1 The Children of God Hear the Music of Heaven See essay 1
(Restoration)
The children of God hear the music of heaven;
They live by the words of the Father today.
Their Lord is alive, and the gates of his kingdom
Are open to all who will walk in his way.
Hosanna, the angels are singing, Hosanna!
Hosanna, the saints in the temples reply.
Hosanna, for Christ is alive in his kingdom
And our alleluiah we sing to the sky.
The Lord tells his will to his servants the prophets;
In all who are faithful his Spirit will dwell.
He knows what we need and our eyes will be opened,
And line upon line all his truth he will tell.
Hosanna . . .
O Father, we search, and our hearts fill with questions;
In mercy and wisdom you grant what is right.
Prepare us for all you will teach us tomorrow,
So we will be ready to live by its light.
Hosanna, the angels are singing, Hosanna!
Hosanna, the saints in the temples reply.
Hosanna, for Christ is alive in his kingdom
And our alleluiah we sing to the sky.
When Jesus comes to Earth again,
Let us be Zion for him then,
Pure of heart, at peace, at one,
To welcome home the Son:
A people who are rich indeed,
And yet are innocent of pride,
For no one takes more than his need,
And no one, needing, is denied.
When Jesus comes ... the Son:
A people who together mend
All harm to sky and sea and land,
For Earth was given us to tend,
And it will bloom beneath our hand.
When Jesus comes to Earth again,
Let us be Zion for him then,
Pure of heart, at peace, at one,
To welcome home the Son:
A people who are sanctified,
Whose children grow untouched by sin,
Whose temple doors are standing wide,
For all are worthy to come in.
Who is wise?
The one who sees the world through Jesus' eyes,
Who loves the sinner but rejects the lies,
Who knows desire fades, the body dies,
Yet faith and love will live when we arise.
The word of truth is sweet and clear.
It guides the humble servant's hand.
And when the truth is hard to hear
The open heart will understand.
Who is right?
The one who loves the Lord with all his might,
With all his mind and strength, and in whose sight
All folk are neighbors, whom he will invite
To shed their sins and dwell within the light.
The word of truth is sweet and clear.
It guides the humble servant's hand.
And when the truth is hard to hear
The open heart will understand.
In this meetinghouse we sing,
Voices raised to praise our King.
Here we bow our heads to pray,
Teach each other to obey.
Make this house a holy place:
Let us spend our Sabbath day
In the Master's sweet embrace.
In God's holy house we kneel
Joined with his eternal seal.
Reaching out beyond the grave,
Let us share the gifts he gave,
Serving in this holy place
So our labors help to save
Those who will accept His grace.
In the houses where we live,
Shelter, strength, and joy we give.
At our door let conflict end
As each other's needs we tend.
Make our home a holy place
Where each sweet familiar friend
Gives a glimpse of Jesus' face.
As revised in essay 4:
In this meetinghouse we sing,
Voices raised to praise our King.
Here we bow our heads to pray,
Help each other find the way.
In God's holy house we kneel
Joined with his eternal seal.
Reaching out beyond the grave,
Let us share the gifts he gave,
In the houses where we live,
Shelter, strength, and joy we give.
At our door let conflict end
As each other's needs we tend.
As revised for a composer's needs:
In this meetinghouse we sing,
Voices raised to praise our King.
Here we bow our heads to pray,
Help each other find the way.
Let us spend each Sabbath Day
In the Master's sweet embrace,
Making this a holy place.
In God's holy house we kneel,
Joined with his eternal seal.
Reaching out beyond the grave,
Let us share the gifts he gave.
Thus our labors help to save
Those who will accept his grace
Here within this holy place.
In the houses where we live,
Shelter, strength, and joy we give.
At our door let conflict end
As each other's needs we tend.
Every sweet familiar friend
Gives a glimpse of Jesus' face.
Welcome to this holy place!
The prophets often sweetly speak
Of hope, of broken hearts reborn;
Sometimes of futures far more bleak,
If prideful hearts do not repent.
In grief our dying Savior's head was bent;
In joy he rose on resurrection morn.
If we desire to see his loving face,
Then brokenhearted first we seek his grace.
The world, pretending to be wise,
Denies the consequence of sin,
And those who profit from those lies
Call prophets cruel and pitiless.
How did our Savior's suffering begin?
He took the guilt of those he meant to bless.
If we desire to see his loving face,
Then brokenhearted first we seek his grace.
Not till we know that sin is death
Can we receive the Spirit's light;
Compassionate with every breath,
Our prophets call our sins by name.
For us he plunged into the endless night
To rescue every soul he could reclaim.
If we desire to see his loving face,
Then brokenhearted first we seek his grace.
When we arise, our bodies new,
And Jesus greets us as his own,
We'll know the prophets' words were true
And led us to our Father's throne.
Within that holy place where searching ends,
We'll meet our guides again and call them friends.
With broken hearts now healed by Jesus' grace,
And hand-in-hand with friends, we'll see his face.
As simplified in chapter 4:
The prophets often sweetly speak
Of hope, of broken hearts reborn;
Sometimes of futures far more bleak,
If prideful hearts do not repent.
In grief our Savior's head was bent;
In joy he rose to greet the morn.
Not till we know that sin is death
Can we receive the Spirit's light;
Compassionate with every breath,
Our prophets call our sins by name.
For us they journey through the night
To find the souls they can reclaim.
When we arise, our bodies new,
And Jesus greets us as his own,
We'll know the prophets' words were true
And led us to our Father's throne:
That holy place where searching ends,
And prophets greet us all as friends.
Our Father gave us, by his grace,
This earth to be our dwelling place.
He set our hand
To till and tend,
And gave us hearing, speech, and sight
For lives of music, truth, and light.
How we rejoiced when he told us his plan
To give us our agency, woman and man!
If we live as he taught, with joy we will meet face to face.
Our children give us, as they grow,
A taste of God's work here below.
When, being free,
They disobey,
We grieve for all the grief they earn
And comfort them when they return.
How we rejoiced when he told us his plan
To give us our agency, woman and man!
