One by One

This Sunday our choir reconvened after the summer break.  It was good to sing with everyone again!  The first song we're working on is a simple hymn by Janice Kapp Perry and John V. Pearson, called "One by One."  I found it in Volume 3 of Janice Kapp Perry's Inspirational New Hymns.    I love it because it's about my favorite story in the Book of Mormon, when Christ visited the Americas and ministered to the people one by one.  When I was young, I wished with all my heart that I could have been one of the children He blessed and prayed for.  :)  The words are beautiful and the melody is simple and tender.

One by One

Music by Janice Kapp Perry

Text by John V. Pearson

One by one they saw Him come and heard God speak: "This is my Son."

Then Christ stretched forth His hand to them and bid each one come near.

And one by one they felt His side--the prints of nails in Jesus' hands

And all fell down at Jesus' feet and worshipped Him with tears

One by one to Christ they came and brought their blind, their sick, their lame.

And Jesus laid His hands on them and healed them ev'ry one.

And each bowed down and worshipped Him and all the multitude drew near.

And each who came did kiss His feet  and bathe His feet in tears.

One by one the children came and sat round Jesus on the ground

And Jesus took and blessed each one--and wept and prayed for them.

No tongue can speak the words He said but joy filled all who heard Him pray.

And angels came in wreaths of flame and ministered to them.

One by one Christ bids us come and bring our sins and cares to Him.

And He will lay his hands on us and heal us ev'ry one.

And may we feel His riven side and see the nail prints in his hands.

And we shall fall and worship Him and wash His feet with tears.