His Truth is Restored

PDF - His Truth is Restored
MP3 - His Truth is Restored

I had this happy tune for a while and decided to give it to my latest collaborator and he came up with some wonderful ideas. This is the result. It is a joyous Primary song that the children can have fun singing (and shouting) :) Comments appreciated.

1. His truth is restored to the earth again,
the gospel of Jesus will fill the land
from east to the west and from north to south,
the Lord's missionaries will open their mouths saying:

(Chorus)
"Repent! His kingdom's at hand.
Join us in the promised land.
Give glory to the name of the Lord
and Shout! with joy for His truth is restored."

2. Our sisters and brothers in distant lands,
are clinging to hope for His heavn'ly hand.
God's army of servants go two by two,
deliv'ring His message of eternal truth saying:


(Chorus)

I'll Trust in Jesus Christ

MP3 - I'll Trust in Jesus Christ
PDF - I'll Trust in Jesus Christ

This is another "rapid sequence" song that developed and I also found a new lyrics collaborator in record time too. From start to finish took about 6 hours to complete. This is a sweet Primary tune about trusting in Jesus Christ. Thanks to Eric for the wonderful words. I look forward to more collaboration. If you use this piece, please drop me a note. And if you do have your children sing it, an audio of them would be wonderful :) I hope you enjoy!

If I put my trust in Jesus Christ 
I will learn His holy truth 
I will hear the spirit whispering 
All the things that I should do 
When I'm reaching for His loving arms 
I can feel Him reach for me 
And in faith I’ll trust in Jesus Christ 
He will always trust in me 

If I put my trust in worldly ways 
I will lose my path indeed 
The still small voice will fade away 
And I’ll wander aimlessly 
So I'm reaching for His loving arms 
I can feel Him reach for me 
And in faith I’ll trust in Jesus Christ 
He will always trust in me 

Joseph Smith's First Prayer

MP3 - Joseph Smith's First Prayer
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer Baritone
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Soprano
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Bari - Violin Part
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Soprano- Violin part
PDF - Joseph smith's First Prayer - Alto - Violin
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Alto - b-flat Clarinet Part
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Soprano - Cello
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Alto/Cello Score
PDF - Joseph Smith's First Prayer - Alto/Cello - Cello Part

Live recording (noise and all) - https://soundcloud.com/rickgraham-1/joseph-smiths-first-prayer-lc18w

So earlier this year, a fellow MoTab member told me that his daughter was returning home from her mission and mentioned that it would be way cool if there could be a custom arrangement of the hymn, "Joseph Smith's First Prayer". In this particular mission, they loved to sing the words of Joseph Smith's First Prayer to the tune of, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing". So I accepted the challenge. This is what I ended up with. 

It is scored for Baritone solo with violin and piano, but can be altered for other voices - just ask and I'll provide you with it. :) I thought it turned out well and this is also the piece that I submitted to the 2015 LDS Submission. I don't know how it fared out as the results won't be released till July. But the deadline for submission has passed and felt that I need to share this with others.

It is very rare that I have strong feelings about a piece, but every time I play this back, I keep on telling myself, "I didn't write this". I feel that I had some heavenly help with this. I hope you enjoy it. If you perform it, I'd love to hear about it and maybe even an audio recording.

NEW: 19 May 2015 - Added PDF with transposed music set for Soprano Voice v1.01S
           20 May 2015 - Added Violin part PDF's for each voicing
           12 June 2015 - Added PDF for Alto Voice v1.01A
             8 July 2015 - Added b-flat clarinet for Alto arrangement v1.01AC
           15 July 2015 - Added Cello for Soprano Arrangement V1.01SC
             6 March 2016 - Added Cello for Alto arrangement V1.02AC

Our Savior

MP3 - Our Savior
PDF - Our Savior

v.1 (Transposed from Key of E Major to D major)

This is a simple Sacrament Hymn that I came up with the words one insomniac evening. The tune followed shortly. It is my hope that it expresses the Sacrament with dignity.

Our Savior, in Gethsemane
Cried, "Father, take this cup from me,
But if Thou wilt, I'll drink it all";
Atoning for our sins, and fall.

Our Savior, whose hands raised the dead,
Were pierced with nails, His blood they shed.
Symbolic of His body torn;
We eat the bread, our souls reborn.

Our Savior, bleeding on the tree
From head and feet, and side flowed free.
As symbols of His blood, so dear
We now partake the water, clear.

Our Savior suffered all of these
So that God's law He did appease
We come to Him, our hearts are rent,
And we partake His sacrament.

His Love Divine

PDF - His Love Divine
MP3 - His Love Divine

I came up with the tune and knew if had to be a solemn Easter hymn. There are very few Easter Hymns and also very few with Minor keys, so this offers both of those. For the lyrics, I turned once again to my fellow Motab member, Michael Young, which through sickness came up with these words in a very short time. I think they work very well with the tune. This could be sung by a choir and each verse ung by a different section or sections. I hope you enjoy this Easter hymn.

Underneath the heavy load He fell onto His face.
Our Savior cried, "Oh Father, please come take this cup away.
If there is yet another way to fill Thy laws' demands.
But if not, then I will give My will into Thy hands."

There alone our Savior cried as He hung on the tree.
"My God, my God, why hast Thou gone? Hast Thou forsaken me?"
Till then at last, He loudly cried that His great work was done.
Now His mortal life complete, the final vic'try won.

Then three days there in the tomb His body lay at rest.
His Spirit soared to set all free: the pris'ners and the blessed.
And then returned on the third morn and rose in splendor bright.
Perfectly restored anew and with an endless light.

As we mourn for death and sin, our Savior understands.
For us He gave each drop of blood; His wounded feet and hands.
He brings at one our souls with God, ransomed with a great cost.
He paid through His love divine that we must not be lost.

Early That Morn

PDF - Early That Morn
MP3 - Early That Morn

The inspiration for this hymn came from the account of the women who came to anoint the Savior after His death on Calvary. It tells the sweet story about their travels and I would imagine their heavy heart at the duty they had to fulfill.

This (obviously) is an Easter hymn, and could be sung by an SATB choir. The verses could be mixed and matched with the voices. I hope you enjoy it!

Early that morn, the Sabbath done,
the women came, e're rising sun.
With spices laden, by death's hill
now pressing through the garden still.

With heavy heart, onward they tread
'neath skies of purple, blue, and red.
Within that sepulchre was lain,
their precious Jesus, who was slain.

As they arrived, to their surprise
the stone was rolled, their voices cried,
the empty tomb! To where? We pray,
for they have taken Him away!

And at the entrance of the tomb,
and angel then dispelled their gloom.
"Why seek the living from the dead?
For He has risen as He said!"

He Lives! My Savior, Lord and King!
Let heav'n and earth, His praises sing!
For He fulfilled His Father's plan
to bring to pass immortal man!

Lord, Dismiss (the year) with Thy Blessing

MP3 - Lord, dismiss (the year) with Thy Blessing
PDF - Lord, Dismiss (the year) with Thy Blessing

I was reminiscing about the year that is almost over and reflecting on my blessings. I said, "Lord, dismiss this year with Thy Blessing", and as I did so, the hymn tune #163 came to mind. As I was playing it, I heard another familiar end of year music piece going through my mind and thought it would make a nice counter-melody. I think it really does. I hope you had a wonderful year and are looking forward to a new year with new Blessings to be had.