Behold the Wounds in Jesus’ Hands

When I heard this song performed at General Conference October 2021, I was so moved. I had heard it before, but it had been a while. Because it is a slower song, I was able to listen to the words carefully and boy was I touched. “Ponder who He meant to save when on the cross he died.” That really made me think: me. He died and suffered for me individually, not a collective group.

At the end, I almost used a deep C octave to conclude the song but I was prompted to just hit middle C. I liked the softness of it and I immediately thought about how Christ is our center. He walked a perfectly centered, straight path and we are also asked to walk it. We mess up and go off course but because of the wounds in His hands, we can be placed back on the path back to our Heavenly Father.

Both the lyricist and compser have passed away but I truly feel they have left a mark on the world with this beautiful melody and these soul stirring words.

Behold, the Wounds in Jesus Hands (PDF)

Samuel and the Star

I don’t remember what gave me the idea to put the beloved video’s words to music but I’ve had a blast writing an Irish sounding tune. I’ve never put music to a story before, so it’s fun to say I have a ballad on my repertoire.

The story of Samuel comes from Helaman 13-15 in the Book of Mormon. I have a testimony of this book. It has drawn me close to the Savior. I am so grateful for Him and how through Him alone, I can be saved. He truly is The Light of the world.

Also, I was amazed at how often the message of listening to prophet came up in this last General Conference. After hearing that theme, and playing this song again, it touched me even more of how blessed we are to have a prophet. I’ll add my testimony to those of the apostles and other church leaders, that God reveals His will for the church to prophets. As we follow the prophets with more exactness, we will be protected and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, because they guide us to Him.

Samuel and the Star (pdf)

Out of Small Things

The youth theme for 2021 is D&C 64:33-34:

“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind and the willing and the obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”

The church announced that this scripture was picked because of how it relates to President Nelson’s youth devotional from 2018. I loved that devotional. It resonated with me. In the past I’ve thought it would be neat to write a song for the youth theme but I had other projects and a busy life 🙂 So, when this theme was announced, I felt a strong desire to write a song to go with it. I submitted it to the church but I’m not really expecting anything.

I studied and emulated some pop songs that I think youth (and I) like these days. I hoped to achieve and fun but spiritual mix.

Out of Small Things (PDF)

Verse 1
So much good can happen in our lives
When we give our heart and have a willing mind,
Weed out wasteful time from the day,
Counsel with the Lord as we pray.

Pre-chorus
The world has been scattered. Our call is to gather.
Anyone can receive The blessings only the gospel brings.

Chorus
Out of small things will proceed what’s great
As I sacrifice a little each day.
The Lord will always provide a way
For hearts to open and lives to change.
For hearts to open and lives to change.

Verse 2
A battalion has formed. Will you enlist?
This moment’s one to not be missed.
We’ll step away from worldly distractions.
Replace it with Christlike actions.

Pre-chorus/Chorus

Bridge
There is no more important cause.
Zion will flourish because
The stone’s rolling forward. Nothing can stop it.
Our duty is clear as revealed by the prophet:

Pre-chorus (Revised)
The world has been scattered.
Our call is to gather.
We’ll help all to receive
The blessings only the gospel brings.

Chorus

When I Let Him Inside

See the source image

When I wrote a hymn version of this last year, the whole time I was imagining beautiful piano with it. I finally have that completed!

I actually started writing this song as a primary song (knocking would be such a great action for singing time!) but realized the topic seemed deeper. So, I changed it to a hymn. The lyrics in the chorus still sound simple like a primary song but sometimes we as adults need to hear that.

I feel like the main talk I used for this was one by Sharon Eubank from April 2019 General Conference. She talked about times when we need to draw to the Savior and how we do that. The concepts from that talk relate to so many people in so many different situations. I hope this song speaks in a similar way.

When I Let Him Inside Soprano (PDF)

When I Let Him Inside Alto (PDF)

I wish I had a real recording with a better voice than mine (and me playing all the right notes ) because this song has become so special to me. Maybe someday…

When I Let Him Inside

The Savior stands knocking.
O come, ye weary soul,
Come, those with questions,
And those with scarlet wool.
When paths fill with darkness
And doubting clouds my sight
Faithful prayers transform my view.
I feel heaven’s light.
Help my eyes to see, my ears to hear,
My heart to open wide
That I might feel the peace that comes
When I let Him inside.

The Savior stands knocking.
I come to Him in steps.
Each one will carry
Eternal consequence.
Though efforts feel awkward
And weakness slows my stride
When my gaze is lifted up
Promises ignite.
Help my eyes to see, my ears to hear,
My heart to open wide
That I might feel the peace that comes
When I let Him inside.

By op’ning to Jesus
My burdens will be light,
Deep wounds have healing,
And crimson sins turn white.
With ongoing action,
Delaying change no more,
Cheerful courage I will take;
Blessings are assured.
Help my eyes to see, my ears to hear,
My heart to open wide
That I might feel the peace that comes
When I let the Savior inside.

