Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy, piano solo PDF audio

Lighthouses are one of my favorite things, and this is one of my all-time favorite hymns! This piano solo invokes images of the constant beacon of a lighthouse up on a cliff, guiding sailors safely home through a storm.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

Such is the opportunity that each of us has to be a beacon of light to help and serve and save others, guiding them home to our Father in Heaven.

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From his lighthouse evermore,

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

(Chorus) Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

Dark the night of sin has settled;

Loud the angry billows roar.

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

(may edit minor errors and add an updated version this weekend)

Now Let Us Rejoice

Now Let Us Rejoice, piano solo PDF, audio

This is one of my favorite hymns! Full of joy and power, it speaks of the saints of the Church of Christ rejoicing in the coming day of the Lord. The Lord will fulfill His promises, and He does reach out to each of us today, as we work to prepare the way for His second coming.

The early Mormon Pioneers are examples of this trust in the Lord. Their faith and legacy live on, helping us all to rejoice and look to the Lord.

This piano solo is medium difficulty, and you can sing right along! Here are the words to this hymn: (by W.W. Phelps, and was included in the first LDS hymn book)

1. 1. Now let us rejoice in the day of salvation.
   No longer as strangers on earth need we roam.
   Good tidings are sounding to us and each nation,
   And shortly the hour of redemption will come,
   When all that was promised the Saints will be given,
   And none will molest them from morn until ev'n,
   And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden,
   And Jesus will say to all Israel, "Come home."
2. 2. We'll love one another and never dissemble
   But cease to do evil and ever be one.
   And when the ungodly are fearing and tremble,
   We'll watch for the day when the Savior will come,
   When all that was promised the Saints will be given,
   And none will molest them from morn until ev'n,
   And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden,
   And Jesus will say to all Israel, "Come home."
3. 3. In faith we'll rely on the arm of Jehovah
   To guide thru these last days of trouble and gloom,
   And after the scourges and harvest are over,
   We'll rise with the just when the Savior doth come.
   Then all that was promised the Saints will be given,
   And they will be crown'd with the angels of heav'n,
   And earth will appear as the Garden of Eden,
   And Christ and his people will ever be one.

How Great Thou Art

How Great Thou Art, violin and piano, PDF

This is a song written for my sister, Makell. She plays the violin beautifully, and I always feel the Spirit when she plays. The music of this hymn is an imagery to me of the majesty of God found in all creations on this earth, all bearing record that He lives, or as the scriptures say: "God moving in his majesty and power." (D&C 88:47) These words from this hymn always ring true to my heart:

Oh Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made.
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder;
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, 

My Savior, God to thee,

How great thou art,

How great thou art.

More Holiness Give Me

More Holiness Give Me, SATB and piano, PDF, audio

I was serving as the ward choir director of my young single adult ward in Texas when I arranged this hymn. We were asked to perform a special musical number at Stake Conference, which was an exciting and new experience for us! This song begins with the soft, humble pleadings, as a prayer, to develop the attributes of the Savior, growing into a majestic plea for Him to change us, making us more like Him.

For the Savior thus taught:

"Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; and thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." (Mosiah 27:25-26, The Book of Mormon)

It is only through Jesus Christ that we can become worthy to again stand in the presence of our Heavenly Father: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6, The Bible)

One by One

One by One, voice and piano, PDF, mp3 (missionaries).
**New Recording** Dortmund, Germany Stake Choir, 2013 mp3

Check out the recording on YouTube! here 

I was asked to write the mission song for the Germany Frankfurt Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in March 2012. It is titled, "One by One" to remind us how the Savior reached out to each individual, helping them to their specific needs. This is my testimony of Missionary Work, the charge from the Lord to "go ye, therefore, and teach all nations," (Matthew 28:19) To view a weekly record of my two-year mission in Germany, click HERE.