I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow him in faith. I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. I'll honor his name. I'll do what is right; I'll follow his light. His truth I will proclaim.

I Know that My Redeemer Lives!

I Know that My Redeemer Lives!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

"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!

11 comments:

The Special Reds said...

I came across your blog because I heard that song on the fireside watching BYUTV with my husband and it touched me more than any song has in a long time. Your blog was the first one to come up after I searched the song title! Thanks for putting the youtube link there--I could listen to it over and over. I'm actually going to perform it now in my sacrament meeting!

Unknown said...

Your blog came up while my friend and I were looking up this song for our choir show. We were both singing in that choir at that devotional. I have sung it twice now in performances and it is one of my favorite songs. And ps, I love your blog. I've just barely started my own blog of this same nature. Hope you don't mind me following it.

Fawn Conover said...

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I sang that song at EFY one year and I have been trying to find it for years!!! thank you

Anonymous said...

That's such a beautiful song. Thanks so much for posting it. :)

Heatherly said...

I sang in that choir. It was such a wonderful experience. I am so grateful I had the opportunity. Glad it is still out here so I can remember it.

Courtney said...

Oh my gosh! This is my choir!! This was when I was really young....can I just say that this song is my favorite out of all the songs we have ever sung. Every time we sing it, it brings tears to my eyes. We sang it at Liberty Jail, where the revelation was given to Joseph Smith, and I could feel the spirit there so strongly. I'm so happy that someone posted this on YouTube and that it comes up first in Google search so that others can happen upon it and be able to feel the spirit.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so very much for this song. I am so grateful for the words which come from Isaiah. It is so humbling to know at this lowest most heart breaking time in my life after having made so many tragic mistakes to then hear Isaiah's testimony of how the Lord will suffer so much for us and he will never depart from us. I am so grateful for this Prophet of God who knew and testified of these things hundreds of years before the Saviors birth and then Isaiah this servant of the Lord then suffered terribly as he was sawn in half for his testimony of our precious Savior. Thank you so very much. You cannot imagine and will never know how much this song means to me as I hear the Saviors words through Isaiah as he promises that He will never forget nor forsake me. Thank you so very much my dear friend.

Rose and Caleb said...

That was beautiful!! Elder Holland is such a tender soul. It's amazing the power of music :)

Anonymous said...

I am singing this song with my broken family this week. We all need this song. Look up Isaiah 54, as well. Had to have had some inspiration from that for this song. So beautiful. Rob Gardener has written some of the most beautiful music on earth. And I have long wanted to sing this.

Definitely read Isaiah 54, though.

ldsjaneite said...

Yes--3 Nephi 22 is quoting Isaiah 54. I have little music notes written in those chapter margins to remind me of this beautiful song. I have since led my choir to sing this song twice--and it touched me soul in different yet still deep ways each time. It is timeless.