Music

To sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please CLICK HERE.

Each January for decades I have made a short list of things I hoped to accomplish in the coming year, both musically and spiritually, and have had reasonable success in meeting those goals. Maybe it’s just growing older that changed my perspective this year, but I had a whole different feeling as I considered my list. Rather than looking forward, I felt a stronger desire to look backward and feel gratitude for blessings of the past. I remember one of the apostles suggesting, years ago, that it might be a good idea to occasionally offer a prayer in which we ask for nothing, but simply thank the Lord for our blessings. I tried that on the very day he suggested it, and it was indeed a sweet experience. I decided to do that again this year, keeping in mind these instructive words from President Henry B. Eyring:

You could have an experience with the Holy Ghost today. You could begin a private prayer with thanks. You could start to count your blessings, and then pause for a moment. If you exercise faith, and with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you will find that
memories of other blessings will flood your mind. If you begin to express gratitude
for each one of them, your prayer may take a little longer than usual. Remembrance
will come. And so will gratitude. (1)

Remembrance did come, and with it, gratitude. And tears. My mind was literally flooded with things I am grateful for. Topping the list was the unique blessing of having every one of our children and their families living right here with us in Utah Valley where we can easily gather for all the important occasions. There are no words to describe what this means to us! At Christmas time last month we all gathered at our Provo home, with not one single person missing—not even a missionary this year—and in the happy chaos of our Christmas party, we pushed the furniture aside and gathered the family together for a complete family photo taken by our grandson and expert photographer, Nate.

Perry Family December 2015

Here are the words to a short little family song I wrote for the Church this year. If you’d like a free copy of the sheet music please send your email address to pr******@*ol.com with the words “Family Tree” in the subject line.

There is Love in Our Family Tree

Words and music by Janice Kapp Perry

There is love in our family tree
I love my family, they love me
Some were born before me
Some will follow after
We are linked together happily
There is love in our family tree

There is joy in our family tree
We live together in harmony
Often we will gather
Sharing fun and laughter
When we are together life is sweet
There is joy in our family tree

There is faith in our family tree
We follow Jesus so willingly
Keeping His commandments
Brings us heaven’s blessings
We can live with Him eternally
There is faith in our family tree

So many other blessings came to mind as I continued my gratitude prayer: Ancestors from Holland and the British Isles who embraced the gospel and came to Zion where we now enjoy the full blessings of the gospel; the privilege of being born in this free country into a faithful LDS family where I would be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ; missions and temple marriages among the grandkids; living in a city with two temples close by; doctors who keep both my husband’s and my heart in good repair; wonderful ward members with whom we share our lives; church leaders who inspire and watch over us; having the Missionary Training Center, the Provo Temple and BYU’s football stadium within walking distance; the beautiful spirit we feel from those who attend our firesides; those who help with our family history and temple work; the blessings of collaborating with talented writers and musicians in the church and having other instrumentalists and vocalists make something beautiful of our simple songs as they record them; and so many other blessings that I became aware of as I prayed.

I especially feel gratitude for those family members and very close friends who share in our lives more intimately—those who actively watch over us in one way or another daily, keeping us safe, helping us solve problems, being there when we need a listening ear or a comforting word, bringing food when we are sick and laughter to brighten our lives. Recently I wrote new words on this subject to the familiar hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” We are all walking through this wilderness life together, helping each other reach the promised land. I dedicate this song to all those who surround us and bless us in such helpful ways.

As We Walk This Life Together

(from the album “My Faith in Jesus Leads Me On”)

Tune : Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Words © 2009 Janice Kapp Perry
Vocals: Johanne Fréchette Perry, Tanya Barkdull, Tammy Simister Robinson

As we walk this life together
God will heaven’s blessings send
And oft time we feel His caring
Through a true and faithful friend
When life’s sorrows overwhelm us
And our pleading prayers ascend
He may send us consolation
Through a kind and constant friend

As we walk this life together
With misfortune we contend
Acts of kindness and compassion
Bind us to our faithful friends
Those who strengthen and protect us
And stand by us to the end
Make our daily burdens lighter
As our loyal, loving friends

As we walk this life together
Earthly angels will attend
In our need we find safe haven
With a sure and steady friend
In our anguish we reach out to those
On whose love we may depend
And find peace and reassurance
In the shelter of true friends

One special blessing our family received in 2015 was seeing our three-months-premature great grandson, Boston Koa Walters, progress from being so tiny we didn’t see how he could survive, to finally coming home from the hospital well and whole. Family members prayed in faith and unity for him during the three months he was in the NICU overcoming setbacks and eventually rebounding to good health, and our hearts were overflowing with gratitude when he was blessed to make it. The photos above are of him at birth and then at home 100 days later.

As I was pondering about all of the great blessings in my life, I also realized how many smaller blessings mean so much to me each day. Sister Bonnie Parkin said, “Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things that gladden our hearts with their message of God’s love.” (2) [Italics added]

Here are a few of those “smallest things that gladden my heart”: A caring friend to walk with every morning, seeing the sun rise over Rock Canyon and the Provo Temple each morning as we walk, a home with everything on the main floor, BYU games and Utah Jazz games, a comfortable car with seat warmers, the changing face of Mt. Timpanogos each season, housekeepers that come once a month, an ipad and iphone (and those who help me figure them out), my Hispanic piano students’ progress, the policeman who stopped to help me shovel snow Christmas morning, the chance to clean the chapel when it’s our turn, and emails and phone calls from children and grandchildren.

I’m even thankful for the opportunities that challenge me and help me grow: Teaching Relief Society (for how much I learn), speaking at the Missionary Training Center (because of the great spirit we feel there), speaking at the Women’s Prison (because they are so appreciative), writing articles for Meridian Magazine (because it forces me to record some aspect of my life), and to Covenant Communications (for publishing our legacy book of songs and hymns in 2015).

I’m thankful that in their daily work, our children work in family history, provide uplifting gospel and classical music over the airwaves, manage our gospel music business, and write and publish both music and prose. No one is getting rich, but all are making contributions that better the world and I know from experience that is a happy way to live and something to be very thankful for.

I still might write down a few things I would like to accomplish during the year ahead, but for now I’m pretty content basking in the blessings of the past—the good things and good people in my life—and hoping the coming year can be as nice. And also hoping that I can do better in helping others to feel God’s love by being the kind of friend others have been to me. As our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, says, “Do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.” (3)

Janice Kapp Perry: Composer, Author, Lecturer

Notes: 

(1) Henry B. Eyring, “Remembrance and Gratitude,” General Conference, October, 1989.

(2) Bonnie D. Parkin, “Gratitude, a Path to Happiness,” General Conference, April, 2007.

(3) Thomas S. Monson, “The Divine Gift of Gratitude,” General Conference, October, 2010.

There is another song available for free based on the Church’s 2016 youth them, “We Must Keep Pressing Forward.” To obtain this sheet music please email pr******@*ol.com with “Press Forward” in the subject line.

As a reminder, the annual 50% Discount Sale on www.JaniceKappPerry.com goes until Jan. 31^st. You must enter MERRY2015 in the “promo code” box when ordering, all items are discounted except those with a single * or double ** in their title (those items are produced by other companies).