When the Wrong Person Turns Into the Right One.
Last June, Mike House, who is the President of Latter-day Saints in Publishing, Media, and the Arts, wrote to tell me that this august body had voted to bestow one of these awards upon me.
Seriously.
My response: You have the wrong person. Seriously. …no… SERIOUSLY.
Past recipients reads like a Who’s Who in this profession, and I just don’t belong here.
Are you sure you’ve got the right person?
Mike was very kind, and in spite of my objections convinced me to talk to Kimbelry Kofoed, Awards and Recognition specialist.
And that’s what turned the wrong person (me) into absolutely the right person (Kimberly Kofoed). Kimberly is one of those Kindred Spirits that I had somehow known forever. We went down the list and ended up fast friends, even sharing the dubious blessing of MS. (Don’t get me wrong—everybody’s MS is different… just saying… ) We started sharing big ideas, and came up with this:
**sigh**
This is actually one of my songs I love best (if I do say so myself since my grandkids sang it once!) and since Kimberly’s daughters were familiar with it, it was a match made in heaven. (Check out their other music here!)
The sheet music is available on the “For Me Alone” page.
Poor Kimberly. Our project and our friendship was interrupted by the Medical Issue That Shall Not Be Named, and she basically had to finish it up on her own. Worst still, she is now on my list of “Friends I Have Had To Put On Hold For A Year Or Three While I Re-learn the English Dictionary.” Ouch.
As for the recovery, it is coming along S-L-O-W-L-Y. I still can’t type and my texting is limited to what I have in my autocorrect and what I can glean from “Speak now..” on Google. You have no idea how long it takes me to even sound out the words in this post. Lucky me. Lucky you! 🙂
Handy info…
Since you asked: How to Find Translations on This SiteFinding translations here is super easy. This is what you do: […]
Resizing Scores Using the Personal Composer DemoStep by step instructions on resizing scores or text using the Personal Composer demo. […]- Transposing Using Personal ComposerHow to transpose .pc scores using the Personal Composer Demo. Step by step instructions. […]
I love your music and pray all will settle down and be as close to normal as possible. Of course, one wonders what normal really is. Prayed and God bless.
Sally: I am so sad to learn of your MS. I am grateful you are recovering and pray God’s speed in that recovery. You have inspired SO many of us as you’ve shared your music. Just yesterday, I received a note from my dear Catholic friend, Jenelle, who I knew in high school. Her daughter died suddenly on the volleyball court when she was 18. (This was in 1994) I sent her a cassette tape of “Because He Lives” and in her birthday note yesterday, she reminded me that the music and message of your song was very comforting. She played it over and over again. Bless you for sharing this beautiful music. Much Love to you, Sally.
So sorry to hear about your medical issue. Prayers for you.
Another beautiful piece of music. The Lord must have taught and coached you in pre-mortal existence! Thank you much for this privilege to have received this new beautiful piece of music I’m sharing with another fan of yours!
The Lord’s blessings with continued extending your talent as a gift to us, His other children.
So good to hear from you again. Congratulations! Well deserved. I sang your 2025 Christmas carol in our ward in December and it was loved, even though I was tearful. It’s harder to sing when emotional but I made it through. And the beauty of the lyrics struck many chords. Thank you! May your recovery continue. Love.
Of course you deserve recognition! Your music and lyrics has uplifted me so many times, and you are so generous with your enormous talent! I had no idea you struggle with chronic illness. Life is full of blessings, and also full of tests. You’re going on my prayer list at once. This song strengthens my faith. Thank you!
You have the most beautiful talent. I’m so happy you have shared and will continue to share it with everyone. I have used so many of your songs. They truly bring the spirit when they are sung.
I am so sorry to hear you have MS and are having problems communicating. We love this song and you will be in my prayers.
Sally! I’m overjoyed to see you’re online and trudging through the English language uphill through the icy mud. We’re all cheering you on in our corner of this world! I love this video and this song. And that is a lovely piece of glass, very well deserved, my friend! Now someone should give you an award for re-learning English the hard way. We continue to pray for you every single day. We sing your music often, hear others perform it frequently, and smile every time. We’re sending you lots and lots and LOTS of love!
We Love you and your music. I use it all thetime for our Stake Choir and our Youth Christmas Concert.
We Pray for your quick recovery
We have been praying!!!!!! If there is ANY improvement that you can feel, you are on the road to recovery!
