in Acts 6–9 and can be found in the LDS Hymnbook.