Songwriting is the act of baring one's soul to another in the form of words and music.
Happy New Year! We are officially diving into the New Testament Come Follow Me schedule for 2023. This week’s lesson is titled “Be It unto Me according to Thy Word” and covers Matthew 1 and Luke 1. “He Sent His Son” is the recommended song for this lesson and comes from the LDS Primary Children’s songbook. Four or so years ago, I wrote a second verse to this song (the original has only one verse), no rhyme or reason why, I just felt like doing it one day, ha ha.
Merry Christmas! This song is coming out on Christmas Day, the day before the beginning of our new Come Follow Me schedule for 2023 which will be a study of the New Testament. This week is a broad lesson entitled “We are responsible for our own learning” and doesn’t have a set area of scripture, but acts as more of an introduction to the New Testament. “Peace in Christ” is a beautiful song by Nik Day which speaks of Jesus Christ as being our way toward lasting peace. Some of the ways it suggests to find peace in Christ is by learning of him, feeling his love, listening to his words and coming to know him; some of which can be accomplished in the sincere study of the New Testament.
Here is my vocal arrangement of “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” The original song is found in the LDS Children’s Songbook; which is the suggested song for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson on Haggai & Zechariah 1-3; 7-14. The manual this week references Sister Carol F. McConkie when she said “Holiness is making the choices that will keep the Holy Ghost as our guide. Holiness is setting aside our natural tendencies and becoming ‘a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord’ [Mosiah 3:19]. … Our hope for holiness is centered in Christ, in His mercy and His grace” (“The Beauty of Holiness,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 9–10).
Here is a vocal arrangement of “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” as found in the LDS Hymnbook; which is the suggested song for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson on Jonah & Micah. The story of Jonah is one where he at first doesn’t want to “go where you want me to go” and flees the call of God to preach to Nineveh. Upon his calamities and repentance he listens again to the Lord’s command and preaches to the people of Nineveh. Jonah has to repent multiple times for not hearkening and not understanding God’s love for his people of all nations, (….and don’t we all need to do the same thing!)
Here is a piano arrangement of “Come unto Jesus” as found in the LDS Hymnbook; which is the suggested song for this week’s Come Follow Me lesson on Hosea and Joel. One of the beautiful scriptures from this section that goes well with this hymn is Joel 2:13; “Turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”
This week, I am posting a vocal arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “I Want to Live the Gospel” found in the LDS Children’s Songbook. My arrangement may sound a bit different than the original, both rhythmically and melodically. I also wrote two short additional verses to add to the length and depth of the song. This week’s Come Follow Me Lesson is on the book of Daniel and there are quite a few examples of Daniel and other figures living gospel principles in the face of great adversity.
This week, I am posting a vocal arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd” found in the LDS Hymnbook. This lesson studies portions of the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. Ezekiel chapter 34 uses the symbolism of the “Shepherd” in a few different contexts. One of these contexts is “shepherds” or leaders during Ezekiel’s time who should have been caring for their flock or the people within their stewardship, but were not…. and the other being the ultimate “shepherd”, Jesus Christ, who seeks after his lost sheep.
Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
This week, I am posting a vocal arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “Israel, Israel, God is Calling” from the LDS Hymnbook. It is a strong song discussing the ongoing gathering of Israel. This lesson studies chapters 1-20
This week, I am posting a vocal arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “I Wonder When He Comes Again” from the LDS Children’s Songbook. It is a beautiful song about the second coming of Jesus Christ. We are studying chapters 58-66 in the book of Isaiah, who speaks of “that day” when our Savior will come again.
This week, I am posting a piano arrangement of our Come Follow Me suggested song, “I Stand All Amazed”. We are studying chapters 50-57 in the book of Isaiah. I Stand All Amazed, is a song in the LDS Hymn Book and is a favorite among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its message echoes the thoughts and prophecies expressed in this section of Isaiah.