come thou fount

come thou fount of every blessing,

tune my heart to sing thy grace;

streams of mercy, never ceasing,

call for songs of loudest praise.

teach me some melodious sonnet,

sung by flaming tongues above.

praise the mount! i'm fixed upon it,

mount of thy redeeming love.

here i raise my ebenezer;

here by thy great help i've come;

and i hope by thy good pleasure,

safely to arrive at home.

jesus sought me when a stranger,

wandering from the fold of god;

he, to rescue me from danger,

interposed his precious blood.

o to grace how great a debtor

daily i'm constrained to be!

let thy goodness, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee.

prone to wander, lord, i feel it,

prone to leave the god i love;

here's my heart, o take and seal it,

seal it for thy courts above.

tonight i had the privilege of singing at saturday night stake conference with two of my favourite girls from our ward. i had a very unexpected call from our stake president a few weeks ago, asking if we would be able to prepare a musical item, consisting of at least two sisters... we managed four with our pianist and worked together so well, that from the very first practice, there was never any doubt that we would be able to present something wonderful on the night.

we chose an arrangement of "come thou fount of every blessing" by sally deford (which you lds music lovers can find here) and it was just perfect to set the tone for the meeting, which was all about teaching in the saviours way. what a wonderful blessing it is to be a part of the gospel and to be able to sing such beautiful songs to draw closer to our father in heaven. 

be still, my soul

be still, my soul; the lord is on thy side;

with patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.

leave to the lord to order and provide;

in every change he faithful will remain.

be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly friend

thru thorny ways, leads to a joyful end.

be still, my soul; thy god doth undertake

to guide the future as he has the past

thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;

all now mysterious shall be bright at last.

be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know

his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on

when we shall be forever with the lord,

when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,

sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.

be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,

all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

there is so much on my mind right now. so much stress and so much to think about and consider. add to that an email from a close family friend this morning adding some bad news to the table, asking me to pray for someone dear to them. i was only too happy to do so... and took my troubles to the lord. when i arose from my knees, the only thing that entered my mind, was the lyrics to this hymn - be still my soul. i listened to it over and over today and although my heart still aches a little and i'm not completely calm, i know that the lord has heard my prayers and my soul is still. ♥

come follow me

one of my most prized possessions is the two lds hymn books that belonged to my grandfather joseph and grandma phyllis. when grandad passed away, they were the first and only things i asked for. my grandmother apparently had the voice of an angel, a beautiful alto voice that she was famous for in the church. (reminder here for anyone not from around here, everyone knows everyone in perth... especially if you're a mormon.)

i don't remember her well enough to remember, as she passed away when i was only 6, but i do know that what musical talent i have, certainly came from her. i love to sing and have sang in numerous church meetings over the years... plus i had the pleasure of leading the ward choir for years. i often think of the day that she and i will be reunited and how badly i want to sing a duet with her for the first time. i sometimes even wonder if she watches me sing and sees my love for singing? and i wonder if she is proud of me? if she waits for that day too? what a joy it is to know that my family is eternal.

i sang in our ward mission fireside this evening, a beautiful song that brings such joy to my heart - and was sure to sing it from her hymn book, to hold her close to me and for that little bit of extra luck.

come follow me the saviour said

then let us in his footsteps tread

for thus alone can we be one

with gods own beloved son

...

for thrones, dominions, kingdoms, powers

and glory great and bliss are ours

if we throughout eternity

obey his words, come follow me

-lds hymns 116

hymn hit parade

today in sacrament meeting a gentlemen in our ward gave an amazing talk, speaking of his his love for the hymns of our church and how they had affected his own life and the lives of his family. he came from a home with a father who wasn't overly religious, yet found peace and strength through the beauty of music and hymns.

he spoke of his family rising early on a sunday morning to listen to the wireless (a radio! not the internet for those who came in late - or were born late...) to listen to two radio shows for children (the equivalent of saturday or agro's cartoon connection for any australian's of a similar age to me) follow by the hit parade of all the current top songs.

he then told of his top 4 hymns on his hit parade. such a good way to put it and keep everyone listening... which instantly got me to thinking what the top songs on my hymn hit parade would be.

1. i am a child of god (hymn 301)

i have loved this song since i was a young child... having learnt it at an early age in primary, then singing it each night with my eldest brother as a bedtime ritual, then even singing it at my own baptism. it is a beautiful song, speaking of the purpose of life in such a simple way that even small children can understand and love. madeline has also learnt it and could sing the entire song when she was just two, and insists on singing it with us over and over. it makes me so happy when my primary children ask to sing it with me.

2. lord i would follow thee (hymn 220)

this is such a beautiful hymn. such a beautiful and simple message of how to follow our lord and love our fellow man. the tune brings me such peace and i love to sing the words and feel the sweet spirit held within. 

3. come thou fount

published in previous versions of the lds hymnbook, but not included in the current, this old and beautiful hymn contains such sweet and perfect lyrics. i love the melody contained in this hymn and felt such emotion hearing it sung by the ward choir, which i led, last year - which contained an acapella piece in the middle leading into a verse. it is amazing what a hymn can become when those singing and listening are filled with the spirit.