If we live as he taught, what joy every family will know!
Our Savior, having paid the cost,
Brings home the ones who once were lost.
The soul contrite,
The broken heart
Will hear of sweet forgiveness: "Nor
Do I condemn -- go, sin no more."
How we rejoiced when he told us his plan
To give us our agency, woman and man!
If we live as he taught, what joy when he gives us his trust!
As revised in essay 4:
Our Father gave us, by his grace,
This earth to be our dwelling place.
He set our hand to till and tend,
And gave us hearing, speech, and sight
For lives of music, truth, and light.
Our children give us, as they grow,
A taste of God's work here below.
When, being free, they disobey,
We grieve for all the grief they earn
And comfort them when they return.
Our Savior, having paid the cost,
Brings home the ones who once were lost.
The soul contrite, the broken heart
Will hear of sweet forgiveness: "Nor
Do I condemn thee. Sin no more."
Bless even the noisy children,
Home teachers we never see,
The lofty ones talking down,
The gossips who hear bad news with glee:
The weakest of all is me.
We thank thee for endless lessons,
Ward dinners we cannot eat,
For people who said they'd help,
For bushels of weevils mixed with wheat:
What's done in thy name is sweet.
O Savior, thy sure forgiveness
Was born in thy pain and grief:
O Harvester of the righteous,
Forgive us our stubborn unbelief
And gather us in thy sheaf.
Will this morning show the way
That leads us from this dreary scene
To him who knows our hidden worth,
Whose blood can make us clean?
Will this evening when we pray
Be joyful at the good we've done
For love of him whose mortal birth
And death have made us one?
Will tomorrow be the day
When in a glorious burst of light
The Savior comes again to Earth
To end the reign of night?
Streaming
10 Miracles
(Service)
We pray tonight, this fearful child and I;
Then she can sleep.
We weep, my friend, till grief is spent,
Then laugh and learn to hope.
I open up the book of holy words
And find the light I need:
See all the miracles
The Lord has shown to me.
When hands are laid upon your fevered brow,
Here in my heart
The fire that does not consume
Is bright and cool and sweet.
The words of power and a heart of faith
Affirm that you will live:
See all the miracles
The word of God can give.
One laughing child, in all this noisy class,
Will hear and heed.
One busy sister takes an hour
To fill the silent need.
One saint refuses wealth and gives away
What once he coveted:
These quiet miracles
Are where the Spirit led.
11 Hymn of Light
(Testimony)
Jesus took our yoke upon him;
He has shown us what is right.
Because we bear each other's burdens
All of them are light.
In this world that teaches darkness,
How will truth come to our sight?
The Spirit comes when we are willing,
Filling us with light.
Let us share what we are given,
Raise our candle in the night:
The meek will rise with hope in Zion,
Coming toward the light.
We are building Father's kingdom,
Founded on his holy word.
Let the task be great or humble
He has called, and we have heard.
In thy name, as we serve others,
Father, help us to be brothers:
Trust us with thy little ones;
Thus we shall become thy sons.
Is there one whose soul is hungry?
Let thy Spirit lead us there.
Food of body and of spirit:
We have plenty; we will share.
In thy name, as we serve others,
Father, help us to be brothers:
As we bless the needy ones,
Thus we shall become thy sons.
All the sins we have committed
Weigh upon our broken hearts.
By the Lamb they are remitted
When our will to sin departs.
In thy name, as we serve others,
Father, help us to be brothers:
We can all be worthy ones;
Thus we shall become thy sons.
Father, by thy gentle daughters
Come the greatest gifts of all:
Help and comfort in our labors,
Homes we build as worlds in small.
In thy name, as we serve others,
Father, help us to be brothers:
Sealed to these beloved ones,
Thus we shall become thy sons.
He sees into my soul,
The scarlet of my sin:
His grace will make me whole.
The doors of life he opens wide.
Eternal joy is found inside.
He says to me, "Come in."
He sees into my heart.
He knows my deep desire.
He teaches me the art
Of comforting the ones who mourn,
Preparing them to be reborn
Ablaze with holy fire.
Oh, Sister, join with me.
Rise up, dear Brother, rise!
Let Zion come to be.
Where Jesus dwells there is no wall.
His gift to one is shared with all:
The love that never dies.
Now will he set us free,
Now will he make us wise,
For he will let us see
All things that will be, were, and are.
The tender child, the farthest star
We'll view through Jesus' eyes.
[With Mark Howard Mitchell's music, it became clear that the last two verses should be
swapped, so it ends with the call to Zion and "the love that never dies."]
O Father, for this mortal life,
This tabernacle made of flesh,
For father, mother, husband, wife,
For children we protect and teach,
For truth to learn, lost sheep to save,
For love that yearns beyond the grave,
We thank thee, Lord of Light.
O Father, for the sacrifice
Of thy Beloved in the flesh,
His blood that paid our mortal price,
His pain that grants the sinner's wish,
The blind who see, the lame who walk,
The church on revelation's rock,
We thank thee, Lord of Truth.
O Father, for our fellow saints
Who labor with us in the flesh,
Who share with us to meet our wants,
Whom we can also serve and bless,
Whose free forgiveness lifts us up,
Whose lips receive the bread, the cup,
We thank thee, God of Love.
In this chapel, on this morning,
Under thy sweet care,
We thy children gather, singing,
Offering this prayer.
We confess our sin in sorrow;
Now repentance starts
Help us sin no more tomorrow;
Heal our broken hearts.
Kindle in us godly fire,
Calm us from our fear,
Free us from our dark desire,
Make our vision clear.
All our sins can be forgiven,
All our debts be paid
Through thy Son those gifts were given
Long before we prayed.
Jesus came as to a marriage,
Bridegroom gracing wife.
From his comfort we have courage,
From his dying, life.
From his pain comes exaltation:
That is why he came.
Father, make this congregation
Worthy of his name.
Of thy glories, my Redeemer,
What is sweetest in thy sight?
Is it your place by Father's throne?
Your place beside our Father's throne?
The kingdoms he has made your own?
These are sweet, says my Redeemer.
