Like a good number of my songs, this one came to me while I was reading in the Book of Mormon. I was reading along, and I noticed that there were a lot of repetitions and patterns in the text. That clued me in that the author wasn't just telling a story or giving a speech; he was writing poetry. Once I read it again with that in mind, I started thinking of ways that it could be sung and that's how I got the main song.

The instrumental that plays at the beginning and the end was in my head when I woke up one morning, which also happens pretty often. I ran to the computer and wrote the snippet down, then realized that it could fit really well on the beginning of this song. I have a lot of little snippets waiting for a song to attach themselves to. Maybe I should write jingles!

Technically speaking, this is the first song where I've used french horn. Brass instruments are always hard for me because... well... they sound so brassy. And that sounds synthy. But in this case I think it worked out, thanks again to Garritan Personal Orchestra, my go-to solution for orchestral instruments.

Thou art merciful, O God,
for thou hast heard my prayer,
even when I was in the wilderness;

Yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed
concerning my enemies,
and thou didst turn them to me.

And thou wast merciful unto me
when I cried unto thee
in my field and in my house,

Thou didst hear me, O Lord.
when I prayed unto thee,
thou didst hear me.

And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me

Yea, thou art merciful to thy children
when they cry unto thee,
to be heard of thee and not of men, thou wilt hear them.

Thou hast been merciful to me,
and hast heard my cries
in the midst of thy congregations.

Thou hast also heard me
when I have been cast out
and been despised by mine enemies;

Yea, because of mine afflictions
and my sincere desires;
thou didst hear me.

And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me

Therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions,
for in thee is my joy;
for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me,
because of thy Son.
thou hast heard me.

BREAK

And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me
And thou didst hear me

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