July brings holidays, vacations, and Family Reunions. As I was conducting the hymns last Sunday, I wondered if we'd even have half our members in attendance that day. Looking around the congregation, I saw entire rows empty where stalwart attendees usually sat. Five minutes...three minutes...two minutes until start time...then suddenly visitors started filing into the chapel and overflow area. Our regulars were obviously gone on vacation, but our visitors brought up our numbers to near normal.
Most of the visitors were extended family members of our long time members. They were here for family reunions, a mission homecoming talk, and "just because" visits to see the grandparents. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that our missing ward members were swelling the congregations of other wards, somewhere else that day. Summers are like that around here.
Most of the visitors were extended family members of our long time members. They were here for family reunions, a mission homecoming talk, and "just because" visits to see the grandparents. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that our missing ward members were swelling the congregations of other wards, somewhere else that day. Summers are like that around here.
My family means everything to me. I am certain that's true of most people I know. We take any opportunities we get to go visit family or welcome them to visit us. It always amazes me that we've gone from a very young couple to this seemingly ever-growing group in the space of 47 years.
That's why this hymn about building righteous families is so relevant for today. "From Homes of Saints Glad Songs Arise," written by Vernald W, Johns (1902-1999) and G. William Richards (b. 1914), gives sound principles for raising strong families in faith-filled homes. In this arrangement, I've added a third verse about the LDS doctrine of creating bonded, eternal families.
"We seek God's blessing on our homes
To strengthen family ties;
To lift us to the highest goal,
That great eternal prize.
When hearts are bound in covenant,
And graced with righteousness,
We'll live together eternally
And find true happiness.
Then sing, O Saints, in hymns of praise,
Sing praise to God on high!"
"We seek God's blessing on our homes
To strengthen family ties;
To lift us to the highest goal,
That great eternal prize.
When hearts are bound in covenant,
And graced with righteousness,
We'll live together eternally
And find true happiness.
Then sing, O Saints, in hymns of praise,
Sing praise to God on high!"
It occurred to me when creating this arrangement, that dropping an eighth note here and there could give this hymn an unexpected lilt. Enjoy the occasional 7/8 bar with some syncopation. It's memorable and fun!
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