4. because i have been given much (hymn 219)

the lyrics of this hymn always remind me of the words my dear grandfather joseph would speak when praying a blessing on our food. he would always pray "that others would be given the necessities that we ourselves enjoy." i know that from sharing our blessings, we are able to find greater joy in them. this hymn is my father in laws favourite and over the years i have also thought of him and his kindness to me. a girlfriend from church said to me years ago that she would feed the missionaries from our church on a regular basis as she had been told "if you feed others, you will never be hungry." i try to remember that also... not many weeks passed in my child and even young adult years that my mum would not be giving some food to a friend or someone in need. she has forever been a shining example to me of love, of giving and of service. just as the lyrics of this hymn say: "because i have been given much, i too must give."

there are so many beautiful hymns in our church (and other religions too i know...) but i honestly believe there is no other way to be closer to the lord, other than prayer, than through music. my grandmother was blessed with a gift of song and a love for music, which was passed on to me. there is nothing i love more than the music of the gospel and to share it with others has been and still is one of my greatest joys.

master the tempest is raging

i love it when i learn something new at church on a sunday - sometimes i feel like i've got it, and then bam! something new! if it's about a hymn - that's an added bonus for me. take this sunday for example, the lovely girl who organises the music in our relief society took the time prior to conducting the opening hymn to tell us a brief history of the hymn "master the tempest is raging" (lds hymns 105)

this hymn was written by a woman of the baptist faith, during one of the lowest times in her life - having lost her beloved brother to a disease, to which she had already lost her father. the saddest thing to me, is that this was probably something back then, that could be fixed with a course of antibiotics these days...

the song was written originally to be heard as a conversation between christ and his disciples, "carest thou not that we perish?" "how canst thou lie asleep?" with christ answering their pleas... "the winds and the waves shall obey my will" "peace be still" over time the words were changed to reflect those we now sing, but it was so lovely to hear the original story and to know of christ speaking to his disciples. "peace be still" such a beautiful message.

i especially love the final verse "master the tempest is over" "with joy i shall make the blest harbour and rest on the blissful shore". i love knowing the christ stepped up and calmed the storm, to save those he loved - and that he can do the same for us... if we only but ask.

joseph smith fireside

"joseph smith, the prophet and seer of the lord, has done more, save jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it"

last night i had the privelege of singing in the australia perth mission missionary fireside at dianella about joseph smith: the prophet of the restoration. it was such a beautiful program with lovely readings and a missionary choir; there is nothing more awesome than hearing the elders singing "armies of helaman" - it gets me every time.

i sang "how great thou art" as a solo, and a duet of "i stand all amazed" with miriam... and it went so well. it's the first time ever that i have managed without terrible stage fright - which was such a wonderful feeling!!

i feel so blessed to be a member of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints and for the sacrifices of those who went before me, so that i can have the freedom i have, and the blessings i have. it truly is a wonderful gospel and i know that there is no where else i would rather be.

i know that my redeemer lives

i know that my redeemer lives

what comfort this sweet sentence gives

he lives, he lives who once was dead

he lives, my ever living head

he lives to bless me with his love

he lives to plead for me above

he lives, my hungry soul to feed

he lives to bless in time of need

he lives to grant me rich supply

he lives to guide me with his eye

he lives to comfort me when faint

he lives, to hear my souls complaint

he lives to silence all my fears
he lives to wipe away my tears

he lives to calm my troubled heart

he lives, all blessings to impart

he lives my kind wise heavenly friend

he lives and loves me til the end
he lives, and while he lives i'll sing

he lives, my prophet, priest and king

he lives and grants me daily breath

he lives and i shall conquer death

he lives my mansion to prepare
he lives to bring me safely there

he lives! all glory to his name!

he lives my saviour still the same

oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives

i know that my redeemer lives!

he lives! all glory to his name!
he lives my saviour still the same
oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives
i know that my redeemer lives!

i had the opportunity to sing in church for easter sunday - "i know that my redeemer lives (lds hymns 136) and i stand all amazed (lds hymns 193)" there is nothing i like more than having the chance to sing and offer praises through music... i honestly agree with the old quotation that said "there are very few ways to draw closer to the lord than through music"

i am thankful each and everyday for the sacrifice that our lord and saviour jesus christ made for us, but try to remember especially at easter... when so many forget and focus on the other things. i am eternally grateful for the chance to be forgiven for my sins and to live again and pray always to be so.

count your many blessings...

this sunday was fast sunday at church...

which of course meant fast and testimony meeting -

or starve and tell as my once teenage older brothers used to call it

(whilst complaining about it being called fast sunday when it always goes so slow)

it's when once a month (on the first sunday) we go without, and give the money we would have spent on food - to those who are constantly going without

i know that i, along with many of my friends and family spend quite a lot of time, constantly complaining about things i don't have. a new car, money, an awesome high paying job and clothes, always clothes...

but...

one of my closest friends has dramas in her house right now. big dramas, that certainly are not mine to go into... but her mother - got up, and poured her heart out on sunday. telling everyone all she had to be grateful for and about how - at her darkest and weakest moment, she had sat back and started to count her blessings. upon reaching 134 things she was grateful for, she stopped and went back to what she was meant to be doing...

but the strength of this woman has made me realise - that i have a lot to be grateful for,

so much in fact ♥

and i'm going to try and see it more often

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Count your blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,

Do not be disheartened, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.