From General Conference: Close As a Quiet Prayer
A long time ago in what feels like a galaxy far, far away (Georgia, actually, and I could use a star cruiser to get there), this grandbaby was born:
Not long thereafter, I wrote “Close As a Quiet Prayer” for Killian. He didn’t much care at the time, being more interested in bottles and toys and baby stuff.
Fast forward to the April, 2025 session of General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The amazing Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, directed by the amazing Ryan Murphy, sang Ryan’s arrangement of this song during the Sunday afternoon session.
It was, as you would expect, glorious and beautiful. My grandson (who is now 9 years old) and I cried through it — across the country from each other.
Here’s a recording of the broadcast from that afternoon:
The arrangement and the delivery were both perfect. Ryan has again graciously provided the arrangement used by the Choir for download here. The arrangement is, of course, set for organ, but it looks quite accessible.
Thank you to Ryan Murphy and to the Choir for this lovely performance.
And thank you to my wonderful Killian for crying with me across the country. 🙂
Links to material in this post
Close As a Quiet PrayerÂ
Close As a Quiet Prayer (Ryan Murphy arrangement)
Handy info…
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The members of our ward Aaronic Priesthood Quorums, along with their advisers and some of the ward choir men, are singing this song on Father’s Day in our ward’s sacrament meeting. It’s a simple, but very beautiful melody that testifies of a Father above who is always close via prayer. Our Young Men are excited to sing this, especially since it hit the airwaves during General Conference.
Absolutely beautiful!!! We plan to sing for our worship service as soon as we can prepare it! Thank you for sharing this gift of music!
Aren’t you just blown away by the Choir singing your song! What a wonderful gift to you and your family! I so appreciate every song you offer for me and so many other to get the music!
I enjoy learning the songs that I don’t know! Thank you so much!
I love your music! I have had music callings in every ward I’ve lived in, and your music has been so wonderful and helpful. Thank you for sharing your talents so freely and gracefully.
Thank you so much for such beautiful, stirring music and for so generously sharing it with us for free! As a pianist and former choir director it is greatly appreciated!!
This is so beautiful and meaningful. Thank-you for sharing it with us.
If it is possible, I would love to see more 2-part compositions. My small village church choir keeps getting smaller as we age. Two part anthems would be lovely. My choir is a fan of your work, and your generosity in sharing.
I, along with millions of others, love all of your music, Sally. I have been looking for your hymns with each group of new hymns. This is beautiful and I can see why Ryan used it in General Conference. Thank you once again for sharing your gift of music with the world.
Thanks as always for your wonderful writings and songs , and also your arrangements. I have admired and enjoyed your music for years. I also admired the absolute sharing of your gifts. You are a true daughter of God. Thank you. Linda
BEAUTIFUL – Simply beautiful. The lyrics are perfect as a gentle reminder that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. He is there!! We appreciate your shared talent Sally. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this. I love the music you have written. One of my all-time favorite songs is “If the Savior Stood Beside Me.” When I served as a General Authority Seventy and was doing stake conferences on weekends, I would ask to have it sung as a standing intermediate hymn in the Saturday evening session of the conference. I have played it often as prelude music for the meeting of the Seventy’s Quorum at church headquarters. I am also my ward’s Primary Pianist, and I often play it as prelude in Primary. The words never fail to move me. I have shed tears many times at the thoughts conveyed in that beautiful piece you wrote. You are one of my heroes. Thank you for using your enormous creative gifts to bless so many in God’s Kingdom. I have thought about you often and am glad to have this opportunity of expressing my gratitude for what you have done. Larry Y. Wilson
This is so beautiful, Sally. I am asking choir director to have us sing this anthem.
So tender and inspiring. Thank you for unselfishly sharing your talents with the rest of us.
Beautiful and inspiring!
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible talents with us!!
Dear Sally,
Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and sweet spirit with us.
I love your music—there is always a special spirit in it. Your music always touches my heart. Warm greetings from Mexico City.
What a beautiful song! Thank you for sharing this arrangement of it. I am much interested in choral arrangements of the new hymns for my ward choir. We are have limited resources, but this looks like one we can do. We also have a cellist who should be able to work up the obligato.
I am amazed at how generous you are with your works, to offer them free of charge, and Brother Murphy, also. Thank you so much!
My husband suggested that I share with the choir your story of how this song came about, and about how you shared tears with your grandson when the Tabernacle Choir sang it in conference. I think that was a great idea!
Thank you, Sally. This arrangement had me absolutely mesmerized – please also thank Br. Murphy for his generosity in sharing. This will be sung during our mission in Berlin!
Such a lovely piece with a dear message!
Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!!!
So, so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your wonderful, God-given prayer which you so generously let us use. As a former member of the Tabernacle Choir, I have sung many of your works as a solo. Thanks again. Ann
This is beautiful! I look forward to playing it on my flute. I really love your music as I know it will be appropriate for church services. 😀
Thank you Sally. It is beautiful. I love your reflective music.
I also work in Church music.
God bless you in your ministry.
Patrice
As always, I am grateful for Sally and her music. I have used many of her anthems and solis/duets over many years.
Close as a Quiet Prayer is lovely and special personally to Killian and Sally. I hope to use it for a much smaller choir than the MTC! It will be beautiful as a solo too.
I think it is really cool that the church is extending for some new songs to not only appeal to newer generations but to multiple cultures as well. IMHO this move is 30 years slow.
This is a cool song that your grandson will cherish for many years. I relish the music you write and make available. I use many of your arrangements and softly re-arrange them for instrumental. Works out so cool too. This one will be a while to instrument as we get used to the tune over time. The message is also important and needs to be heard at this time.
Beautiful song for a beautiful little boy that seems to have grown up to appreciate it. Thank you for your beautiful music Sally and being so willing to share your songs from the heart with the world.
As one of my favorite composers, I am thrilled you were honored with such a beautiful arrangement from Ryan Murphy. Your legacy of faith lives forever through your music. How blessed I feel, and grateful, to live in the same time and place as you, dear friend.
I was not able to watch conference, so hadn’t heard this song. It is beautiful.