As we approach this Easter season, my mind has been reflecting back on a piece I wrote just before Easter in 2002. My appreciation for Easter and what it really means had changed dramatically the previous year.

Life Changing Event

The Spring of 2002 was about a year and a half after my brother's family was involved in an automobile accident and he and his wife were both killed and all five children survived. Very shortly after this tragic event, my wife and I, without reserve, took in their five children into our family of six children. Needless to say, it was a crazy and challenging time! 🫨 Maybe I'll share more of that story in a different post sometime.

By this time, I was physically and emotionally drained (we all were) and I needed some kind of outlet! I turned to composing, which I had been unable to focus on at all during the previous year.

The Inspiration

The accident and all that followed had also caused me to take a good look at my life and my relationship with God. Not surprisingly, I found that I wanted to make some changes! Two passages of scripture became the inspiration for a new piece that was eventually entitled, "Mine Arm is Lengthened Out."

"...how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
- Luke 13:34

For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me;
- 2 Nephi 28:32

I found a few more related passages and I compiled them into the text for the piece. (The full text for the piece is included below.)

New Territory

I had previously written several choral pieces, but nothing I would really call advanced. For this piece, I wanted to do something that would really do justice to the words and would be suitable for a really good, advanced university choir. I wasn't sure I could pull it off! But I decided to give it a try and see if I could write something that would be interesting and suitable for the Brigham Young University Singers, directed at the time by Dr. Ronald Staheli.

Show and Tell ... and Rework!

By the end of March, the piece was really beginning to take shape. I was trying to get it done in time to show it to Dr. Staheli before the end of the school year, which I was able to do. When I showed him the piece, he said that it was good, but he pointed out a couple of spots that were a bit weak and trite and not really worthy of the text. I went right to work to resolve those issues. In the process, I completely reworked the “Incline your ear” section and the ending. When I took it back for Dr. Staheli to hear, he told me something like this: “You have taken a very good piece and turned it into an outstanding piece” and told me that he would like to program the piece for his group.

Performance and Recording

The BYU Singers debuted Mine Arm is Lengthened Out on November 15, 2002 and performed it again in April of 2003. The choir had a tremendous experience with the music and the audiences really seemed to like the piece as well. This piece was included on the BYU Singers’ CD, “My Redeemer Lives” released in 2004.

Since then, Mine Arm is Lengthened Out has been performed by various choirs across the country and I have received several comments from both performers and listeners about how deeply the music and text has affected them. I feel the same way about how it has affected me!

After this fabulous experience, I wrote additional pieces that considerably helped me to continue to process and cope with the grief and the aftermath of "the accident." Those pieces include: Snowflakes, Some Rain Must Fall, and After the Rain.

It has now been more than 23 and a half years since "the accident" and we are certainly still dealing with the aftermath. I am so grateful for the Savior and His atonement and resurrection that provide so many blessings of comfort, healing, and hope for the future. Along with that, I often think back and recognize what a critically important part both writing and listening to music have played over the years in helping me to process, cope and heal. I love that aspect of music!

Best,

Mine Arm is Lengthened Out

• SATB divisi and piano

• Text adapted from scripture (noted below)

Text

Mine arm is lengthened out all the day long
And yet, they will deny me (2 Nephi 28:32)
Yet, they will not come unto me and partake. (1 Nephi 8:18)
How oft would I have gathered you
As a hen gathereth her brood?
How oft would I have gathered you together
But ye would not! (Luke 13:34)

Incline your ear and come unto me:
Hear and your soul shall live. (Isaiah 55:3)
I shall lengthen out mine arm from day to day
And I will be merciful to those that come unto me. (2 Nephi 28:32)
Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of mine hands. (Isaiah 49:16)