Congratulations on this well-deserved award!!!
Hugs!!
Love you Sally and yes you DO deserve this award, are you kidding? You have selflessly shared your gift with everyone all your life and this is just a little moment to reflect how much light it brings to others. You are loved 🥰 🌷
How pleased was I to see an email in my Inbox from you 🙂
This award is 200% rightfully awarded to you
As to your current situation, thank you for struggling to make contact, we continue to petition healing for you, strength for you and peace for you and yours.
Keep fighting, never give up, recovering is slow, progress, battled for. My dad walked this road, absolutely life changing for him but new abilities were still ticked off and celebrated many years later.
Sally, you are most certainly deserving of every recognition! We have seen, felt, and been the recipients of your gift and are beyond grateful. You have brought us closer to Christ, and for that, no award is adequate but the blessings of God upon you. Hang in there and stay amazing. We will wait. <3
You are surely more than worthy of this honor, Sister DeFord. Thank you for so generously sharing your admirable talent with the rest of us.
I’m so sorry about your health challenges. God bless you.🙏🏻
Congratulations on the long overdue award! Your music has soothed and healed and uplifted my soul so powerfully and constantly, as well as the souls of so many people I know for decades now. As someone who also suffers from a debilitating chronic disease, this song reached out and grabbed my heart and comforted me in ways that only your music can. I hope that you are similarly blessed for all of the love, hard work, and selfless sharing of your immense talents and singularly inspired spirit throughout your life. For all of the good and not-so-good health days, and everything you are physically, spiritually, and emotionally asked to endure, I hope that the exquisit love you have shared with this world reflects back to you and helps lift you up, too. You are so loved, and my heart and soul are forever indebted to you. Thank you.
Congratulations on this award. You deserve it & many more.
I am sorry to hear of your health issues. I have been organist/pianist for a number of denominations & have been grateful to have had the use of your meaningful, spiritual, creative music.
I pray that you return to good health soon & get back to the work that you love & that we reap the benefit.
Many thanks.
Janet
Congratulations! I would say, “It’s about dang time!” Singing in your Easter Cantatas was always the spiritual highlight of my whole year. Thank you for sharing your beautiful talents with me…and the world.
We enjoyed “For Me Alone”. I don’t ever want you to feel alone. You are now on my personal prayer list. The simple acts of kindness become great when prayers are heard and answered.God Bless you!
Also, this new song is beautiful! Stephanie
You are so talented! I am ward choir director here in San Diego and for Easter we sang your gorgeous arrangement of Beautiful Savior. Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us to enjoy and feel God’s love. Blessings to you with your MS journey, Sally. Fondly, Stephanie Persson
I love this song! You are amazing. I have enjoyed & appreciated your musical talents for many years. You are in our prayers. Thank you for sharing your talents with the world!
Well deserved and glad to hear of your slow but sure recovery.
Oh Sally, you were the “right” person for that award in every way! ❤️ What a blessing it was to get to record our favorite song of yours!! The song’s message is so powerful – “if I alone had stumbled, if I alone had strayed …. if I alone bore guilt for which my all could never atone… He would have come for me, for me alone.” Thats the gospel right there – Jesus is the way.
Thank you my dear friend for your legacy of inspiring music. 🤗
I am so excited to read your new post! I’ve been enjoying your music for decades and it’s been a spiritual strength! I believe you deserve that award! Thank you for putting the time and effort into making this post.
Hi Sally. I am the Minister of Music at Avon United Church in Hantsport, Nova Scotia, Canada. I was horrified to hear about The Medical Issue That Shall Not Be Named – you have my (and my choir’s) prayers for a full recovery. I also wanted to let you know how much your music ministry has impacted our church. We are a small church and, like many others, are struggling to thrive and grow in difficult times. Our congregation is largely comprised of retired members of the community, and I have a miniscule budget for new music. Being able to access wonderful, inspiring music at no charge has been a game changer for us. My choir members know you by name and are excited to find out what new Sally DeFord anthem we will be singing at Christmas or Easter. A member of our congregation who frequently sings solos peruses your website for songs to sing. It is the first place I go when looking for new music for my choir. So, thank you for all you do. You are a gift.
I’ve prayed for you. You have such a gift of music. Thank you for sharing it.
I love you! I love your music! I have been and will continue praying for you.
❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️