I Am a Child of God
Encyclopedia
"I Am a Child of God" is a Latter-day Saint hymn
and song for children. The lyrics were written in 1957 by Naomi W. Randall
and have been translated into over 90 languages. The phrase "I Am a Child of God" is also used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a declaration of a basic belief of Mormonism
.
Randall composed the first three verses of "I Am a Child of God" at the request of the general board of the Primary Association
, of which she was a member. The board wanted a song that could teach children about LDS Church teachings on the nature of a child's relationship with God
. Randall described how she composed the song:
Randall mailed the lyrics to her friend Mildred T. Pettit in California
, who wrote the accompanying music.
asked the Primary general board, of which Randall was a part, if the phrase "Teach me all that I must know / To live with him someday" could be changed to "Teach me all that I must do / To live with him someday". As Kimball later explained, "To know isn't enough. The devils know and tremble; the devils know everything. We have to do something." Randall accepted the change.
, the decision was made to not include the fourth verse because it was considered by the Church Correlation Committee
to be "not officially part of the song". When a new church songbook for children
was produced in 1989, the fourth verse was included.
"I Am a Child of God" is hymn #301 in Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
and on page #2 in the Children's Songbook
.
In February 2007, the LDS Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the writing of "I Am a Child of God".
. However, Intellectual Reserve allows copying or downloading of the music and lyrics of the song for incidental, noncommercial church, or noncommercial home uses. In the United States
, the phrase "I Am a Child of God" is not trademark
ed and may be used by anyone for commercial purposes.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hymns
This article is about LDS church hymns in general, for the book, see Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Latter-day Saint hymns come from many sources, and there have been numerous hymn books printed by the Church since its organization in 1830...
and song for children. The lyrics were written in 1957 by Naomi W. Randall
Naomi W. Randall
Naomi Harriet Ward Randall was a Latter-day Saint songwriter and author and a leader in the Primary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and have been translated into over 90 languages. The phrase "I Am a Child of God" is also used in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a declaration of a basic belief of Mormonism
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
.
Composition
Primary Association
The Primary is a children's organization and an official auxiliary within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, of which she was a member. The board wanted a song that could teach children about LDS Church teachings on the nature of a child's relationship with God
God the Father
God the Father is a gendered title given to God in many monotheistic religions, particularly patriarchal, Abrahamic ones. In Judaism, God is called Father because he is the creator, life-giver, law-giver, and protector...
. Randall described how she composed the song:
I got down on my knees and prayed aloud, pleading that our Heavenly Father would let me know the right words.
Around 2:00 a.m., I awakened and began to think again about the song. Words came to my mind. … I immediately got up and began to write the words down as they had come to me. Three verses and a chorus were soon formed.
I gratefully surveyed the work, drank of the message of the words, and returned to my bedroom where I knelt before my Father in Heaven to say "Thank you!"
Randall mailed the lyrics to her friend Mildred T. Pettit in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, who wrote the accompanying music.
Word change
The song was first performed at a stake Primary conference in 1957. After hearing the performance, LDS Apostle Spencer W. KimballSpencer W. Kimball
Spencer Woolley Kimball was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1973 until his death in 1985.-Ancestry:...
asked the Primary general board, of which Randall was a part, if the phrase "Teach me all that I must know / To live with him someday" could be changed to "Teach me all that I must do / To live with him someday". As Kimball later explained, "To know isn't enough. The devils know and tremble; the devils know everything. We have to do something." Randall accepted the change.
Publication and additional verse
The song was first published in the church's 1969 Sing with Me, a songbook for children. In 1978, Randall composed a fourth verse to the song. However, when the song was added to the LDS Church's 1985 hymnalHymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
, the decision was made to not include the fourth verse because it was considered by the Church Correlation Committee
Priesthood Correlation Program
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Priesthood Correlation Program is a program designed to provide a systematic approach to maintain consistency in its ordinances, doctrines, organizations, meetings, materials, and other programs and activities...
to be "not officially part of the song". When a new church songbook for children
Children's Songbook
The Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official songbook for children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was first published in English in 1989...
was produced in 1989, the fourth verse was included.
"I Am a Child of God" is hymn #301 in Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)
Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
and on page #2 in the Children's Songbook
Children's Songbook
The Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official songbook for children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was first published in English in 1989...
.
Use and popularity
"I Am a Child of God" is one of the 45 hymns that the church publishes in its basic curriculum sources that are used in areas of the world where the church is new or underdeveloped. Thus, it is typically one of the first hymns that new Latter-day Saints receive and learn. The song has been translated into over 90 languages and has been the subject of numerous musical adaptations by choirs and other musicians. "I Am a Child of God" is a common phrase used in curriculum, magazines, sermons, and children's clothing, jewelry and novelties as a means of teaching a basic doctrine of Mormonism in simple language.In February 2007, the LDS Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of the writing of "I Am a Child of God".
Copyright
The copyright to "I Am a Child of God" is owned by Intellectual Reserve, Inc., a corporation established by the LDS Church to hold its intellectual propertyIntellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
. However, Intellectual Reserve allows copying or downloading of the music and lyrics of the song for incidental, noncommercial church, or noncommercial home uses. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the phrase "I Am a Child of God" is not trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
ed and may be used by anyone for commercial purposes.
External links
- "I Am a Child of God" : words and music from Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsHymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
- "I Am a Child of God" : words and music from 1989 Children's SongbookChildren's SongbookThe Children's Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official songbook for children in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was first published in English in 1989...
- "I Am a Child of God" : free MP3 download