Several years ago I was asked to write a song to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Baltimore Maryland Stake. The Stake President requested a song that would recognize the faith of the early pioneers of the Church as well as capture the strength and spirit of the new pioneers who are currently building the kingdom of God in the Baltimore area. There are many converts in the Baltimore area who are first generation members and truly new pioneers. The inspiration came in an instant. Of course, they were "Building on a Legacy of Faith" of those who went before, but they were also forging onward in new territory with new challenges and new triumphs.
The song needed to link the past with the future. It needed to be painted with broad strokes on a large canvas. It needed a heroic scope and concept. This song came about as if I was writing a screenplay and score for a movie. I knew what needed to be written because I could see and hear it unfolding in my mind like a movie in Cinemascope. The scene opens with the purple mountains in the distance and as the camera sweeps in closer, the wagon trains appear with many pioneers struggling, but ever pressing forward with faith, determined to reach their goal, ever seeking Zion. Then the scenes continue to unfold to see the growth of the Church due to missionary efforts in many lands around the world. Yet it is only through the faith, diligence and obedience of those new pioneers, those exceptionally courageous individuals, that the work rolls on.
Oh, how I wanted this song to be premiered by a large choir accompanied by a large orchestra, but I knew I was limited in scope to a 50 voice choir, piano, string quartet and two flutes. What we lacked in orchestration, we more than made up for in spirit and enthusiasm. The song was received well and the 30th Anniversary Celebration was a success. The song went on to win an Award of Distinction in the annual Church Submission contest and was performed on Temple Square in Salt lake City.
"Building on a Legacy of Faith" may be sung to commemorate the efforts of the early Pioneers of the church as well as to celebrate the many new pioneers throughout the world in our day who are bravely pressing on, ever seeking Zion. It is a stirring Pioneer Anthem as well as a wonderful Missionary Anthem. These words exhort us to continue onward:
"Serve the Lord.
Trust His word.
Make known His wondrous works in all the earth.
Learn of Him.
Call upon His name.
Prepare for the day when Christ will come again."
And then these words of President Gordon B. Hinckley provide the reason we do what we do:
"The time has come to stand a little taller,
To demonstrate our faith in the living God.
To do the work of His Beloved Son, our Master,
To follow in the ways that our Savior trod."
"Building on a Legacy of Faith_____
Ever moving forward; ever seeking Zion.
Servants of our God, working hand in hand,
Ever building on a legacy of faith."
Oh, how I wanted this song to be premiered by a large choir accompanied by a large orchestra, but I knew I was limited in scope to a 50 voice choir, piano, string quartet and two flutes. What we lacked in orchestration, we more than made up for in spirit and enthusiasm. The song was received well and the 30th Anniversary Celebration was a success. The song went on to win an Award of Distinction in the annual Church Submission contest and was performed on Temple Square in Salt lake City.
"Building on a Legacy of Faith" may be sung to commemorate the efforts of the early Pioneers of the church as well as to celebrate the many new pioneers throughout the world in our day who are bravely pressing on, ever seeking Zion. It is a stirring Pioneer Anthem as well as a wonderful Missionary Anthem. These words exhort us to continue onward:
"Serve the Lord.
Trust His word.
Make known His wondrous works in all the earth.
Learn of Him.
Call upon His name.
Prepare for the day when Christ will come again."
And then these words of President Gordon B. Hinckley provide the reason we do what we do:
"The time has come to stand a little taller,
To demonstrate our faith in the living God.
To do the work of His Beloved Son, our Master,
To follow in the ways that our Savior trod."
"Building on a Legacy of Faith_____
Ever moving forward; ever seeking Zion.
Servants of our God, working hand in hand,
Ever building on a legacy of faith."
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