Category Archives: music

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music score, top of page one, "Come to Christ" for church choir

Press Forward, Feasting on the Word

By Jonathan Whitcomb [updated September 15, 2022]

(You can contact Jonathan David Whitcomb online)

The following is the text for the choir piece “Come to Christ” (YouTube), which choral piece I wrote in mid-2022 (see also the music score below, for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, with organ):

Press forward: Feast on the word of Christ;
behold you shall have eternal life.
Hold to the rod: the word of God;
behold the tree of the love of God.

We like sheep had gone astray, to turn:
to wander far away. Turn again. Turn to God.

Like a shepherd seeks a stray,
oh Father, help us find the way.

Behold my Son, my Beloved Son:
Come unto Him for eternal life.
Behold his hands, his feet and side:
For you he bled and died.

Turn to Him. Come unto Christ.
Come to Him.

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score of Come to Christ (pdf)

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first page of the church choir piece "Come to Christ" - ver-134

Page two, version 134, "Come to Christ" for choir

"Come to Christ" music composition for four-part choir, ver-134, pg 3

COME TO CHRIST - page 4, ver-134, for SATB choir

page five of "Come to Christ" by Jonathan Whitcomb

 

last page of "Come to Christ" choir song by Whitcomb

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USA phone number

 

Contact Jonathan David Whitcomb

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The words are adapted from scriptures, mostly in the Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 31: 20 (B. of M.)

. . . Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

1 Nephi 15: 23 & 24 (regarding Lehi’s dream)

What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? . . . it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish . . .

1 Nephi 11: 21 & 22 (Lehi’s dream)

Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? . . . Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men . . .

Isaiah 53: 6 (Bible, KJV)

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way . . .

3 Nephi 11: 7

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

3 Nephi 11: 14 (the words of Jesus Christ)

Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

Matthew 11: 28 (Bible, KJV)

Come unto me . . .

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Sacred song – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.”

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Book of Mormon

Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile . . . The Nephites keep the law of Moses, look forward to the coming of Christ . . .

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LDS Book of Mormon hymn

Book of Mormon stories that my teacher tells to me
Are about the Lamanites in ancient history.
Long ago their fathers came from far across the sea,
Giv’n the land if they lived righteously.

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Press forward, feasting

 . . . and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

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March 31, 2015 version of sacrament hymn

“Through my Savior” Sacrament Hymn

The following is a revision, the March 31, 2015 version; the earlier one (Mar 19) was improved.

Over thirty years ago I wrote the music for what soon became my sacred song about Jesus Christ and his atonement. On occasion I revised the music and the text. This week I modified the song further, making it a sacrament hymn: “Through my Savior.” For those unaware of the meaning of sacrament hymn, it is sung by an LDS congregation right before they partake of the sacred emblems of bread and water. It’s very similar to what some Christians call the Holy Communion. But this one is an exception in one way.

I do not expect any LDS congregation to adapt my hymn and sing it instead of a sacrament hymn in the official hymn book. It is arranged in simple choir format, for a ward choir to sing in a sacrament meeting. Of course this should only be done with the approval of the bishop of the ward, for he has that stewardship and responsibility for his congregation.

March 31, 2015 version of sacrament hymn

For us who are baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the sacrament helps us remember our Savior, but it is more. We renew our baptismal covenants, promising that we intend to always remember him and keep his commandments and take upon ourselves his name.

In the Book of Mormon, in Third Nephi, we read of the Savior’s visit to Christians in this American continent. He gave them the sacrament and authorized those who would continue to give the people those sacred emblems.

With all the many wonderful sacrament hymns we have in our LDS hymn book, it took over thirty years for me to arrive at a point where I felt it appropriate to write one, revising the first two verses of my song and changing the melody somewhat. Still, my own contribution is provided for choir singing, not to replace any sacrament hymn choice. Here are the words of the revised two verses:

Verse One

Father in Heaven, thy name is blessed. Heeding thy Spirit’s pleading we repent. For thy Beloved, with our assembling blessing his name, we take the sacrament. When I remember his cup of trembling, Drop after drop of blood was shed for me, Oh, my Father, because of Jesus, then I know I may return to thee.

Verse Two

I was begotten by thee my Father, nurtured in wondrous realms in ages past. My older brother to be my savior. Then came the time: mortality at last! Now in the shadow of mortal weakness, sorrow and sin and counterfeit I see. Oh, my Father, premortal Father, through my Savior I return to thee.

This hymn I approve for non-commercial church and home use.

Addendum: The following two words were changed on August 16, 2015:

Verse #1: “pleading I repent” instead of the early-2015 version which had “pleading we repent”

Verse #2: “would be my Savior” instead of the earlier version of “to be my Savior”

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