“Through My Savior”

Easter Hymn – Through My Savior (audio version of song, instrumental only, earlier version of about mid-2011)

Text and music of “Through my Savior” – Copyright 2011 Jonathan David Whitcomb

The hymn text following it (“Behold the Great Redeemer Die”), by Eliza R. Snow, reveals more details about the trials endured by the Savior in his last hours of mortal life.

For a printable pdf file of the hymn arrangement, go to: sacrament hymn

For a song arrangement, go to: Through my Savior

Verse One

Father in Heaven, thy name is blessed. [* see revision at the bottom]

Cleanse with thy Spirit; comfort those in need. [* see revision at the bottom]

Through thy Beloved are we assembling; [* “]

Now in his holy name I humbly plead.

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.

Gods of Creation, the Parent-Teachers

Then gave begetting, giving it to last.

Now in the shadow of mortal weakness,

Sorrow and sin and counterfeit I see.

Oh, my Father, Premortal Father,

Cleanse my heart that I return to thee.

Verse Three

Now in the morning of shadow waning,

Like when the light of morning filled a tomb,

Grant us forgiveness: both giving, gaining;

Fill us with light, dispel avenging gloom.

Once in a garden the blood was dropping;

Once on a cross the voice of mercy said:

“Oh, my Father, forgive my brother;

I forgive him with the blood I shed.”

Verse Four

Through thine Anointed, we seek forgiveness,

Grasping thy mercy, casting off our sin,

Through our election of his atonement:

Touching Perfection, cleansing us within.

Though opposition may feign to hinder,

Like thine Anointed we begin to be.

Oh, my Father, I now remember

My Redeemer gave his life for me.

Through my Savior, I come to thee.

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“Behold the Great Redeemer Die” by Eliza R. Snow

1.

Behold the great Redeemer die,

A broken law to satisfy.

He dies a sacrifice for sin,

That man may live and glory win.

2.

While guilty men his pains deride,

They pierce his hands and feet and side;

And with insulting scoffs and scorns,

They crown his head with plaited thorns.

3.

Although in agony he hung,

No murmuring word escaped his tongue.

His high commission to fulfill,

He magnified his Father’s will.

4.

“Father, from me remove this cup.

Yet if thou wilt, I’ll drink it up.

I’ve done the work thou gavest me;

Receive my spirit unto thee.”

5.

He died, and at the awful sight

The sun in shame withdrew its light!

Earth trembled, and all nature sighed

In dread response, “A God has died!”

*

Addendum: the first three lines of the first verse I revised from May 5-9, 2013:

Father in Heaven, I know my weakness

Thy name is Blessed; bless me in my need.

Through thy Beloved, in this assembling . . .

Addendum #2: I continued revising it, including March-2015 revision:

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. . . .

Addendum #3: These are the changes of the August-16-2015 revision:

Verse one, line two:

Heeding thy Spirit’s pleading I repent [see Addendum #2 for continuation of the lines]

Verse two, complete verse

I was begotten by thee my Father,

Nurtured in wondrous realms in ages past.

My older brother would 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.

.

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Another site with the sacrament hymn “Through my Savior”