What Child Is This?

I marvel at the life of Mary, mother of the Savior.  She, being a descendant of King David, passed along her royal bloodline to her son.  She was highly favored of God, blessed among women, chosen to bring the Savior into the world, a world He would one day save.

Motherhood in and of itself is an enormous responsibility, but being tasked with bearing and raising the Lord, Jesus Christ, as a young woman is hard for me to comprehend.  Yet Mary courageously met the challenge with Joseph at her side.

Mary’s life was a faith-filled journey.  A loving mother and devoted disciple, she would often follow Jesus throughout His mission.  Looking on as she did as her son was lifted up on the cross seems unbearable to me.  And then after His ascension into heaven, she continued on, ever believing.

Margot Hovley stated beautifully, “Christmas is a season of giving, and Mary, as a central figure in the scriptural account, shows us the one gift that matters more than all others: the gift of ourselves, the gift of aligning our will to God’s, humbly accepting His mission for us and fulfilling to the utmost.  That’s what Christ did, as did Mary, His mother before Him.”

Terri Hutchings · What Child Is This?

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Prayer of Thanksgiving

“Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God’s love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence. . . Gratitude is our sweet acknowledgment of the Lord’s hand in our lives; it is an expression of our faith.”   —Bonnie Parkin

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

He chastens, and hastens his will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to his name;

He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, wast at our side;

All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,

And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.

Let thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy name be ever praised!

O Lord, make us free!

Text: Anon., The Netherlands, ca. 1626; 

      translated by Theodore Baker

Terri Hutchings · Prayer of Thanksgiving

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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

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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

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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