Sweeter still shall yet be shown
When sorrow brings your sins to light:
Repent, my friend; I shall atone.
Of thy suffering, O Savior,
What was heaviest to bear?
The splintered cross? The piercing thorn?
The savage nail? The bitter scorn?
None of these, replies my Savior.
Sharpest of the pains I've borne
Is how you sin and do not care,
With all your covenants forsworn.
See my sins, beloved Brother,
All the misery I've spread,
The cruel, lying words I've said --
I can't repay, my hope is dead.
All these sins, replies my Brother,
I have named with tears I've shed.
I've paid the price to set you free.
My name is yours now: Come to me.
Bread of life and living water,
Passing now from hand to hand,
Will unite each son and daughter
In the path the Father planned.
As we take the sacred token
Of the Shepherd who was slain,
All our hearts are newly broken
For our part in Jesus' pain.
All our sins can be forgiven
By the giver of the gift,
Master of all earth and heaven:
He will span that hopeless rift.
Look with love at one another:
None are strangers in this place.
Every sister, every brother
Has come home through Jesus' grace.
Streaming
20 Feed My Sheep
(Service)
I will not pass a beggar by
Until I stop to share.
The hungry soul will know I care
Not knowing it was I.
My roof can keep his children dry.
(Feed my sheep.)
The Earth is full, with much to spare.
(Feed my sheep.)
When all have plenty, I can sleep.
(Feed my lambs.)
I will not say an angry word
Or try to shun the blame.
No soul will have to shrink in shame
From passions that I stirred.
Instead my Lord will know I heard.
(Feed my sheep.)
These little ones all bear his name.
(Feed my sheep.)
I'll give no person cause to weep.
(Feed my lambs.)
So on the hill beside the sea
Sat Peter and the Lord.
The Savior fervently implored
This oath from him -- and me:
My friend bar-Jonah, am I loved?
Feed my sheep.
Dear Simon, do you love me now?
Feed my sheep.
O Peter, lovest thou the Lord?
Feed my lambs.
The laborer is worthy of the wages he is paid.
The harvest time is coming and it cannot be delayed.
The servants in the vineyard then will glean the ones who strayed.
Your calling may be humble but your faith is strong and true.
Your speech at times may stammer but the Spirit dwells in you.
O teach me, brother, sister, what the Lord would have me do!
The world confers its honors but those honors fail the test:
The one who would be greatest must be servant to the rest.
It's by the work of all the saints that all the saints are blessed.
We are so few
Who preach the gospel two by two,
Who face the stranger at his door.
How can we do more?
Spirit of God,
Burn in our hearts!
All that we need
The Spirit imparts.
Of all good fruits
This is the seed,
The Spirit of God.
We are so weak.
How can we turn the other cheek
When strangers that we came here for
Turn and close the door?
Spirit ...
We are so young,
From childhood oh so freshly sprung
That ours are undiscerning eyes.
How can we be wise?
Spirit ...
We have such hope
Who struggle up this rugged slope;
If you, along with us, ascend
We will reach the end.
Spirit of God,
Burn in our hearts!
All that we need
The Spirit imparts.
Of all good fruits
This is the seed,
The Spirit of God.
Original second stanza:
We are so weak.
How can we turn the other cheek
To bear the calculated wrong?
How can we be strong?
To the broken-hearted home
Many hands of kindness come.
Loving listeners will hear ...
Comfort give for every tear.
See how we are restored,
Made one by faith and love,
All sisters of the Savior,
All daughters of the Lord.
Eagerly we come to learn
Truth that in our hearts will burn,
Light to guide our works and ways,
Through us blessing others' days.
See how ...
Any part we play in life --
Daughter, sister, mother, wife --
These dear friends see how we've grown.
Never need we be alone.
See how ...
Father, all good things we build,
Saints we've served and hearts we've filled,
Children loved and strangers fed:
Have we walked where Jesus led?
See how we are restored,
Made one by faith and love,
All sisters of the Savior,
All daughters of the Lord.
We gather in the sabbath light,
Having left the world behind.
Work and care no longer bind;
Darkness vanished with the night.
O joyful sabbath, when we meet
Fellow-citizens and saints,
Sheep and shepherds, both at once,
Gathered at the Savior's feet!
Dear Father, this is what we pray:
Heal the broken hearts we bring;
Hear the praises that we sing;
Help us find the Savior's way.
25 Father, Bless Thy Children Here
(Meeting, Fellowship)
Father, bless thy children here.
All who come prepared to teach,
To bring us truth and light, to reach
Our thirsty souls, to give us sight:
Let them share the Savior's grace;
They also wear the Shepherd's face.
Father, bless thy children here.
All the servants in thy name
Who comfort us in grief or shame
And bless us with thy sweet relief:
Let them share ...
Father, bless thy children here,
These beloved little ones,
Our trusting daughters, eager sons;
Oh, help us bring them back to thee.
Let them share ...
Father, bless thy children here,
All with unforgiven sin:
Oh, heal the broken heart within
And help them seek the better part;
Let them share ...
Streaming
26 These Bright Spirits
(Plan of Salvation)
The boy is young;
Thou knowest who the man will be.
The girl is still a child;
The wiser woman thou dost see.
The day soon comes when each departs;
All we can teach is taught.
Father, follow in their hearts
And speak to them when we cannot.
Of all thy creations, O Father,
The greatest gifts we have by grace
Are all these bright spirits, thy children,
For in their eyes we see thy face.
The man is old,
But in thy eyes a child is he.
The woman's hair is grey,
Yet has the bloom of youth to thee.
The day soon comes when each departs
To mansions they have sought.
Lord, we hold them in our hearts:
O let us live as they have taught.
Of all thy creations, O Father,
The greatest gifts we have by grace
Are all these bright spirits, thy children,
For in their eyes we see thy face.
The stranger stands
Outside our gate, in want of bread,
In need of warmth and rest,
As rain pours down upon his head.
Unbar the gate and fling it wide
Before the man departs.
Seat the stranger at our side
To share the feast, the fire, our hearts.
