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Jan 18, 2016

Last October, a primary choir sang a medley of “Search, Ponder, and Pray” and “I Think When I Read That Sweet Story.” I was asked to arrange this specifically for the conference, and the sheet music was not then available. Now, thanks to the lovely folks in the Music and Cultural Arts office… ***drum roll*** the score can be downloaded from music.lds.org directly here: Children’s Medley Sheet Music

There is also an MP3 of the conference children’s choir singing it here: Children’s Medley MP3 The children’s choir did not include the optional harmonies in the score.

Because “If I Listen With My Heart” is being used in the Primary Program this year, I’ve had a lot of requests for the story behind the song. I’ll try to word it simply so you can use it in your Primaries if you wish.

One Sunday when my daughter, Amy, was a little girl, we were both sick. We had to miss church, and we were both asleep in bed. After church, Amy’s dad woke both of us to say that our home teacher had come to help give us a blessing. I wasn’t happy to have to wake up, and I was less happy to have to climb out of bed, but I grumped out into the living room. We had our blessings, and I grumped back to bed.

Later that week, Amy said to me, “Mom, you know when dad gave us a blessing when we were sick?

I did remember.

“Well,” she continued, “When dad put his hands on my head I felt soooooo good inside!”

Amy had listened with her heart, and I had not. So she heard the Savior’s voice comforting her, and I missed it. That’s why I wrote this song for her–because she had taught me a wonderful lesson about listening to the Holy Ghost.

Many of you have asked for an even simpler accompaniment for this song than the one included in the booklet, so here’s an easier version still: If I Listen With My Heart – (Children’s Voices Very Easy)

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9 Comments

JaLayne on October 20, 2016 at 4:25 pm

I especially love the third verse of this song. I taught it to primary children years ago. I think it so clearly teaches the ways the Holy Ghost blesses our lives. I am now quoting it in Portuguese as we serve a mission in Brazil.

Jalayne
Rah on October 19, 2016 at 7:09 pm

Kia ora Sally. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful talents. I really appreciate your music, and especially the stories behind the songs. Arohanui ki a koe. Xo
Tara on May 25, 2016 at 2:21 pm

Thank you so much! We are singing this for our Primary Program this year!
Tacy M on January 18, 2016 at 9:12 pm

Thanks, Sally! You are the BEST!
Peter Nenke on January 18, 2016 at 2:53 pm

Hi Sally, There seems to be a word missing in the lyrics of the second line of the second verse on the simplified music sheet.
This is a beautiful song and my wife says the primary children love it and have learned it really quickly.
Thanks for all your lovely music.
Peter from Australia
- Sally on January 18, 2016 at 3:00 pm
  
  Thanks Peter! All fixed. (You may need to refresh the PDF when it loads.) 🙂
Darlene on January 18, 2016 at 2:24 pm

Thank you Sally for that story. I am no long in Primary, but I love learning the Primary songs and I use them sometimes in Relief Society. Children teach us so much, don’t they.
Lynn on January 18, 2016 at 2:20 pm

Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your talents, Sister DeFord! This was SUCH a beautiful arrangement! And I love hearing the story behind ‘If I Listen With My Heart’. 🙂
Michelle on January 18, 2016 at 1:31 pm

Thank you so much for sharing these. I just listened to the medley again and felt the spirit fill my heart. And it’s always neat to hear the story behind a song. Thank you, thank you.