Thanksgiving

The words are taken from a poem by Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer, an African American woman who was born immediately after the Civil War and died in 1936 at the age of 68 years old. She lived through some tumultuous times and her poetry often refelcted that. This poem is one of Thanksgiving. I contemplated picking and choosing verses to include in my hymn, but never felt it was right to censure verses, so I include all 6 verses here.


Let us give thanks to God above,
Thanks for expressions of His love,
Seen in the book of nature, grand
Taught by His love on every hand.

Let us be thankful in our hearts,
Thankful for all the truth imparts,
For the religion of our Lord,
All that is taught us in His word.

Let us be thankful for a land,
That will for such religion stand;
One that protects it by the law,
One that before it stands in awe.

Thankful for all things let us be,
Though there be woes and misery;
Lessons they bring us for our good-
Later 'twill all be understood.

Thankful for peace o'er land and sea,
Thankful for signs of liberty,
Thankful for homes, for life and health,
Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.

Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,
Thankful for all things, good and true,
Thankful for harvest in the fall,
Thankful to Him who gave it all.

MP3: Thanksgiving
PDF: Thanksgiving

Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling

I also love this old hymn - who am I fooling - I love all of them! :) This is arranged for woman's solo and a c instrument. I chose a recorder since the two of them sound so lovely together.

MP3: Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling
PDF: Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

I love this folk hymn. I arranged it for piano solo

MP3: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
PDF: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

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