E'en so Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

This is inspired by Paul Manz's etherial anthem titled the same, which is taken from the book of Revelations in the New Testament. I changed some words for rhyming purposes.

Peace to you and grace from Him who freed us from our sins.

Who loved us all and shed His blood that our should He did win.

Sing Holy, holy to our Lord, our God, Almighty King

who was, and is, and is to come, our praises we will bring.

Oh rejoice, all saints that dwell, rejoice on earth below.

for Christ is coming, coming soon; the Savior we all know.

E'en so Lord, Jesus quickly come and night shall be no more.,

and every tongue confess Him now, our Savior we adore.

MP3: E'en so Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

PDF:  E'en so Lord Jesus, Quickly Come

General Conference (poem)

I need a place for my poems (no music), so I'm adding them here with a POEM label, so you can separate them from my music until I figure something else out. This weekend is our church's Semi-Annual General Conference. I love General Conference and wrote this for that occasion.

General Conference - Rick Graham 2025

Prepare to hear the word of God,

find answers to your prayers.

The Lord’s blest servants speak to us

to tell us that God cares.

Come feasting to the table spread,

of God’s great love for all.

Partake the joyous words of truth

for what we heard and saw.

Drink up the living water here

that flows from heavn’ly store,

the Lord’s anointed share with us

so drink, and thirst no more.

Then go, rejoice, resolved to be

a better child of God.

His words, now giv’n through His servants,

we’ll grasp the iron rod. 

When in the Garden

I wrote this in just a few days. It is a Sacrament hymn that ties the Sacrament to the covenants we made at baptism. I don't believe there is another hymn that talks of this.

When in the garden, Jesus gasped,

this cup, Oh Father let it pass

but if not so, I'll drink it all

and suffer what is to befall.

The bread and water symbols of

our Savior, His atoning love.

His body pieced, His blood was spilled,

the law of justice was fulfilled.

We cov'nant with the Lord this day,

remembering the promise made;

immersed and cleansed in water clear,

to have His Spirit always here.

Our Savior suffered all of this

so we may reap eternal bliss.

He did this so we can return

to live forever; His love earned.

MP3: When in the Garden

PDF: When in the Garden

Awake Oh My Soul

I was reading in the scriptures at 2 Nephi 4:28, "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul." when this tune came into my head. This hymn is the result of that. It is a joyous/bouncy hymn that hopefully expresses the scripture well.

Awake Oh my soul, awake!
No longer drop in my sin.
The Lord's forgiveness we now plead,
A new life we begin.

Awake! Oh my soul!

Awake! Oh my soul!

Awake! now awake!

Rejoice! Oh my heart, rejoice!

Give place no more for my woes.

Break free from shackles we all bear,

the enemy of my soul.

Rejoice! Oh my heart!

Rejoice! Oh my heart!

Rejoice! now rejoice!

MP3: Awake Oh My Soul

PDF: Awake Oh My Soul

Supplication

I have been taught all my life that when we pray, we should ask, and then listen. This music is my attempt at that. The music is the prayer, and the deliberate silence is my listening for answers. This is for piano solo.

MP3: Supplication
PDF: Supplication

Still, Still, Still

I wrote many iterations of this over the years; from a women's vocal trio to men's quartet, but for some reason I never wrote this as a solo. This is one of my favorite Christmas carols, a sweet Austrian carol. I wrote this for piano and a C instrument. to play it.

MP3: Still, Still, Still

PDF: Still, Still, Still

Prayer

The text from this hymn originates from the poet Eliza M. Hikok (1933) and was one of the favorite  poems quoted by President Ezra Taft Benson (1956). I set the words to a plaintive hymn of - prayer.

I know not by what methods rare,

but this I know, God answers prayer.

I know that He has given His word,

which tells me prayer is always heard

and will be answered, soon or late.

And so I pray and calmly wait.

I know not if the blessings sought,

will come in just the way I thought;

but leave my prayers with Him alone,

whose will is wiser than my own,

assured that He will grant my quest,

or send some answer far more blessed.

MP3: Prayer

PDF: Prayer