Heart surgeon, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, oldest living leader of a world religion — and songwriter.
President Russell M. Nelson, head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who last year shared a 2022 video of him playing “Silent Night” on the piano, penned the lyrics to “Our Prayer to Thee,” first published in the faith’s monthly magazine in 2003.
Later performed during October 2018 and April 2022 General Conference sessions, the song has now joined the ranks of official church hymns.
We pray to Thee, our Heav’nly Father,
With grateful hearts and deep devotion.
We thank Thee for our great Exemplar —
Thy beloved and atoning Son —
Who gave Himself as sacred ransom,
That we may live again with Thee!
Our joy is full, our song so gladsome;
Renew our faith and hope in Thee.
Set to a 19th-century melody, the hymn was arranged by Mack Wilberg, music director of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
The 101-year-old Nelson is far from the first church leader to try his hand at songwriting. Past presidents with lyric credits include Joseph Fielding Smith (“Does the Journey Seem Long”), Gordon B. Hinckley (“My Redeemer Lives”) and John Taylor (“Go, Ye Messengers of Glory”) — plus a slew of hymns by past Latter-day Saint apostles.
Other additions announced Thursday to the church’s expanding new hymnbook include a song from the current Tongan hymnal, “Jesus Is the Way,” the German children’s song “Can You Count the Stars in Heaven?,” and the African American spirituals “Stand by Me” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”
Rounding out the list are:
Altogether, the church has announced 60 tunes for inclusion in the new songbook, titled “Hymns — For Home and Church,” which officials have said will boast 450 to 500 songs when finished.
“We hope that as people [sing] these songs, they feel closer to Jesus Christ,” general authority Seventy Matthew Carpenter, an adviser on the committee overseeing the new hymnbook, said in Thursday’s news release. “And by singing these new songs, people become acquainted with them, and they’ll remember them for the rest of their lives.”
Said President Susan Porter, worldwide leader of the children’s Primary: “We want every child to feel the joy of singing songs that teach of Jesus Christ and his gospel. … The beautiful melodies and lyrics will stay in their hearts and minds.”
Members can access these songs through the church’s online Music Library, Gospel Library and Sacred Music app.