Joseph Smith and the First Vision.

Okay, so I have the devotional in seminary on Monday, and I am going to be performing the musical number that I was going to perform for the seminary conference, but we ran out of time. So, I've been practicing, and I decided to record it the other day, and I did! Even though I'm still a little under the weather, I think it turned out nice. So it's the hymn "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" (Hymn No. 26) to the tune of the song/hymn "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" and I had to do just a little bit of arranging for the end of the song because the soundtrack I picked (done by Chris Rice) had a different ending, so I had to arrange the last two verses to combine them. I really had a wonderful time with this project, and I'm so excited to be performing it on Monday! I really am so grateful for Joseph Smith, who had the courage to ask God a question, and who had the courage to stand up for what he believed and knew was right. Please enjoy the song and video here. Here are the words and lyrics that I arranged:

Joseph Smith's First Prayer:

1. Oh, how lovely was the morning!

Radiant beamed the sun above.

Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,

Music ringing thru the grove,

When within the shady woodland

Joseph sought the God of love,

When within the shady woodland

Joseph sought the God of love.

2. Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing–

T'was the boy's first uttered prayer–

When the pow'rs of sin assailing

Filled his soul with deep despair;

But undaunted, still he trusted

In his Heav'nly Father's care;

But undaunted, still he trusted

In his Heav'nly Father's care.

3. Suddenly a light descended,

Brighter far than noonday sun,

"Joseph, this is my Beloved;

Hear him!" Oh, how sweet the word!

Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,

For he saw the living God;

(interlude)

Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,

For he saw the living God.

(interlude)

Oh, how lovely was the morning! For he saw the living God.

I just love this hymn and this arrangement because it's so pretty. Joseph had a question about which church he should join, and he went to God for an answer. He was only fourteen years old, but he really, really wanted to know which church he should join, so he went into a grove to pray and "ask of God" (King James Bible, James 1:5). He then received what we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call The First Vision. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph was the first Latter-day prophet. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today and that he speaks to us from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that this church is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and I know that He loves us. I know that He sends us tender mercies, and I know that preparing this song to sing for my seminary class has really helped me gain a better testimony of Joseph Smith. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.