My Music: Behold the Handmaiden of the Lord: Angel Gabriel and Mary

This is part of the cantata "The Condescension of God" which is a review of the life of Christ through Nephi's vision in the Book of Mormon.

Mary the Lord is with you, thou are highly favored among women for thou shalt conceive in the womb and bring forth a son and call his name Jesus.

But how Lord seeing I know not a man

The power of the Holy Ghost shall over shadow thee and the child shall be called the son of God.
Behold the handmaiden of the Lord, be it unto me according to the word.
He shall be great of of his kingdom there shall be know end and He shall be called the son of the highest.

http://billywardlefamily.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-angel-visits-mary.html
post about this topic with movie

Over 2500 people on the American Continent Saw and Touched the Resurrected Lord

We saw a man, descending out of heaven.

He was clothed in a white robe.

He came down, and stood in the midst of us.

He stretched forth his hands,

And declared He is the Christ.

We came forth to Him.

We thrust our hands in His side

And we felt the prints of the nails

In His hands and feet.

And we worshipped Him.

Blessed be the name of God.

We worshipped Him.

Blessed be the name of God.

Hosanna!

Hosanna!

My Music: We Testify That He Lives

This song is written in four parts.  It presents the stories of Mary Magdalene, the Apostles, American inhabitants and Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.  These are all people who saw the risen Lord. Of course there were many more who also saw him.  At one time a congregation of 500 around Jerusalem.  The story of the people in the New World represents 2500, and then the news was spread and many more subsequently saw and visited with the resurrected Lord.  You are welcome to print the song.  Mark helped me write the music.

The Apostles Testify of the Resurrection

We were gathered together
 to break bread like he said,
Then He stood among us,
And pronounced peace upon us.

And we felt His hands,
And we felt His side.
He fell down at His feet,
and we worshipped Him.
We worshipped Him.

Joseph Smiith and Sidney Rigdon Testify of Jesus Christ's Resurrection

We Testify!

After the many testimonies of Him

This testimony last of all we give;

That He lives!

For we saw Him, even on the right hand of God

And heard the voice

Testify,

He is the only begotten of God,

And the worlds through Him were made

And through him we become children of God.

(See D&C 76:22-24)

Mary Magdelene Witnesses Jesus Christ's Ressurection

Early in the morning I came to the tomb,
And found the stone was rolled away,
The body of my Lord
Had been removed from where it lay.

When I saw the Master of the garden
Later in the day, I asked him
Where have you placed
The body of my Lord?

And when he spoke to me
I recognized his voice.
My Lord could it be!
My Lord could it be!

My Music: He Will Heal You

He Will Heal You

He will heal you, He will heal you.
Bring to him your need, and He'll give you peace.
Peace, peace, peace. Peace be unto you.
Because of your faith, Peace be unto you.

Come unto Me, all ye who are heavy laden,
And I will give you rest.
Take of my fruit
And you will be blessed.

Come take of the fruit.
Come take of the fruit,
for it is the love of God,
And He will bring you peace.
He will bring you peace.

My Music: He Took Upon Himself our Sins

 This is from the cantata The Condescension of God based on First Nephi chapter 11

He took upon Himself our sins, our guilt, our depressions
Our faults, our needs, our indiscretions.
He went below all things
He carried our sorrows.

He suffered for us all, if we would repent;
Which suffering caused that God the greatest of all
Should shrink, and tremble in pain
And suffer both body and spirit,
And bleed from every pore
As it where, great drops of blood
Which fell down to the ground.

I beheld a Tree

I Beheld a Tree

Lehi: I beheld a tree whose fruit was desirous to make one happy.

And when I ate the fruit it was sweet and pure;

And it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy.

Nephi: I beheld a tree whose beauty was far beyond, exceeding all beauty.

And it was white as the driven snow.

And it was the pure love of God.

Lehi: I beheld a rod of iron.  Nephi: And it was the word of God.

Both:  Hold to the rod and perish not.

I beheld a tree whose beauty was far beyond, and it was the love of God.

And its fruit will make you happy.

Come take of the fruit!  Come take of the fruit!

For it is most desirable, and will bring joy to your soul.

For it is the love of God.

The Condescension of God: Lyrics

The Condescension of God

Behold, the condescension of God!

Joseph leads the donkey, Going from door to door,
Pleading, my wife is with child, Can’t you spare room and board?
No room, no room.  No room!
Mary on the donkey’s back, Opens not her mouth to complain,
But Joseph can see in her face, Contractions are causing pain.
No room, no room.  No room!

No wait, I have a spot, Where I keep the cattle and grain.
Nice, it is not; But it will keep you from the wind and rain.

Behold the birthplace of our Lord!

Joseph cleans out the filth, With fresh straw lines the stall,
Helps his wife off the donkey’s back, steadies her to avoid a fall.
Mary and Joseph, alone in the night, Naught but animals looking on,
 Will be the first to hear the baby cry before the dawn.

Behold the angels sang!  Behold the angels sang!
Glory to God on High, and on earth peace, good will to men.
Glory to God, and on earth peace, good will to men.
Shepherds heard their song and went to see
The babe in a manger laid; The King of men to be.

Father, hold me up, So I too can see.
Father, there are tears in your eyes.  What is it you see?

Behold the lamb of God, the Savior of us all.
Behold the lamb of God, is today born in this stall.

The Condescension of God: My Music

I wrote this song as part of composing around 1 Nephi chapter 11.  This is a song celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.