Of all thy creations, O Father,
The greatest gifts we have by grace
Are all these bright spirits, thy children,
For in their eyes we see thy face.
O child of God, you wonder why
You came to earth to live, to die;
Remember you are not alone,
And when the seed of love has grown,
One day, with joy, you're going home.
O child of God, you wonder why
Things break, and Father does not mend,
And even those you love must die.
Why can't we see beyond the bend
What road will take us home?
O child of light, you wonder why
In darkness every day you stride
And many who would lead you lie
And true directions are denied.
Keep on, you're heading home.
O child of peace, you wonder why
Such hatred tears the world apart
As parents grieve and orphans cry
And trust is lost in every heart
And hope can find no home.
Be comforted, O child of woe:
Your Father knows your pain and fear.
There is no place that you can go
Where God is not already there.
Reach out, and you are home.
Streaming
30 O Father, Let Thy Will
(Service)
O Father, let thy will be done
Within my home, in foreign lands,
And though I be the weakest one,
O Father, use my hands.
O Father, let thy words be known,
Let all repentant souls rejoice,
And though I stammer on my own,
O Father, use my voice.
O Father, at thy Son's return
Forgive the sins I'm guilty of.
Such sweet relief I cannot earn:
The gift of God is love.
When in the dark of night
I lose my way,
Thy word, O Lord, is light
And night is day.
When in the icy storm
My heart is cold,
Thy word, O Lord, is warm,
Thine arms enfold.
When hope is driven out
By worldly lies,
O save me, Lord, from doubt:
Thy word is wise.
When I must hide my face
In guilt and shame,
Thy word, O Lord, is grace,
And peace thy name.
And when to those who seek
My steps are led,
O give me words to speak
And they'll be fed.
Streaming
32 The Savior Lives
(Testimony)
The Savior lives. I know
Because within my heart
There burns an inner flame
That bears the Savior's name
And sets my life aglow.
The Savior lives. I know
By following the law
He taught: To serve with love
Our blessed God above
And neighbors here below.
The Savior lives. I've known,
When once I wandered lost,
The Friend that led the way
And bore the heavy cost
That paid my passage home.
Streaming
33 Each Hour of Light
(Testimony Meeting)
Each hour of light, each rising tree,
Each drop of rain, each breath of air
Is ours by gift of God, that we
May bless each other with our share.
By Father's love, in Jesus' name,
The Spirit prompts us now to stand
And speak the fire of our faith
And live with open heart and hand.
Each hour of night, each tear of grief,
Each word regretted, harm we've done
Will ache till we accept relief:
The gift of God's beloved Son.
By Father's love ...
When doubt like fog conceals the road,
When signs and wonders lead astray,
When by our fears our steps are slowed
The guiding Spirit shows the way.
By Father's love ...
O God from whom all blessings flow,
O Word by whom God's deeds are done,
O Witness of all truth we know
Forgive us, guide us, make us one.
By Father's love, in Jesus' name,
The Spirit prompts us now to stand
And speak the fire of our faith
And live with open heart and hand.
The Prophet's voice cannot be quelled.
The righteous longings he has stirred
Cannot in silent hearts be held:
The world must hear the prophet's word.
O Saints! How lovingly we're led,
How tenderly he serves us all.
The Savior's feast is freely spread
For all who heed the prophet's call.
So many souls! The world is wide,
Yet every heart will have the choice:
For one man's words are magnified
When Saints become the prophet's voice.
Alternate last verse:
Each heart must hear and make the choice.
So many souls! The world is wide.
Yet all will hear the prophet's voice
When by the Saints it's magnified.
He read the promise of the Lord
And asked, "What path is right?"
The Savior came and said that light
Through him would be restored,
For Joseph burned with holy fire
To learn what God would teach.
With every upward step he'd reach,
The Spirit led him higher.
For generations we have sought
To build the church of Christ,
And willingly have sacrificed
To live as Joseph taught;
Now, Lord, we join our praises with
All saints of latter days,
For we were taught thy righteous ways
By Brother Joseph Smith.
Streaming
Original version in five-line stanzas:
He read the promise of the Lord;
He knelt to ask what church was right;
Then Son and Father in his sight
Filled Joseph's heart with truth and light:
All things would be restored.
For Joseph burned with holy fire
To learn of things beyond our reach;
And when with fervor he'd beseech,
The Holy Spirit came to teach
And raise our vision higher.
For generations we have sought
To do as Joseph Smith enticed,
And willingly have sacrificed
To build the Church of Jesus Christ
And live the laws he taught.
Now, Lord, we join our praises with
All faithful saints of latter days:
For joy that lasts, for truth that stays,
For having learned eternal ways
From Brother Joseph Smith.
[second stanza in both versions can be omitted]
Streaming
36 He Woke, and All These Children Will Awake See essay 8
(Atonement)
He woke,
And all these children will awake,
And rise
To take up flesh and bone again.
He spoke,
And made his foolish children wise.
His pain
Was holy, suffered for their sake.
Hosanna! for the Son of God alive.
Hosanna! God is love.
He went
To prison to redeem the dead.
He did
What sacrifice alone could do.
Repent --
Rejoice in doing as he bid.
Be true
And follow Jesus where he led.
Hosanna! for the Son of God alive.
Hosanna! God is love.
His word
Will lead us on the path of right,
To save
Our souls by grace we cannot earn.
O Lord
Who rose and raises from the grave
Return
And fill our lives with love and light.
Hosanna! for the Son of God alive.
Hosanna! God is love.
37 Haven of Light
(Meeting, Fellowship, Service)
Leaving the darkness
Outside this door,
Welcome the weary,
Welcome the poor,
Peace for the sinner
Sinning no more:
That's what this haven of
Light is for.
Come, take your place
At the table of grace
In the haven of light.
Lost in the darkness
Hungry and poor
Desperate the journey
What is it for?
Lay down the burden
Here at the door.
Knock! It is opening:
One step more.
Come, take your place
At the table of grace
In the haven of light.
