Introduction
The beginning of my career in songwriting coincided exactly with the beginning of a season of missionary work in our family as our four children, one after the other, scattered to four different continents to spread the gospel word in Flemish, Korean, English and Spanish. I’m happy that our missionaries went out in the late ‘70’s and the ‘80’s when mission farewells were called mission farewells and the family could provide the music if they wanted to. A friend and I co-wrote “In the Hollow of Thy Hand” as our sons reached mission age–a song which, some would argue, was performed ad nauseumin the church for a few decades. It was an honest song. That’s how we mothers felt!
My mother Ruth Saunders Kapp, who was widowed early, was preparing to serve a full-time senior mission at about the same time our oldest son Steven was getting ready to submit his mission papers (1978). Missions were definitely on our minds and we turned to music to express our tender feelings. I was not surprised that Mom, who was near seventy, would leave her secure peaceful life for full-time missionary service because she had been a fearless missionary throughout her whole life. She served in the LouisianaBaton Rouge and the Mississippi Jackson missions. A short time later Steve received his call to the Belgium, Antwerp mission. I wrote “A Missionary’s Prayer” with both of them in mind. Steve sang it at his grandmother’s farewell and later at his own. I’ll quote one verse:
A Missionary’s Prayer
Father, I hear Thy call
I turn my thoughts to thee, forsaking all
Recalling promises we all must keep
I put my hand in Thine and go to feed Thy sheep
Lead me to those who seek
And give me faith and strength to boldly speak
In humble dignity I will proclaim
That men may come to know and love Thy holy name
If there be trials Lord to help me grow
If Thou wilt guide me I will conquer, this I know.
I will go and do the things which the Lord has commanded
For I know that He giveth no commands to His children
Except He prepare a way, Except He prepare a way
Two years later, in 1981, our son Robert received his call to serve in the Korea Seoul mission.
While I was pondering what music to write for his farewell, I noticed subtle changes taking place in his bedroom. On his nightstand I noticed a set of scriptures and a small Korean hymnbook. Above his bed was a newly posted painting of Christ by his uncle Gary Kapp. The ski poster on his wall showed a skier cutting through a vast white slope of new snow, which sparked an idea in my mind for the song, “The Field is White.” I was so pleased that Robb was willing to give up one field of white for another that was of far-reaching and eternal significance. Here is a verse from his song:
The Field is White
Father, here before us is a youth
Desiring in his heart to teach the truth
As he leaves his home for distant lands
Please guide him with Thy loving hands
He is a boy, called by a prophet
Willing to serve and teach his fellowman
He is a boy with seeds of Godhood growing deep with
Led by the Spirit, he’ll teach the gospel plan
The field is white, the harvest lies before him
The time is right for men to hear God’s word
The field is white, O ye that labor
Serve with all your might
In the harvest season of the Lord
In 1985 our daughter Lynne was called to serve in the Washington D.C. mission. As I thought about a farewell song for her, I remembered a night years earlier when she was a teenager and I had stopped by her bedroom to say goodnight. She had her scriptures in hand and said, “Mom, it all hinges on Joseph Smith. If we believe he prayed in a grove of trees and that Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to him, then everything else that followed has to be true. If not . . .” I waited a moment for her to finish, but when she did not I asked, “And do you believe it happened?” “I know it did, Mom. That’s why I have to serve a full-time mission when I’m old enough.” I left her room that night having experienced one of the greatest joys parents can hope for—knowing that one of their children has been blessed with a testimony of truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’ll share the second verse of her song:
In Quiet Grove
I, too, have asked of God as Joseph did
That I might know the truth of all he said
In prayerful moments when my heart is full
He sends a witness to my soul
Lord, help me share these things that I believe
Lead me to humble hearts who will receive
Then let the Spirit through me testify
That some may find the narrow way
It was in quiet grove it all began
The gospel fullness was restored to man
We share this message with all the world in love
Because a boy inquired of God in quiet grove
In 1986 our son John came into our room saying he had something important to talk to us about. Our first thought was that we hoped it wouldn’t be anything that would keep him from serving a mission! It was about time for him to start filling out his mission papers so we were slightly apprehensive. In one of the great surprises of our lives, he pulled out a letter and began reading his mission call letter to us—the Argentina Rosario mission! He had secretly turned in his mission papers before leaving on a performing tour with BYU’s Young Ambassadors, and had requested that his call be sent to Bishop Rodney Turner if it came while he was gone. Such a joyful surprise it was for us! There is something a bit unsettling about the last child leaving home and I wanted to find a scripture for his song that would comfort both him and us. Here are a few lines from his song:
And Whoso Receiveth You
In faith I heed the call to serve
To share in love Thy sacred word
My first desire, Lord, will ever be
To worship Thee and to serve Thee
I give my life to Thee
A debt of gratitude to pay
And by Thy Spirit I will now be led
For I believe the words Thou hast said:
And whoso receiveth you
There will I be also
I will be on your right hand
I will be on your left
My Spirit will be in your heart
Mine angels round about you
To bear you up, to bear you up
The years of our children’s missionary service were some of the happiest and most fulfilling of our lives as we looked forward to their letters each week, prayed for their protection and their success, put each picture in turn on the top of our Christmas tree each year. A plaque hung on the wall in the entry way of our home which showed a map of the world and identified where each of our children had served.