Have I Done Any Good?/Love One Another Medley

Of all the songs I’ve written, I really felt Heavenly Father wanted me to do this one. I was singing “Have I Done Any Good?” in my head. When I got to the end, I just started singing “Love One Another”. When I pulled out the music I was almost dumbfounded that both of these songs were in the same key, same time signature and the last note of “Have I Done Any Good?” is the same note as the first note in “Love One Another”. Therefore I would be able to easily transition between songs. When I did an online search I couldn’t believe someone hadn’t put these two songs together before!

I was further astonished when I found an if/then statement that connected the two songs. “Love One Another” ends with “…If ye have love…”. The chorus of “Have I Done Any Good?” starts with “Then wake up and do something more…” If we love as our Savior we would want to wake up and do something more. I was able to add this connection in my arrangement. Every time I get to these connected lines, I get goosebumps. I felt like this arrangement was complete revelation to me and I love the spirit these songs bring!

I have 3 voice options. The first does not have piano intro, the singer starts. I have learned some people don’t like that so the second option has a piano intro. The third voice option is made with primary children in mind. It is only “Have I Done Any Good?” and it follows the hymn book more closely.

Have I Done Any Good?/Love One Another (piano/violin)

Have I Done Any Good? Love One Another (violin)

Have I Done Any Good?/Love One Another (piano/voice)

Have I Done Any Good?/Love One Another with piano intro (piano/voice)

Have I Done Any Good?(piano/voice–easy to sing to)

A big thank you to the amazing violinist Rebecca Moench for wanting nothing but the best for this recording! Also to Kenny Amamcher for a great recording session. This is the first recording I have that I feel like maybe someone would want to listen to for fun and not just get an idea of what the song would sound like.

Have I Done Any Good?–Easy for Children to Follow

I’ve written a medley of Have I Done Any Good?/As I Have Loved You. I am currently waiting for permission to post it because of copyright on As I Have Loved You. There isn’t any copyright on Have I Done Any Good? So, I thought I would post this now.

This version of my arrangement is simplified for the singer (not the pianist). Until the end of the song, it can be sung just like the hymn book. I thought about even changing the end to follow the hymn book but I just loved how I wrote it for the other version so much I couldn’t change the end 🙂

Have I Done Any Good? (PDF)

When I Am Baptized

I have wanted to do an arrangement of this song for a long time but I was kind of waiting for inspiration to strike. Well, strike it did and just in time for my son’s baptism this year! I wrote the violin/piano version first and really wanted a voice option too. So, I modified the music and created that also.

You’ll notice I did my signature signature 🙂  Yep, I changed it from 3/4 to 6/8. I may love 6/8 a little too much!

I’m hoping to get recording with a real violin when my sister-in-law comes into town next. For now, this will do. I hope you love this version as much as I do (I sit down just to play this all the time)!

When I Am Baptized Piano/Violin
When I Am Baptized Violin
When I Am Baptized Piano/Voice

Piano/Violin:

Piano/Voice:

When Faith Endures

First off, this song is unbelievably fun to play and sing. So even if you’re not a great singer but like to sing  (like me) try it out after listening to it and getting the feel for it in your head.

About the song…

I have always liked the lyrics to this song. I felt like I wanted to do to this song what Rob Gardner did to Savior Redeemer of My Soul. Ok, so mine isn’t nearly as touching as that amazing arrangement but it sure gave me inspiration.

I really wanted to add a second verse. I found one that had some great lyrics written by Bryant Adams. With his permission I changed a few of the lyrics. I really wanted the song to end with “when faith endures” and I wanted to add this idea by Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf given in a general conference address entitled, “Be Not Afraid, Only Believe”:

“When we choose to believe, exercise faith unto repentance, and follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, we open our spiritual eyes to splendors we can scarcely imagine. Thus our belief and faith will grow stronger, and we will see even more.”

Oh, I love that and I hope that message comes across in this arrangement. I recommend opening up the music in another tab and following along with the video since the melody and lyrics will be unfamiliar. Enjoy!

When Faith Endures

Reverence is Love

Our stake presidency asked all bishops to take a whole sacrament meeting and discuss reverence. I was over activity days at the time and we were asked to do the musical number that day. I arranged this for the girls to sing. They got up right after the sacrament was passed and when the bishop got up to speak right after them he was almost in tears from the wonderful spirit those girls sang with.

This song goes through the song twice. I just felt like I should do that to really reinforce the meaning of the words. Hope you like it and as always, picture it with a better voice than mine 🙂

Reverence is Love

I have tried to contact the copyright owner of this music, through multiple methods, and have heard no response for over a year. If the copyright owner wishes for me to take this down I will. Please contact me and I will do it immediately.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

My husband’s college roommate played this song on his guitar and I wrote some piano to go with it. I took the music I wrote and made it for just piano and voice. I love that it has a pop sound but still very beautiful. I don’t think that would have happened had I not written it to a guitar part first.

Feel free to change up the voicing however you want. Because it has a pop sound, there are a lot of ways to sing it that sound great! I just kind of wrote out about what I sing.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

I have tried to contact the copyright owner of this music and have heard no response for more than half a year. If the copyright owner wishes for me to take this down I will. Please contact me and I will do it immediately.