For the harvest of this year,
For all the work of every hand,
For the loved ones gathered here,
For all the joy our days have spanned
Father, wilt thou hear our prayer
Of thanks we have not words to say?
Here is how we will repay:
All gifts we have, we gladly share.
For the lessons we have learned,
Forgiveness of the wrong we've done,
Hope that was so dearly earned,
The gift of thy beloved Son
Father, wilt thou hear our prayer
Of thanks we have not words to say?
Here is how we will repay:
All gifts we have, we gladly share.
39 Hymn of the Primary Boys See essay 5 [sung to the tune of "There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today"]
We're at church, and so we must be good.
No more running in the hall.
Listen to the teachers like we should.
No spitwads on the wall.
For the bishop, bishop is watching
Like an angel with a fiery sword.
If he sees us being nasty little kids
There'll be yelling in the ward.
If a gospel lesson is the goal
And the classroom is a dud,
Rolls of toilet paper down the hole
Will teach of Noah's flood.
For the bishop, etc.
We can whisper, but we cannot shout;
Raise our hands before we speak;
Act like angels till they let us out,
Then devils through the week.
For the bishop, bishop is watching
Like an angel with a fiery sword.
If he sees us being nasty little kids
There'll be yelling in the ward.
What a beautiful day
The Lord has made,
To give us hope and light,
To bring relief.
So our belief
In Christ dispels the night.
Be not afraid!
His plans are laid:
He is the way.
What a glorious life!
A daily gift
Of freedom, work, and dreams,
To learn of love.
And from above
The Lord's compassion streams,
A current swift
To lightly lift
The weight of grief.
Sons and daughters of God!
We all can show [Our lives can show]
The image of his face,
Our father's eyes.
For he is wise,
And has prepared this place
Where we could grow
Until we know:
Ah! Life is good!
How generous the Lord:
The fullness of Earth
Is enough and to spare.
Take heed of his word:
Discover its worth
By returning a share.
The Earth is the Lord's,
Created for us
To replenish and tend:
Make plows out of swords,
Turn greed into trust,
Turn a foe to a friend.
The treasures and towers
We own while we live
Will be lost in a breath,
For nothing is ours
Except what we give
Out of love, out of faith.
New stanza added for chapter 6:
His gifts are a trust:
The goods we have earned
Are not ours to hold.
These treasures that rust,
When shared, can be turned
Into heavenly gold.
Revision of fourth stanza for Janice Kapp Perry:
His gifts are a trust:
We share what we earn
Never trying to hold.
What's made out of dust
Our Father will turn
Into heavenly gold.
Let no hands be idle here.
Let no heart be filled with fear.
Let no child uncared-for be.
Where the need is, O let me!
Leave no broken heart alone.
Leave no lonely soul unknown.
Lead all wanderers to Thee.
Where the need is, O let me!
Set the world's desires aside.
Set all sail against the tide.
Set the weeping captive free.
Where the need is, O let me!
Give the beggar what he asks.
Give the willing worker tasks.
Give to all unstintingly.
Where the need is, O let me!
We are part of Lehi's dream.
Hold the rod beside the stream.
Taste the fruit upon the tree:
Love of God, so sweet to me!
Alternative fifth verse for non-LDS congregations:
Like a river life can seem:
Dip a cup into the stream,
Drink, and share it openly:
Love of God, so sweet to me!
These little ones are sent to Earth
For us to care for from their birth.
They learn from all we do and say:
To speak, to walk, to love, to pray.
However blessed, however flawed,
These children come to us from God.
Be like a little child, He said,
As home to Father all are led.
These sons are learning to be men:
They run and fall, yet rise again
To serve the Lord in many lands,
With loving hearts and priestly hands.
However blessed ...
These loving daughters, filled with light,
Are lamps, are stars to bless the night --
The lamp with oil to burn till dawn,
The star you can rely upon.
Original third stanza:
These loving daughters, filled with light,
Are lamps, are stars to bless the night --
The stars that children wish upon;
The hand to hold till light of dawn.
All that the earth can yield,
All that seeds can hold,
Sheep within the fold;
Fruit of a heavy field
Or fallen from tree and vine:
They are already thine.
All that I think I own,
All within my hand,
House and plot of land;
All that I've reaped and sown
And all that the world calls mine:
They are already thine.
All of the dreams of youth,
Memories of age,
Life at every stage;
All that I know of truth
And all that is sweet and fine:
It is already thine.
All of the trust I've earned,
All the tears I've shed,
Hungry souls I've fed;
All of the love I've learned,
Lord: what is truly mine,
It is already thine.
Streaming
47 When the Spirit's Light
(Testimony)
When the Spirit's light
Shines within our eyes
To make us wise,
To give us sight,
To help us choose
To do God's will,
Can I be still?
Since our Savior's love
Undeserving flows,
This sinner knows
The promise of
Eternal life
For one so weak --
So I must speak.
See our Father's gift:
We are not alone.
Our hearts are known,
There is no rift
He cannot span.
Our prayers are heard:
This is my word.
(or: He keeps his word.)
He could have come like lightning,
Justice bright with ire,
Wonderful and fright'ning --
All would see him and admire.
Instead he chose a stable.
Starlight was his fire.
Cattle shared his table.
Only shepherds heard the choir.
His gentle mother bore him,
Nursed him when he cried,
Ever watched out for him,
Was his comfort and his guide.
That seemed to be his story:
Neither wealth nor pride.
Who beheld his glory
As the Son was sanctified?
He opened up the prison,
Broke the gates of hell.
Jesus had arisen!
All creation had to tell!
Now set aside your mourning:
Sing your glad noel!
This is Christmas morning!
Rise and ring the Christmas bell!
Or:
Today we join the angel,
Sing that glad noel:
Born is Life Eternal!
Rise and ring the Christmas bell!
EASTER final stanza:
He opened up the prison,
Broke the gates of hell.
Jesus has arisen!
With the Father all can dwell!
So set aside your grieving:
Christ will raise this shell,
All our sins reprieving,
Pardoned by Emmanuel.