Below the map was a picture of Doug and me with a question mark underneath it portending our future call as senior missionaries. . .
Our turn
In 2002, Doug and I were so happy to receive a call to serve as senior missionaries in the Chile Santiago West mission and to teach the gospel in Spanish. As we were preparing for our own mission farewell in our Provo Utah ward I wondered about choosing some appropriate music for the occasion. By this time we had thirteen grandchildren and two of our children were successful songwriters in their own right. On a Sunday when they were all gathered at our home. I said,
“Remember how I wrote a mission song for each of you years ago?” The question just hung in the air for a moment and then Steve and Lynne slowly realized the implication of that question and said something like, “Oh . . . you mean you want us to write your song?” I just smiled and hoped it would happen. My favorite part of our mission farewell was hearing the beautiful songs they had written for us. Click on “Listen” if you’d like to hear them.
Here Am I, Send Me
(Composer and Vocalist – Steven Kapp Perry, 2002)
He was Jesus, He was First-born
He was God while yet the Son
but He offered to be the ransom
that would buy salvation for each one.
Chorus:
Here am I, send me
I will go wherever you lead
I will let Thy light shine
and the glory be Thine
If God can do His work
Through the small and weak
here am I, send me
In the Garden where He suffered
for our sins, He prayed the cup might pass
but He trembled with our burden
and He prayed, “Thy will be done,” at last
(Repeat chorus)
I am nothing but a servant
but my Lord is Jesus Christ
When He calls me, how shall I answer
to the One who bought me with His life?
(Repeat chorus)
If God can do His work
through the small and weak
here am I, send me.
Ever in His Debt
(Composer, Lynne Perry Christofferson, 2002)
(Vocalist, JohanneFrechette Perry)
I count the stars against the night
And stand in awe at the source of their light
I treasure flow’rs, each stream and tree
Amazed that God grants such riches to me
I cannot repay, even so I’ll try
And with ev’ry breath He lends to me
I will serve Him until I die
Oh I never can forget, I am ever in His debt
He gave me life, He gives me breathe
He sent a Savior to overcome death
When I am weak I turn to Him
He sent His son to atone for my sins
I cannot repay Him, even so I’ll try
And with every breathe He lends me
I will serve Him until I die
Oh I can never forget, I am ever in His debt
For brilliant sunshine on my face
And a constant flow of heaven’s grace
How could I hope to reimburse
The Master of the universe?
I cannot repay Him, even so I’ll try
And with every breathe He lends to me
I will serve Him until I die
Oh, I can never forget, I am ever in His debt
Now we attend the mission farewells of our grandchildren and hear music their parents have written to send them off. Nate serves in Brazil, Sarah in the Philippines, and Jason in San Diego. A fourth grandchild, Jake, will receive his call this week. These are happy times for our family as the Mission Music Merry-Go-Round continues.
A few years ago we decided to combine all of our mission-related music on one two-CD set entitled THE ARMY OF HELAMAN:Ultimate Missionary Collection.If you’re in the missionary season of life or know someone who is, or was, or will be, you might enjoy this collection of forty songs on the subject.
Janice Kapp Perry: composer, author, lecturer.
THE ARMY OF HELAMAN: Ultimate Missionary Collection
40 Missionary-Themed songs by Janice Kapp Perry, Steven Kapp Perry, & Lynne Perry Christofferson.
SAVE 25% ON THIS TWO-CD SET NOW THROUGH THE END OF JULY
(Reg. $19.98, Sale Price $15.98)
CLICK HERE TO ORDER
