"My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee"

[from today's entry from my personal online journal]:

So, last week's Fireside. They announced the closing song before Elder Holland spoke. My mind thought, "What?" With a title like that, I couldn't help questioning. You know, those songs that are just, a bunch of words that just don't come together well. And there is no uniformity to the music. So, I wondered. Then Elder Holland near the end of his talk mentioned something that would be in the song. My mind thought, "Oh, good, he had some knowledge of it. Can't be too bad." 

The song started. When they got to the last line of the first verse, my mind thought, "Oh my goodness! I've heard this before! Not just heard it--I played the piano part while someone was singing it." The problem with remembering a lot is that then I get "unsolved memories" and am not sure where they go or fit or anything. I knew the song had been many years ago. And as I was playing, I didn't pay much attention to the words. And I only played it that one time. I believe it was one of Miranda's and my many Singing Times in the CP lounge. And a song she owned and loved. Since I wasn't really listening to her part as much, the only thing that I remembered of the song, ironically, was what I was thinking at the beginning of the Fireside--a song with a bunch of words and no logical flow to the music.

Was I ever wrong. It does have a chorus, which is so touching to me. The rest of the song was also good. It was all just what I needed. And the text is based on some of my favorite scriptures (Doc & Cov 121-123), which were the basis of Elder Holland's talk. And now I own the choir and soloist recordings. I believe they will help me a lot during these next couple of weeks as I go through my "Decisions Dilemma." Music video coming you way. But until then, here are the lyrics. I hope they can speak to you as they do to me. Music truly is "A Great and Glorious Gift from God."

My Kindness Shall Not Depart From Thee

Text and Music by Rob Gardner

For a little while 

Have I forsaken thee; 

But with great mercies will I gather thee. 

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee 

For a moment. 

But with everlasting kindness will I gather thee, 

And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings, 

For the mountains shall depart, 

And the hills shall be removed, 

And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea, 

But know, my child, 

My kindness shall not depart from thee! 

Though thine afflictions seem 

At times too great to bear, 

I know thine every thought and every care. 

And though the very jaws 

Of hell gape after thee I am with thee. 

And with everlasting mercy will I succor thee, 

And with healing will I take thee ‘neath my wings. 

Though the mountains shall depart, 

And the hills shall be removed, 

And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea, 

Know, my child, 

My kindness shall not depart from thee! 

How long can rolling waters 

Remain impure? 

What pow'r shall stay the hand of God? 

The Son of Man hath descended below all things. 

Art thou greater than He? 

So hold on thy way, 

For I shall be with thee. 

And mine angels shall encircle thee. 

Doubt not what thou knowest, 

Fear not man, for he 

Cannot hurt thee. 

And with everlasting kindness will I succor thee, 

And with mercy will I take thee ‘neath my wings. 

For the mountains shall depart, 

And the hills shall be removed, 

And the valleys shall be lost beneath the sea, 

But know, my child, 

My kindness shall not depart from thee!

P.S. 10:30pm--Oh goodness! It's on YouTube.. Elder Holland's tender, beautiful closing and then the song. Must post!