Streaming
50 His Hands Were Strong
(Easter, Christ)
His hands were strong with making,
His eyes were bright as suns,
His heart with love was breaking
For the sins of weaker ones,
For his father's other sons.
He bore all pains with patience
But could not bear a lie.
The claims of mighty nations
Only merited a sigh,
For he knew how soon they'd die.
His glory and his power
To rule by sky and sea
Were greatest in that hour
When redemption came to be,
Kneeling in Gethsemane.
He knew each sin and sorrow;
He bore our deepest pain
And promised that tomorrow
He would break our heavy chain,
Raise us up without a stain.
(new last verse, to lengthen Mabel Jones Gabbott's original)
At thy feet we rest, O Savior.
Here we listen to thy word,
Taught by thy beloved servants:
Let our lives show they were heard.
In thy house our eyes are opened;
By thy light we learn to see;
Rising up, we find our burdens
Light, for they are borne by thee.
52 In the Garden
(Plan of Salvation, Family)
In the garden dwelt
The woman and the man,
Tending herb and beast
As partners, hand in hand.
In the dreary world
The woman and the man
Labored side by side
And tilled the thorny land.
Children thrive and grow
Most fortunately when
All their lives they know
Good women and good men.
All are blest by all
Who live by Father's plan,
Joining in each home
A woman and a man.
Streaming
53 On Wings of Love
(Meeting, Testimony)
On wings of love we fly;
By light of love we see:
So charity will sanctify
And truth will set us free.
Contrite and broken hearts we bring,
By Thee to be restored.
Allelujah we sing!
Hosanna to the Lord!
Our God is not asleep;
The heavens are not stone:
The well of love is full and deep
And we are not alone.
Contrite ...
O Maker of the earth,
O Teacher of the way,
Our Hope and Comfort from our birth:
We love thee and obey.
Upon the cross at fall of night
He bore a world of care,
Then rose with gifts of hope and light:
For each of us a share.
Upon the cross his mortal life
Was never lost, but giv'n
To heal with peace all earthly strife
And lead the way to heav'n.
(And love us into heav'n.)
Upon the cross they named him king,
Not knowing this was real.
Our broken hearts to him we bring
To comfort and to heal.
55 Voice of Hope
(Redemption; Godhead)
With every whisper of the wind
A voice of hope is heard:
The promise of the Father's word
To those who sinned.
With every rising of the day
The world is filled with light
So all who wish to choose the right
Can find the way.
When desert heat is at its worst,
Each faithful pilgrim knows
The Savior's living water flows
To slake our thirst.
O Lord, when life is at an end
And secrets all are known,
We'll see we never were alone,
O faithful Friend.
Streaming
Streaming
56 Travelers' Hymn
(Fellowship, Service)
Some are weak and some are strong;
The road we walk upon is long;
We lift our journey with a song.
I stumbled, and you bore me up.
Tonight beside your fire I sup
And deeply drink your brimming cup.
Now you need my helping hand.
By leaning on me, you can stand.
I'll bear you to the promised land.
Help the weaker ones along;
Forgive the ones who've done you wrong;
And lift your journey with a song.
Alterations for the music:
Some travelers are weak and frail, some travelers are strong,
The road we walk upon is long.
We lift our journey with a song, with a song
I stumbled and you bore me up, you kindly bore me up.
Tonight beside your fire I sup
and deeply drink your brimming cup, your brimming cup.
And now you need my helping hand, you need my helping hand.
By leaning on me, you can stand.
I'll bear you to the promised land, the promised land.
We help the weaker ones along, the weaker ones along,
Forgive the ones who've done us wrong,
And lift our journey with a song, with a song.
Streaming
57 Ask and the Lord Will Give
(Prayer; God the Father)
No father gives a stone
To the child who asks for bread.
No mother leaves alone
The child who weeps with dread.
Our Father's love is shown
In the words the Savior said:
Ask and the Lord will give;
Knock and he'll open the door:
Blessings as long as we live
His love forevermore.
To God our prayer ascends
With only Christ between.
Our loving Savior sends
The Comforter, unseen,
Who teaches us, and mends,
And leaves our hearts serene.
Ask and the Lord ...
Each spirit, when it leaves
The body in the grave
In gratitude receives
The mercy Jesus gave.
Take hope, and do not grieve
For those the Savior saves.
However many years we live
No life is long.
So measure it by gifts we give:
The precious song
Of love we show and share.
For in the days of such a life,
The Lord is there.
Our days are moments, and they rush
Us toward the end.
Unfinished are the works of flesh,
No time to mend.
But in the Savior's care
Are we made whole, our hearts complete,
For Christ is there.
Oh, let us all live such a life
That every day
Is filled with kindness, free of strife
Along the way,
And when the grief we bear
Is heavy, and the road is hard,
The Lord is there.
59 No One Is Alone
(Holy Ghost)
No one is alone, for in the night
The Holy Ghost will lead us toward the light,
And lift us up to see
The grace and majesty
Of Christ, who is the Way.
No one is alone, unless by choice,
For all who heed can hear the gentle voice
That whispers in the heart
To tell us of the part
That God would have us play.
No one is alone. If we desire
The friend who fills our soul with holy fire,
Let heart and hands be clean:
Our yearning will be seen
And he will come and stay.
Servants of the Savior,
Two by two,
Teach the humble seekers
To know what's right and true,
What our loving Father
Pleads with us to do,
Bringing sweet repentance
Two by two.
Servants of the Savior,
One by one,
Labor in the vineyard;
The work is never done.
When the Spirit guides us
Victory is won,
Even when we struggle
One by one.
See how our Redeemer
Sets us free:
Bringing us together
He shows us how to be,
Forming with each other
Loving unity:
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One from three.
Streaming
61 Have You Seen the Savior?
(Christ)
Have you seen the Savior? He is there
In souls that seek forgiveness, bringing peace
As from the grip of sin he brings release,
And hope where once there only was despair.
Have you seen the Savior? He is there
When enemies assail; he fills your heart
With courage to withstand, and do your part
To hold up Zion's standard, bright and fair.
Have you seen the Savior? He is there
In babies newly brought into this life.
