This week on Knowing Hymn, we talk about hymn #87, God is Love with text by Thomas R Taylor and music by Thomas C Griggs. Learn about this wonderful hymn full of nature and love. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in 1, 2, and 3 John. Join us as we discuss finding God’s love in the world around us.   Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter@ KnowingHymn Email: [email protected] Check...

This week on Knowing Hymn, we talk about hymn #228, You Can Make the Pathway Bright with text by Helen Silcott Dungan and music by James Dungan. Learn about this husband/wife team that created this hymn of inspiration. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in 1 and 2 Peter. Join us as we discuss finding joy in the midst of adversity. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week on Knowing Hymn, we talk about hymn #26, Joseph Smith’s First Prayer with text by George Manwaring and music by Sylvanus Billings Pond and adapted by A.C. Smyth. Learn about this wonderful hymn that celebrates the beginning of the restoration of the gospel in the latter days. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in James. Join us as we discuss letting our faith compel us to action. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook...

This week on Knowing Hymn, we talk about hymn #128, When Faith Endures with text by Naomi W. Randall and music by Stephen M. Jones. Learn how this beautiful hymn of faith was constructed out of the faith of these two faithful saints. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Hebrews 7-13. Join us as we discuss great examples of faith throughout the scriptures. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

On this special bonus episode of Knowing Hymn, Steve shares one of his compositions: a unique setting of the text of "I Need Thee Every Hour."

This week on Knowing Hymn, we talk about hymn #98, I Need Thee Every Hour with text by Annie S. Hawkes and music by Robert Lowry. Hear about the remarkable housewife who wrote over 400 hymn text and brought us these beautiful words of joy and comfort. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Hebrews 1-6. Join us as we discuss our gracious, all-knowing, and all-compassionate Savior. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week on Knowing Hymn, we talk about hymn #293, Each Life that Touches Ours for Good with text by Karen Lynn Davidson and music by A. Laurence Lyon. Learn about the backstory of this hymn and how it can move us to a greater sense of gratitude and compassion. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Join us as we discuss being an example of the believers to all around us. Connect with...

This week on Knowing Hymn, we talk about hymn #59, Come, O Thou King of Kings with text by Parley P. Pratt. Learn about this remarkable man of faith and his passionate pleading for the Lord to come again. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Join us as we discuss the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter...

This week, we talk about hymn #142, Sweet Hour of Prayer with text by William W. Walford and music by William Bradbury. Hear how a blind pastor used his remarkable gift to give us these tender words. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Philippians and Colossians. Join as we discuss finding joy in whatever situation we find ourselves. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week, we talk about hymn #259, Hope of Israel with text by Joseph L. Townsend and music by William Clayson. Hear about the long-standing collaboration between these two artists as they created many of our beloved hymns. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Ephesians. Join us as we discuss putting on the Armor of God. To watch the Armor of God video mentioned in today’s episode, click here. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook...

This week, we talk about hymn #304, Teach Me To Walk in the Light with text and music by Clara W. McMaster. Hear about this children’s hymn that teaches us how to return to our Father. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Galatians. Join us as we discuss walking in the Spirit and the fruits of doing so. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter @ KnowingHymn Email: [email protected]

This week, we talk about hymn #223, Have I Done Any Good? with text and music by William Thompson. Learn about his journey from composer of popular songs to composers of beloved hymns. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in 2 Corinthians 8-13. Join us as we discuss the giving service to others with a cheerful spirit. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week, we talk about hymn #145, Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire with text by James Montgomery and music by George Careless. Hear about this remarkable hymn that explores all the facets of prayer. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in 2 Corinthians 1-7. Join us as we discuss forgiveness, repentance, and godly sorrow. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week, we talk about hymn #199, He is Risen! with text by Cecil Frances Alexander and music by Joachim Neander. Learn about the devout woman and the lusty young man who brought us this beautiful Easter hymn. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20-21. Join us as we discuss the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week, we talk about hymn #184, Upon the Cross of Calvary with text by Vilate Schofield Raile and music by Leroy J. Robertson. We talk about the Sacrament and how an amateur poet and a professional composer created a beautiful Sacrament hymn. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19. Join us as we discuss the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the love He has for each of us. Connect with...

This week, we talk about hymn #193, I Stand All Amazed with text and music by Charles H. Gabriel. We take a journey into Shape Note singing and the development of this hymn with a deeply personal message. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Luke 22 and John 18. Join us as we discuss the greatest act in human history: the atonement of Jesus Christ! Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter...

This week, we talk about hymn #129, Where Can I Turn For Peace? with text by Emma Lou Thayne and music by Joleen G. Meredith. We discuss how these two women drew upon their experience with mental illness to collaborate in writing this hymn. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in John 14-17. Join us as we learn about the peace that Christ offers us all! Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter...

This week, we talk about hymn #308, Love One Another with text and music by Luacine Clark Fox. We discuss radio dramatizations (and even do a little acting!) and journey back to our mission days to sing the hymn in Spanish and Slovak. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 13. Join us as we learn to be disciples of Christ by loving others! Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week, we talk about hymn #196, Jesus, Once of Humble Birth with text by Parley P. Pratt, and music by Giacomo Meyerbeer. We talk about the journey of this tune from a highly-acclaimed opera to a beloved hymn. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Joseph Smith- Matthew, Matthew 24-25, Mark 12-13, and Luke 21. Join us as we take joy in the second coming of Jesus Christ! Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week, we talk about hymn #66, Rejoice, the Lord is King with text by Charles Wesley, and music by Horatio Parker. We talk about Wesley "methodical" way of living and Parker's disagreement with his composition student. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 21-23, Mark 11, Luke 19-20, and John 12. Join us as we discuss Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem! Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing...

This week, we talk about hymn #96, Dearest Children, God is Near You with text by Charles L. Walker, and music by John M. Macfarlane. We talk about how the "Cotton Country" mission brought these two men together to write this piece and what can happen when you get bored in Sunday School. Our hymn this week corresponds with the Come, Follow Me reading in Matthew 19-20, Mark 10, and Luke 18. Join us in our discussion of humility and becoming like a little child. Connect with...

This week, we explore hymn #221, Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd, with text by Mary B Wingate, and music by William J Kirkpatrick. Join us in our discussion about what it means to be a true "under-shepherd". This week, our discussions aligns with the Come, Follow Me reading in Luke 12-17 and John 11. We especially focus on the parables in Luke 15. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter...

In 2020, just before the pandemic, I had the chance to travel to Kenya as composer and conductor-in-residence for 2 weeks for the Jobel Chorale directed by Evans Mbinji. Prior to the trip, Evans asked me to compose something for his choir and suggested that I do an arrangement of Psalm 23 in Swahili, Bwana ni Mchungaji Wangu.

This week, we explore hymn #108, The Lord is My Shepherd, with text by James Montgomery, and music by Thomas Koschat. Hear the text Koschat originally used with this tune (warning: it's sad!) and learn how The Lord is My Shepherd and O Come, All Ye Faithful are connected. This week, we also begin aligning our discussions with the Come, Follow Me program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This week's hymn corresponds with the reading in John 7-10. We discuss John 10 in...