BYU NewsNet - Book of Mormon hymns written by Utah residents

Not many hymns had been written about the Book of Mormon until a woman went on a walk near her home in Washington, Utah.

“Sacred Hymns of the Book of Mormon” is a hymnbook of 32 songs, not published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The hymns were written specifically about significant figures and events in the Book of Mormon.

Marilyn Arnold is a retired BYU professor of English. While at BYU she was also an assistant to President Dallin H. Oaks. Additionally, she was the dean of Graduate Studies under President Jeffrey R. Holland and President Rex Lee. “Sacred Hymns of the Book of Mormon” is not Arnold’s first book. She has written books before, such as “Sweet is the Work,” a commentary of her reflections and insights while reading the Book of Mormon.

Arnold noticed a lack of songs regarding the sacred book and began writing poems about Nephi, Alma and Moroni.

“People who aren’t musical can appreciate it as a book of 32 poems,” the writer said. “It works both ways.”

Arnold wrote all of her poems before adding any music.

“I wrote the words first, and the music then came after,” she said.

She asked a woman from her ward, Maurine Ozment, to write the music to her poems. Ozment is the composer of LDS Children Songbook classics “Hello” and “Feliz Cumpleanos.”

“Music is my passion, especially beautiful piano literature,” Ozment said.

Composing the music for the first of Arnold’s poems, “The Waters of Mormon,” was significant to the duo.

“It just came,” Ozment said. “We didn’t have to change a note of music.”

They saw this as a sign that they should continue to create the hymnbook.

“This is something that was meant to be … something that Heavenly Father wanted,” Ozment said.

Ozment’s daughter, Lisa Farr, who is also an accomplished musician, was asked to work on the technical aspects of the hymnbook, such as transcribing the collection of hymns onto the computer.

“As they would complete a hymn they would give it to me, and as soon as I’d finish, they’d have another one ready for me,” Farr said.

Farr’s involvement, although less creative, was still important.

“I had a small role, but a big role in that it needed to happen,” she said.

After a year and a half, the songwriting process was over, and the ladies ended up with a product they were very pleased with.

“As far as the LDS church picking up the hymns, who knows?” Farr said. “Time will tell. We would be honored if it happened.”