Thus every gentle husband, loving wife,
And tender-hearted child can feel his care.
Have you seen the Savior? Take his hand
And let him lead you to the promised land,
Where mansions wait for us to claim our share;
And in each joyful room, his love is there.
Additional verse, for use in the temple
Have you seen the Savior? He is here
Among us in the temple, clothed in white,
To bring the lost from darkness into light
And seal us to the ones we hold most dear.
Six days we have labored;
The seventh we rest
And gather together in peace:
We are blessed!
The Sabbath's renewal
Will gleam like a jewel
More lovely than labor can earn.
As sister and brother
We learn from each other
And offer our light in return.
The world and its troubles
Are only a test;
Each Sabbath redoubles our strength:
We are blessed!
The Sabbath's renewal ...
In sin we may suffer,
With grief be oppressed,
But Christ makes the offer of joy:
We are blessed!
The Sabbath's renewal ...
O brother, O sister,
Be true to the quest
To follow the Master of Love,
And be blessed!
By work we earn our daily bread
In a world that we must be in, not of,
For our lives are lighted from above
And our steps through life are safely led
By all the Savior did and said
To fill our lives with love.
How easily we lose the way
When the world's enticements appear so bright,
For they blind us in the dangerous night
And we stumble till we kneel and pray
For Christ to lead us into day
And fill our lives with light.
O Savior, we shall meet thee yet,
With a grateful heart, in a holy place:
By thy sacrifice we now can face
An eternity without regret
For thou in grief hast paid our debt
And filled our lives with grace.
Where do we see thy love?
In the beauty of the world around us,
Endless glories that astound us,
Friends and family that surround us,
Peace when holiness has found us,
Bringing us joy.
How do we know thy love?
In thy patience when we doubt and waver;
When the salt has lost its savor
Still we can regain thy favor --
Pardon from a loving Savior,
Bringing us joy.
How can we share thy love?
To the multitude, a voice of thunder;
Guiding hands for souls who wander;
Whispered words of hope and wonder,
Healing families torn asunder,
Bringing us joy.
65 All We Choose
(Service)
We do not choose
who will need us;
All we choose is what to share.
And when we teach,
who will heed us?
Those who love the truth we bear.
Our enemy
seeks to bind us
In the chains of harsh despair
Though we are lost,
God will find us
When we reach for him in prayer.
Set fear aside;
none restrains us.
We are free of worldly care.
Because we know
God sustains us
We will triumph if we dare.
The light of Christ
is not hidden;
Hearts that know him are not rare.
They only wait
to be bidden:
Cry his message everywhere.
66 Let No Man See
(service)
Let no man see
Your noble deed.
What men ignore
The Lord will heed,
And hold your name
In honor bright:
The endless fame
Of love and light.
I could not stand --
You chose to see.
Your kindly hand
Has lifted me.
I know your face;
Your love is true;
The Savior's grace
Has place in you.
On Judgment Day
Of dread and doubt
Feel no dismay:
I'll seek you out.
I'll call you forth,
And you will see:
Your deeds of worth
Were done to me.
By turning grief into a gift
We make the pains of life our school.
The fallen souls we lift,
The broken hearts we heal --
Such love will make us whole.
By turning losses into light
We find the path that leads to joy.
The love that once was bright
Still shines to show the way
That longed-for face to see.
O Lord, here is my broken heart:
Once proud, it has become contrite.
My grief became the start
Of turning to thy light;
Thy love makes all things right.
O Sister, are you grieving?
O Brother, unbelieving?
Let not despair deceive you,
For God will never leave you.
When I was lost, my Savior found me.
He raised me up, his arms around me.
All joys in life, my Savior gave me.
His love is deep enough to save me.
Your Lord is not ignoring
Your anguish and imploring.
Great gifts are waiting for you
To comfort and restore you.
When I was lost ...
What need have we for crying
That life must end with dying?
Our Lord will not deny us.
His blood will sanctify us.
When I was lost ...
alternate refrain, removing first syllable of each line:
I was lost. My Savior found me,
Raised me up, his arms around me.
All my joys, my Savior gave me,
For he loved enough to save me.
First refrain version, 6/8 time, in threes:
* . . *- . \ *- . * ..
When I was lost, my Savior found me
Second version, 4/4 with first two syllables as pickup eighth notes
. . \ * . * . \ * .
I was lost, my Savior found me
Are you alone upon the road?
Without a friend to share the load?
The footprints on the road ahead
Show that you are being led.
These stones and brambles bruised and tore
The travelers who went before,
Yet on they went to tread the trail:
Follow and you shall not fail.
Christ marked the way; they followed him.
The path stays clear when eyes grown dim.
We see them, though they're out of sight:
Shadows leading us to light.
We search the records for their names,
Perform the rites that seal their claims.
Our love will open heaven's door
For the ones who went before.
80 This Day
(New Year, Repentance)
This day was never lived before;
I choose what it will be.
Thou hast the key to wisdom's door:
Unlock, I pray, for me.
This day I will begin again
Thy righteous work to do,
As thou didst show thy children when
This fertile world was new.
I will remember all I learned,
Undo mistakes I made,
Fear not the punishments I earned,
For Christ already paid.
81 The Words of Prophets
(Scripture, Prophets)
The words of prophets through the ages
Cast their light
To all God's children through the pages
That they write.
The voice of God can still be heard
Across the Earth
And all can have his holy word
By right of birth.
We share his words so everyone
Can hear his call:
The words our Father says to one
He says to all.
The testament of old is heard,
But only part,
Until the Spirit speaks the word
Into the heart.
82 To Find the Good
(Patience, Kindness)
To find the good in others,
To share with those in need,
To plant within our brothers
Hope like a tiny seed,
To hear the plea unspoken,
To find the soul unknown,
To heal the heart that's broken,
Soften the heart of stone,
To let no insult hurt you,
To speak no word unkind,
To live with quiet virtue,
Faithful in word and mind,
To guide the child's behavior
By all we do and say:
It's how we serve our Savior,
Following in his way.
