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A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief
Two of my dear Young Women from when I was their leader both returned to our ward the same week. It was such a treat to have them home again. Their voices are beautiful, and they asked if they could sing this hymn. I suggested we dress it up a little and showed them what I had in mind. They were so adaptable, and it turned out beautifully. Sadly, one of them had to return home before we could get a recording. Suzy Nichols and her sister, Marianne (maiden name “Lind”) are the angelic voices I was able to record.
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Nearer My God to Thee
Song background: The Hymnal is my playground. This final arrangement has been through a few changes and ends up being a duet.
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I Can Be a Witness
After sitting at a dinner table with one of the Primary Music Coordinators at the Music Festival, I came home anxious to write a children’s song. I asked her what she wanted. She said something for the upcoming Come Follow Me program. I missed that boat, but I did get a song written.
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Cry in the Night
This song was a result of my world being momentarily rocked. When I get upset, my piano is where I go. I only had a few minutes, but I decided I really liked the direction this piece was going. Morning couldn’t come soon enough. You might say I had a great week.
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Away In a Manger
This recording was originally a piano solo. For maybe the last eight years I’ve sat with it every Christmas and said to myself, “Next year.” The last two years I’ve felt impressed that it wanted to be a vocal solo, and have toyed with that. When the request for member submissions came to send a cover to this particular hymn, I felt like it would work. I sent it to the Church Music Submissions for the Come, Follow Me “member submissions” effort.
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I Want To Be Like Jesus
This song was a special request to Heavenly Father to help me write a children’s song that would create a brain worm to last the entire week after Primary. I haven’t tried it on Primary children, but it definitely created a brain worm in my own head.
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I Believe in Miracles
This song was born after a heart-felt plea to Heavenly Father to write a children’s song that taught a principle and could create a brain worm with that idea. It didn’t come instantly, but this was the end result. This is the version that I used in the Sacred Sheet Music competition in the Fall of 2022. There were some valid suggestions I made after this competition, and I changed a few things for the Church Music Submissions. We’ll see how that works out. It will be submitted with the changes since no part of the application requires an audio.
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Gratitude
This song was generated on a particularly grateful day. I sat down at the piano in a mood. You can tell. Heavenly Father is so kind and forgiving of my imperfections. He blessed me with children who are forgiving as well.
Music by Connie Stauffer