Joseph Smith’s First Prayer

About This Song

Original Tune: Harrison Millard, 1830-1895
Text: George Manwaring, 1854–1889
Music: Sylvanus Billings Pond, 1792–1871; adapted by A. C. Smyth, 1840–1909

Media

SoundCloud Audio
(SATB Choir/Piano/Violin version)
Performed by a joint Stake Choir from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Timothy Max, piano.

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PDF Downloads

Three versions of this arrangement are available. Additional orchestrations are included below and may be added to any version:

SATB choir & piano | Catalog # 1016.1
Vocal solo & piano (for high voice) | Catalog # 1016.3
SSA choir & piano | Catalog # 1016.5
Optional voicings

Add any of the following combinations of instruments to your chosen version above:

Violin solo
String trio
Five-part string orchestra with optional percussion

Lyrics

  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–
    ’Twas 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,
    And a shining, glorious pillar
    O’er him fell, around him shone,
    While appeared two heav’nly beings,
    God the Father and the Son,
    While appeared two heav’nly beings,
    God the Father and the Son.
  4. “Joseph, this is my Beloved;
    Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
    Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
    And he listened to the Lord.
    Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
    For he saw the living God,
    Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
    For he saw the living God.Ending
    Joseph’s humble prayer was answered 
    when he sought the God of love.