Music can inspire and uplift us. Works such as The Messiah, by Handel, are a testament to the power of inspirational music. Sometimes, music can teach us…In this hymn written by early Mormon pioneer and Church leader, Eliza R. Snow, is found the doctrine of Heavenly Parents–that we are literally the spirit children of a Father and a Mother in Heaven.
As I read/sing this hymn, I feel that this message is truth. It reminds me of when I first heard the doctrines of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ taught to me by missionaries [stay tuned…coming up in my R post]–it is what I believed in my heart and soul outside of that taught by any organized religion I had known up to that time.
O My Father Lyrics
Text: Eliza R. Snow, 1804–1887
Music: James McGranahan, 1840–1907
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O my Father, thou that dwellestIn the high and glorious place,When shall I regain thy presenceAnd again behold thy face?In thy holy habitation,Did my spirit once reside?In my first primeval childhoodWas I nurtured near thy side?
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For a wise and glorious purposeThou hast placed me here on earthAnd withheld the recollectionOf my former friends and birth;Yet ofttimes a secret somethingWhispered, “You’re a stranger here,”And I felt that I had wanderedFrom a more exalted sphere.
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I had learned to call thee Father,Thru thy Spirit from on high,But, until the key of knowledgeWas restored, I knew not why.In the heav’ns are parents single?No, the thought makes reason stare!Truth is reason; truth eternalTells me I’ve a mother there.
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When I leave this frail existence,When I lay this mortal by,Father, Mother, may I meet youIn your royal courts on high?Then, at length, when I’ve completedAll you sent me forth to do,With your mutual approbationLet me come and dwell with you.
Hari OM
Gail, today you have ‘struck a chord’! &*> Music is such a unifying force. Wonderful words, and reading the manuscript had me wanting to hear it. There are several renditions from the MTC – but I greatly enjoyed this orchestrated piano offering… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2UySy-IVHw
Learning today that Mother is recognised as well as Father by the Mormon doctrine, permit me please to link you to the following, which is a profound prayer and hymn to the Mother in three forms (Durga the protector, Lakshmi the provider and Saraswati the wise), which I hope you will enjoy as a ‘swap’ – an exchange of Love Divine. (it is a modern rendition, more palatable to untrained ears). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMCW0QsYNK8
Blessings, YAM xx
Thank you Yam! I will go now and listen. Glad we were in “harmony “ today!
There are so many beautiful hymns. I was not familiar with “O My Father”. It’s lovely. Weekends In Maine
Thanks! I’d like to learn to play it on the piano one of these days..
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