Bearers of God's Holy Priesthood

MP3 - Bearers of God's Holy Priesthood
PDF - Bearers of God's Holy Priesthood

The tune was originally used in a contest in Canada, where it won 3rd place (http://www.ldshappymusic.com/2014/06/gods-re-creating-call.html). I "re purposed" the tune and fellow Mormon Tabernacle Choir singer, Michael Young set my tune to inspiring words. I love how it talks that the priesthood serves all - men, women alike. I hope you enjoy this.

1. Bearers of God's Holy Priesthood,blessed to serve their fellowmen.

    Blessed to serve His royal daughters; servants of the great I AM.

    Willingly we do God's bidding, lifting those with feeble knees.

    Lifting those with heavy burdens in all things our God to please.

2. Bearers of God's holy priesthood, bound to Him through covenants.

    Bearers of this gift from Heaven, washed clean through obedience.

    Laying hands on those afflicted that through faith they may be whole.

    Burying those in the water, who love Christ with heart and soul.

3. Bearers of God's holy priesthood, the pow'r greater than us all.

    Reaching all of God's creations, filling those who heed His call.

    Moving mountains that impede us, softening the hearts of stone.

    When we venture in God's service, we all never serve alone.

Blessings Unfold

MP3: Blessings Unfold
PDF: Blessings Unfold

I decided to try live mic-ing myself playing the recorder and this is the result. I like it. It could be used for almost any instrument, really.

Hope you enjoy it and recognize all the blessings that you have in your life and the true source of those blessings.

I'm Going to Bethlehem Tonight

MP3 - I'm going to Bethlehem Tonight
PDF - I'm going to Bethlehem Tonight

My Grandmother was given the gift of poetry. She wrote about many subjects and expressed her feelings and testimony in her poems. This is one of her poems that I set to music for Primary to sing at Christmas.

I'm going to Bethlehem tonight, it isn't very far. 
I passed some shepherds in a field who said they saw a star.
Far brighter than the noonday sun and while they watched spellbound, 
an angel came from heav'n above, and glory shone around. 

The angel told them of a child born in a lowly shed. 
With cattle lowing all about, and straw to lay his head. 
They said that angels sang with joy for this child they adored 
because he came to save the world, he is our Christ, the Lord. 


I'm on my way to Bethlehem, my heart is glad and light. 
With eagerness my footsteps go, I'm hast'ning through the night. 
I'll soon be at the manger there, the wondrous sight to see. 
I want someone to share this joy, so won't you come with me? 

Daddy!

MP3: Daddy!
PDF: Daddy!

My wife was going through some old stuff and happened upon this handwritten score from decades ago that I had forgotten about. The words are by a dear friend of mine back in PA. The music would be very appropriate for a Primary singing for Father's Day. I hope you enjoy it.

Lullabye

MP3: Lullabye
PDF: Lullabye

Not sure why this has been on my mind, but this is something I wrote several years ago and just got around to cleaning it up and scoring it. It is a simple but sweet lullabye. I hope you enjoy it.

Nature's Music

My wife and I decided it was such a beautiful day yesterday that we would take a drive. We started on the Timapanogos highway in Lehi, entered the forest and just drove - soaking in the beautiful world created for us by our loving Father in Heaven. My wife took the pictures - most while the car was in motion, but I think they turned out wonderfully.

When I got home and was posting them to Facebook, this tune came into my mind and I know I had to "marry" the two together. This is my first venture with combining audio (music) with pictures. I like the result, if I may so so myself. :)

I credit the music popping into my head, first and foremost by my Father in Heaven, and secondly from my wonderful experiences, which made me realize this: For me to write meaningful music I need to get out from my "normal" world - explore nature. Experience God's handiwork. Listen to what a babbling stream is saying. Listen to the breeze rustling through the trees. Listen to what my heart is saying as I am experiencing all of this. And I will be able to find a song through it all.

YouTube: Nature's Music

God's Re-Creating Call

MP3 - God's Re-Creating Call
PDF - God's Re-Creating Call

Earlier this year, I entered a hymn into a competition. The words were given and I just needed to come up with a melody. The hymn was to be used for a church in Ontario, Canada, which also has ties to London, England.

Two weeks ago, I discovered an email in my spam filter informing me that my hymn placed third! I was, and still am ecstatic about this. My first, ever non-LDS hymn. The website where you can see the winning hymn (along with the impressive bio of the winner) can be seen here: www.london2014.net. So here is my entry. I hope you like it.

Ev'ry breath we take is singing, ev'ry leaf unfurled a sign,
ev'ry tree for decades standing, ev'ry peak, majestic, fine.
These show God's creating glories miracles and wonders all!
We, ourselves are revelations, now, God's re-creating call.

After fire burns through forests, life begins from all around,
when we're lost in deepest sadness, God can touch us, love, astound.
Poison fills our lakes and rivers, God helps people stand and shout,
moving helpers into places, bringing light and chasing doubt.

Reefs alive with sparkling colours are endangered, fragile, pure.
God calls scientists and workers, new ideas, theories, cures.
Homeless people left ignored while greed just seems to grow and grow,
trusting God and working strongly makes a diff'rence, this we know!

Voices, voices raised in singing: "Christ commands we love each one,"
not just those that we agree with, ev'ry person, barring none.
"Come and sit around my table, speaking love, you follow me,
all the world and all creation should know love you've given free!"