This one came to me while reading Doctrine and Covenants Section 10. I was impressed with the rhythm of the verse that became the first part of the chorus, "I am He who came unto my own and my own received me not. I am the light which shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not." And that passage is repeated many times in other revelations, so I thought, this is significant! I'd better think about it! If you read D&C you'll note that the occasion of this revelation is following the event where Martin Harris loses the first 116 translated pages of the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon. After this happens, the Lord revokes Joseph's privilege to translate for a time. Then finally, this revelation comes. I think we can feel Joseph's joy as the plates and the gift of translation are restored to him.

For this song, I left out the parts where they are getting chastised and I focused on the positive aspects. For me there is a combination of themes here that I really like: - The ancient inhabitants of this continent knew of the Gospel of Christ and lived it - They kept records and want us to know what they knew - The Gospel is free to all people who will live it - This land is blessed to be a place of freedom for people of all races, languages, etc. - God is the light of all people and has revealed these things to us and brought them to pass. To those of us who have lived our whole lives with the benefits of freedom in the United States and with the knowledge that comes from the Book of Mormon, it's easy to take a lot of these things for granted. But if you think about it from Joseph's point of view, here he was as a young man in the 1830's, with the American Revolutionary War a mere 50 or so years in the past. America was a new and exciting thing, and this record he was just beginning to bring forth was equally exciting, as it told the history of another people who found freedom and worshipped God in this land.

V1
I am he who said, "Other sheep have I,
Which are not of this fold."
And many there were that understood me not.
But I will show unto this people that they were a branch of Jacob.

And I will bring to the light
Their marvelous works which they did in my name.
I will bring to the light my gospel
Which was ministered unto them

SHORT CHORUS
For I am the light,
I am the light,
I am the light,
I am the light.

V2
And this was their faith:
That this gospel should be made known
Unto all that might possess this land.
Therefore, I will unfold unto them
This great mystery,

If they will come, they may
And partake of the waters of life freely
Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me,
The same is my church.

CHORUS
I am He who came unto my own
And my own received me not.
I am the light which shineth in the darkness
And the darkness comprehendeth it not.

I am the light,
I am the light,
I am the light,
I am the light.

BRIDGE
And thus they did leave a blessing in their prayers,
That this land might be free unto all
Of whatever nation, kindred, tongue or people they may be.

And now, remember the words of him
Who is the life and light of the world
Your Redeemer, your Lord and your God.

CHORUS
I am He who came unto my own
And my own received me not.
I am the light which shineth in the darkness
And the darkness comprehendeth it not.

I am the light,
I am the light,
I am the light,
I am the light.

And thus they did leave a blessing in their prayers...

Visitor Comments