Sunday, April 6, 2008

My Favorite Hymn which nobody knows

I was thrilled during yesterday afternoon's General Conference session when they announced that the choir would sing Lean on My Ample Arm. Yes, that song is in the current LDS hymnbook; it's number 120. I'm pretty sure I had never heard it until I was 19 or 20 years old as a music major at Ricks College/BYU-Idaho. We studied its gorgeous four parts one day in one of my classes. The highest note in the melody is an F sharp -- probably the reason no ward I have been in has sung it. But with the Church Interactive Music Player you can play it in any key. I wish we as a Church would learn it and sing it, or at least listen to it if we have the cds. Its text (from the Savior's perspective) and music are perfect and beautiful together. Thank you, Theodore E. Curtis and Evan Stephens.

Lean on my ample arm, O thou depressed!
And I will bid the storm cease in thy breast.
Whate'er thy lot may be on life's complaining sea,
If thou wilt come to me, thou shalt have rest.
If thou wilt come to me, thou shalt have rest.

Lift up thy tearful eyes, sad heart, to me;
I am the sacrifice offered for thee.
In me thy pain shall cease, In me is thy release,
In me thou shalt have peace eternally.
In me thou shalt have peace eternally.

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PART 2

This morning as I watched conference, I was blessed to hear another favorite of mine, one that is more well-known. He Sent His Son is my favorite Primary song. Mabel Jones Gabbott and Michael F. Moody wrote it. I've told D that it will be sung at my funeral; he said he doesn't want to be there, so I need to tell others. :)

How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
He sent His Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent His Son to walk with men on earth that we may know.

How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent His Son to die for us and rise with living breath.

What does the Father ask of us?
What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like His Son,
Help others on their way.

What does He ask?
Live like His Son.

I found this James C. Christensen painting today and I felt it belonged here with the other feelings I had. It reminds me of the many times that the Holy Spirit has witnessed to me that Christ was and is divine and that I need his atoning sacrifice. He IS "the sacrifice offered for [us]." I know He was resurrected and that all people will be resurrected. It is only through Him that I can be saved. I love Him and His gospel.

4 comments:

  1. What a nice post! I love He Sent His Son, it is one of my favorite Primary songs too! The music is such an uplifting part of Conference!

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  2. Thanks for sharing! :) I enjoyed conference as well! We were lucky enough that they broadcast it over the tv here too, which felt like we were back "home" (ut). It was a great weekend! ps. I finally did the book tag--you'll have to check it out :)

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  3. Thanks for letting me know about the posting!!! :)

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  4. "Lean on My Ample Arm" is a really pretty song. I think it's the chromaticism that would make it difficult for the congregation to sight read. There are a lot of accidentals and tonicizations. The church hymns we hear all the time and get repeated over and over are diatonic and catchy so people can pick up on them quickly and remember them after wards.

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