Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal!

Last May I got to spend a splendid weekend in Orange Co, California.  Among many fabulous things from that weekend, I heard this beautiful rendition of "Come Ye Disconsolate" performed.  I really liked it and I wished I could sing it, too.  The words are almost straight out of the LDS hymnbook, plus an extra section, but the music is completely different.

Well, time went on and the memory and desire didn't fade.  I wanted to sing, and I wanted to sing this.  Benson and I together spent some time searching.  After a couple of days and quite a bit of time, I finally found a youtube video of it and go the composer's name.  Ordered a copy, found an accompanist (blessed to have a couple of amazing ones at church), and arranged with the ward music leader when I would sing [sidenote: felt impressed to do a certain date and only later did I learn how inspired that was.  In fact, part of the "why" I didn't know until the morning of--but so glad I listened].

Then I started learning it.  It's not an easy arrangement.  I possibly bit off a little more than I was really skilled for, but that challenge was fun at the same time. And it was just SO fun to really learn a piece of music--it has been quite a long while.  Notes, then some coaching with my kind (and super skilled) friend, Sarah.  Then memorizing words and putting it with accompaniment.

Then--the best part. For a couple of weeks I would play the music over and over on my phone as I would drive to and from work and sing.  I just loved singing it SO much.  I wanted to sing over and over and over.  My commute would go by too fast for me (now, that's miraculous, I tell you).  And a sometimes the Spirit would just come so strongly to testify that it was true. 

Finally I got to sing it in sacrament meeting.  I'm not the best vocalist in the world and this wasn't the world's best musical number.  But people felt the Spirit and I know there were those who enjoyed the song.  For me it was a special opportunity to share my testimony, give my own true witness of the truthfulness of the words. I know they are real, because I've experienced the healing and curing and removing; the joy, the peace, the hope.

Come, ye disconsolate.  Where're ye languish.
Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.
Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish.
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, light of the straying. 
Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure.   [these 3 phrases might be my favorite.  Might]
Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying:
Earth has not sorrow, that heaven cannot cure.

There is hope and joy in its pastures.
There is life and light in its stores.
There is peace and love in its meadows,
There is healing on its shores.

There is peace and love in its teachings;
there is comfort in its words.

Here see the bread of life.
See waters flowring
Flow from the throne of God, pure from above.

Come to the feast of love,
Come ever knowing, Earth has no sorrow but heaven can remove.

Earth has no sorrow, that heaven cannot heal.  


Elder Dallin H. Oaks quoted one of the lines in General Conference: Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot cure.  Because I have song this dozens of times in the last couple of months, I recognized it immediately.  I was delighted when Benson texted me a few minutes earlier--he too recognized it (from hearing me in the early weeks of the process).  It will always be special to me. I'm so thankful I listened and learned and shared it. 

I also want to record and remember this: I loved the process of learning the music and sharing it.  I'd forgotten how wonderful that is to me.  I don't think I knew (or at least remembered) how much I love performing music.  It filled my soul with a joy and delight that I haven't felt in a long time.  I need to find ways to do that more!

Come, ye disconsolate