Before Thee, Lord, I Bow My Head

Before thee, Lord, I bow my head

And thank thee for what has been said.

My soul vibrates; my poor heart sings

When thy sweet Spirit strikes the strings.

How sweet thy word I’ve heard this day!

Be thou my guide, O Lord, I pray.

May I in patience do my part.

Seal thou the word upon my heart.

Do thou, O Lord, anoint mine eyes

That I may see and win the prize.

My heart is full; mine eyes are wet.

Oh, help me, Lord, lest I forget.

So may my soul be filled with light

That I may see and win the fight,

And then at last exalted be,

In peace and rest, O Lord, with thee.

Look up, my soul; be not cast down.

Keep not thine eyes upon the ground.

Break off the shackles of the earth.

Receive, my soul, the spirit’s birth.

And now as I go forth again

To mingle with my fellowmen,

Stay thou nearby, my steps to guide,

That I may in thy love abide.

-Text by Joseph H. Dean

Terri Hutchings · Before Thee, Lord, I Bow My Head

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The Iron Rod

There is a dream recorded in the Book of Mormon.  One night the prophet, Lehi, had a vision of a glorious tree unlike any other, whose fruit had the power to fill one’s soul with great joy.  There were many obstacles blocking the way to the tree.  However, along a narrow path leading straight to the tree was a rod of iron.  By holding tightly to the rod, one could safely reach the tree and its precious fruit.

In 1 Nephi chapter 11 the vision is explained.  The tree is a symbol of Christ and its fruit is the love of God. The path which leads to the tree is the way to salvation as we journey through life.  The iron rod is interpreted as the word of God, and represents an invitation to come unto Christ.

I have arranged the hymn ‘The Iron Rod’ as a piano accompaniment for children’s voices.  The first verse and chorus are pretty basic, but the accompaniment gets a little tricky after that.  You could always just use the first two pages and repeat back to measure 10 for additional verses if you prefer.  But if you are looking for a fuller sound, this in an alternative.  

The melody is exactly as it appears in the LDS hymnbook (hymn #274), with the exception of moving up a half step the last time through.  It is arranged for three verses. I have made the recording with strings representing the melody/children’s voices.  

I can tell you from my own experiences that life is hard.  Trials and experiences can knock us off our feet at times.  I love these sweet words of encouragement by Dieter Uchtdorf:

“Dear friends, if you find it difficult to hold fast to the iron rod and walk steadfastly toward salvation; if the laughter and ridicule of others who seem so confident cause you to waver; if you are troubled by unanswered questions or doctrines you don’t understand yet; if you feel saddened because of disappointments, I urge you to remember Lehi’s dream.

Stay on the path!  Never let go of the rod of iron—the word of God!  And when anyone tries to make you ashamed for partaking of the love of God, ignore them.  Never forget you are a child of God; rich blessings are in store; if you can learn to do His will, you’ll live with Him once more!”

Terri Hutchings · The Iron Rod

Click HERE to download free sheet music 

Come, Come Ye Saints & Schumann's Träumerei

Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;

But with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.

’Tis better far for us to strive

Our useless cares from us to drive;

Do this, and joy your hearts will swell—

All is well! All is well!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?

’Tis not so; all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.

Our God will never us forsake;

And soon we’ll have this tale to tell—

All is well! All is well!

We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,

Far away in the West,

Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;

There the Saints will be blessed.

We’ll make the air with music ring,

Shout praises to our God and King;

Above the rest these words we’ll tell—

All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey’s through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the Saints their rest obtain,

Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—

All is well! All is well!

Text: William Clayton, 1814–1879

Terri Hutchings · Come, Come Ye Saints & Schumann's Träumerei

Click HERE to download free sheet music 

  

Sweet Hour of Prayer

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!

That calls me from a world of care

And bids me at my Father’s throne

Make all my wants and wishes known.

In seasons of distress and grief,

My soul has often found relief

And oft escaped the tempter’s snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

And oft escaped the tempter’s snare

By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!

Thy wings shall my petition bear

To him whose truth and faithfulness

Engage the waiting soul to bless.

And since he bids me seek his face,

Believe his word, and trust his grace,

I’ll cast on him my ev’ry care

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

I’ll cast on him my ev’ry care

And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

— Attr. to William W. Walford

Terri Hutchings · Sweet Hour of Prayer

Click HERE to download free sheet music  

Abide With Me!

Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day.

Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away.

Change and decay in all around I see;

O thou who changest not, abide with me!

I need thy presence ev’ry passing hour.

What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

— Henry F. Lyte

Terri Hutchings · Abide With Me

Click HERE to download free sheet music 

High on the Mountain Top

High on the mountain top

A banner is unfurled.

Ye nations, now look up;

It waves to all the world.

In Deseret’s sweet, peaceful land,

On Zion’s mount behold it stand!

For God remembers still

His promise made of old

That he on Zion’s hill

Truth’s standard would unfold!

Her light should there attract the gaze

Of all the world in latter days.

His house shall there be reared,

His glory to display,

And people shall be heard

In distant lands to say:

We’ll now go up and serve the Lord,

Obey his truth and learn his word.

For there we shall be taught

The law that will go forth,

With truth and wisdom fraught,

To govern all the earth.

Forever there his ways we’ll tread,

And save ourselves with all our dead.

  — Joel H. Johnson

Fun fact:  Joel Johnson is my husband’s 2nd great-granduncle

Terri Hutchings · High on the Mountain Top

Click HERE to download free sheet music  

Nearer, My God, to Thee

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

E’en though it be a cross

That raiseth me.

Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

Though like the wanderer,

The sun gone down,

Darkness be over me,

My rest a stone,

Yet in my dreams I’d be

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

There let the way appear,

Steps unto heav’n;

All that thou sendest me,

In mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

Then with my waking thoughts

Bright with thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs

Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

Or if, on joyful wing

Cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,

Upward I fly,

Still all my song shall be

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer, my God, to thee,

Nearer to thee!

  — Sarah F. Adams, 1805-1848

Terri Hutchings · Nearer, My God, to Thee

Click HERE to download free sheet music