83 Through Us, Imperfect Servants
(Service, Repentance)
Through us, imperfect servants,
The work of God is done.
The hands that do his service
Reveal the Holy One.
If fear and sin have stained us,
How can his works be seen?
By faith and by repentance
The Savior makes us clean.
His bread and water name us.
We promise to obey.
In hope that he will claim us
We walk his narrow way.
84 Until We See
(Priesthood)
By prophecy, and through the hands
Of those who hold the key,
We have in home and church the gift
Of God's authority.
When priesthood hands reach out to bless,
Ordain, and set apart,
They press upon our brow the love
For us in Father's heart.
The bread is broken, water poured,
By priesthood sanctified
To seal anew with Christ the bond
Created when he died.
In hope and trust, with broken heart,
We name our secret sin
To one who holds the keys of Christ
To let forgiveness in.
Beloved children of the Lord,
His priesthood is the grace
That lets us hold his mighty hand
Until we see his face.
85 O Lord, in Every Land
(Prayer, Godhead, Missionary)
O Lord, in every land
Where now thy loving word
Remains unheard,
Reach out thy hand.
O Savior, to my heart
Now broken and contrite
Wilt thou impart
Atoning light?
O Father, as I grope
In darkness, in my grief
Thou art my hope
Of sweet relief.
O Holy Spirit, Thou
Hast seen how I am tried.
Be at my side,
My comfort now.
86 The Promised Land Is All the Earth
(Plan of Salvation)
The promised land is all the earth:
Already we are home.
As heirs of God by right of birth
We have no need to roam.
The promise of the land is trust
That what we sow, we'll reap.
By water and by light, from dust
New life will rise and leap.
O God, we kept our first estate:
This life was our reward.
We now in hope and faith await
The coming of our Lord.
If we obey our Father's word
And with the Saints we stand,
Our lives will show that we have heard
And earned this promised land.
87 Christ Be Not Far From Us
(Atonement, Easter, Sacrament)
Christ be not far from us,
Thou who hast died for us,
Life, light, and way for us:
Make us thine own.
We know thy love for us,
Blood thou hast shed for us;
Christ, give thy name to us:
Make us thine own.
We turn our hearts to thee,
Give up our sins to thee,
Place all our hope in thee:
Make us thine own.
Dear Christ, my heart must break:
Then thou my sins shalt take.
All thy pain for my sake
Makes me thine own.
Streaming
Streaming
88 God Knows His Children (can be sung to the tune of "God Loved Us So He Sent His Son")
(Commandments, Law)
God knows his children, mind and heart.
Our joy is all he longs to see.
His teachings show us how to start.
God gives us laws to set us free:
Free from the chains of false desire,
Free from the mire of ignorance;
And, when we sin, in holy fire
Christ frees us from the consequence.
Now, seeking what is good and right,
We heed the words the prophets say,
And, sharing all we have of light,
We'll help each other find the way.
O Father, teach us to be wise,
Forsaking deeds that merit blame,
So we can bear to meet thine eyes:
Joy comes to us through Jesus' name.
89 Do Good to Those Who Hurt You
(Forgiveness)
Do good to those who hurt you.
Keep faith when they betray.
When comrades who desert you
Return, then let them stay.
The law of equal vengeance,
The rule of tooth and claw,
Allows for no repentance:
We live a higher law.
When faced with harm or slander
At times we may reprove,
Restrain with gentle hand, or
Say hardest truth with love.
Let mercy be our motto,
Forgiving everyone,
For righteous judgment must do
To us as we have done.
90 Men and Women, Join Together
(Marriage, Family, Child-rearing)
Men and women, join together
In the name of God, to build
Homes for his beloved children,
With the love of heaven filled.
Trouble comes like stormy weather,
Unexpected, hard to bear:
Mother, Father, hold your children,
Give them comfort in your care.
Teach that law is not a tether
But a lamp that lets them see.
By its light, your growing children
Walk in safety, wise and free.
Man and wife, forgive each other,
Grow together, grace on grace;
Set the pattern for your children;
Ready them to take your place.
alt. line: By its light your sons and daughters
Streaming
91 When First We Hear
(Faith, Knowledge)
When first we hear the word of God
We gladly hope that it is true.
Because of hope we live the law:
The test is in the things we do.
Belief is mere opinion, till
We act as if these things are true.
Prove me in this, the Lord has said:
The test is in the things we do.
When works are added to belief
Then faith is born, alive and new.
Faith urges us to stay the course:
The test is in the things we do.
We spoke our faith, we showed our hope,
At last through charity we knew
With certainty the Word was true:
The test is in the things we do.
Stripes along the highway guide us
As we travel through the night.
Headlights searching ever forward
Give us only narrow sight.
Dark and distance cannot hide us
For our lamps are far too bright.
All can see where we are going:
Red behind us; forward, white.
Others see us; we see little,
Trusting signs to guide aright.
Those who placed the signs were strangers
With compassion for our plight.
Led by signs and stripes, we follow,
As our Master said we might:
Lord, we follow thy directions,
For thy law is our delight.
93 Who Shall Separate Us
(Charity, Atonement, Law, Service)
Who shall separate us
From the love of Christ?
Ourselves by sin have built a wall,
But when with broken heart we call,
His unbounded mercy
Opens up the gate.
Who shall separate us
From the path of God?
Confused and lost in mist, we stray.
Then Jesus finds us on the way,
Brings us homeward, holding
To the iron rod.
Who shall separate us
From the Savior's face?
By faith and works we gain the right
To help him fill the world with light,
Sharing with his people,
Standing in his place.
I lose my way, in darkness grope.
I fear I will arrive too late.
Then in my heart, the voice of hope:
"If you are coming, I will wait."
One time I chose the Holy One
And so received a rich estate.
Now weary, journey nearly done
I trust that promise: "I will wait."
Once somehow I forgot my vow;
I turned, although the road was straight.
Where is the path? Where am I now?
"Come back," he whispers. "I will wait."
Whose hand is this, that takes my hand?
Who draws me through the narrow gate?
Who speaks my name, and makes me new?
The one who promised, "I will wait."
