Friday, February 13, 2009

Navigating this site

This page was designed so that anyone may have free access to downloadable MP3s and sheet music of my original songs. Each of these songs has been written as I have been influenced at different times in my life by the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are a witness to my testimony of His life and divinity. I have included the lyrics, as well as the story behind each song. I hope you enjoy the music, but more importantly, I hope you feel the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ and the hope and peace that can come only through Him.

As you click on each song title, you will be able to hear the MP3 of that song. The links on the left will direct you to download PDF files of all the sheet music.

Krista Baer is the owner of the copyright of all music on this site, including recordings. Please feel free to use any of this music for personal, family, church, or other non-commercial use. All other rights are reserved, including the creation of derivative works. All songs were written and performed by Krista Baer**

**special thanks to the incomparable Shane Warby for his vocals on "Liberty Jail"

Footsteps, Faces, Hearts and Hands

Lyrics
There is one who knows all my fears,
All my joy, all my sorrow too.
When I cry to Him, I know He hears.
The Spirit whispers words of comfort, words of truth.

With His hands He’ll reach to lift my burden.
With His heart He loves eternally.
With His life in Gethsemane
He suffered for my sins, He paid the price for me.

I made promises long ago.
In this life, my time is not my own.
There are others whom I’ve been called to serve.
Lord, help me share the love which you have always shown.

With my hands I’ll lift another’s burden.
With my heart I’ll love eternally.
With my life I will serve as He.
I will do the work my Savior has for me.

Take my hands, O Lord, Take my heart.
All I have I freely give to thee.
Use my mind, my soul, Use my feet.
That they may swiftly run to help all those in need.

With my hands I’ll lift another’s burden.
With my heart I’ll love eternally.
With my life, I will serve as Thee.
Until my life reflects Thy light inside of me.

Footsteps, faces, hearts and hands, serving Thee.

Story
While living in Albuquerque, I was asked by the Relief Society President of the Paradise Hills Ward to write a song for our upcoming visiting teaching conference. The theme was "Footsteps, Faces, Hearts and Hands." I have always had a strong testimony of the Relief Society and the work that we can do to lift and help one another in our Savior's service. I know there have been times when I have felt inspired to do something for another that seemed trivial at the time, but which I later learned were answers to prayer. There have been many more times when a kind word, a phone call, a meal, an offer to watch my children, have come from dear sisters as an answer to my desperate prayers for help. I hope the Lord will continue to use me as an instrument in blessing his children, and that my life can reflect His light as I serve Him.

Strengthening to Save Generations

Lyrics
As Sisters in Zion we’re following the call
That has come from God above.
As we work to strengthen home and family
We are lifted by the Savior’s love.

Strengthening to save generations.
Building faith in his word.
Striving to obtain exaltation.
If we seek we shall find
the strength of the Lord.

The work we perform in the temples of the Lord
Blesses those who’ve gone before.
Turning hearts young and old as Malachi foretold
Binding families forever more.

Strengthening to save generations.
Building faith in his word.
Striving to obtain exaltation.
If we seek we shall find
The strength of the Lord.

Story
Our first year in Albuquerque I was asked by the Stake Relief Society Presidency of the Albuquerque West Stake to arrange a musical number for their Stake Women's Conference, the theme of which was "Strengthening to Save Generations." I agreed to put something together and then left on an extended trip to visit with family in Utah. I must admit I completely forgot about my responsibility to put this number together. By the time I got back from my vacation, I had only 10 days before the conference to find a number and get a group of women together to perform it. As I started looking into music to go along with the theme I couldn't find ANYTHING!!! I didn't really even know what I was looking for. So I turned to my scriptures and tried to find inspiration. I don't think the Lord always blesses those of us who procrastinate, but I think in order to bless the Sisters of the stake, he went ahead and helped me out anyway. The piano accompaniment is stolen in parts from some of my other music, but it took only a day to put the song together. Without my knowing beforehand what the speakers would say, the song was still able to touch on each of the things spoken about at this conference, and the sisters who performed it did so in such a way that the Spirit was felt by everyone there. It's not one of my favorites, and I'm still ashamed of my procrastination even all these years later, but I include the song as a testimony that the Lord can speak through us if we only give him the opportunity to do so.

I Wonder As I Wander

Lyrics
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die
For poor ornery people like you and like I.
I wonder as I wander out under the sky

When Mary birthed Jesus ‘twas in a cow’s stall
With Wise Men and farmers and shepherds and all
And high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall
And the promise of ages it then did recall

If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing;
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it ‘cause He was the king.

Who is this King of whom angels sing?
That comes to live and die for me.
This child in a stall, the Savior of all.
On bended knee I come unto thee.

Story
My absolute, without a doubt, favorite book of all time is "Jacob Have I Loved' by Katherine Paterson, ©1980. I think I have read it at least 300 times (not kidding). One of my favorite parts of the story is when the twin sisters are singing in their school Christmas concert. I want to quote a little bit of that part because it describes so aptly what I felt the first time I heard this haunting melody.
"...from the center of the back row Caroline's voice came suddenly like a single beam of light across the darkness.... It was a lonely, lonely sound, but so clear, so beautiful that I tightened my arms against my sides to keep from shaking, perhaps shattering....She sang once more by herself, repeating the words of the first verse so quietly that I knew surely I would shatter when she went up effortlessly, sweetly, and, oh, so softly, to the high G, holding it just a few seconds longer than humanly possible and then returning to the last few notes and to silence.... When we left the gymnasium, the stars were so bright, they pulled me up into the sky like powerful magnets. I walked, my head back, my own flat chest pressed up against the bosom of heaven, dazzled by the winking brilliance of the night. "I wonder as I wonder...."
Can you see why it's my favorite book? For years, every time I read that description, I knew I had to write an arrangement of that song. It is unquestionably my favorite Christmas song, and no one can seem to understand why. I love the beauty of the unusual Aeolian melody, the modulations and the unresolved suspensions. To me, it perfectly embodies the wonder of that first Christmas night, when the Savior of all mankind would suffer himself to come down among us, in the most humble of circumstances, out of love for you and me. Every time I find myself outside on a cold, winter night, I can't help but gaze up into the star-filled sky and think about the amazing miracle of the Savior's birth, and the even more amazing miracle that He did all these things out of love for "poor ornery people" like me. I wonder as I wander...

Beautiful Miracle

Lyrics
Long, endless nights I prayed for a child of my own
Then my joy became full when you were born

Now that you’re here I know that you are the one,
The one I’ve been waiting for.
My miracle, my life’s greatest joy,
My beautiful baby boy.
My prayers were answered with you.

Holding you close that first time I looked in your eyes,
I knew you were the one I’d lived for and with you, my son, my life has begun

Beautiful miracle, angel from heaven,
My life’s greatest joy,
My beautiful baby boy.

I love you with all of my soul, and I’ll spend my life loving you.

My life’s greatest joy,
My beautiful baby boy
Words cannot say how much I love you.

For all of my life it was you that I had been waiting for.

Now that you’re here I know that you are the one,
The one I’ve been waiting for.

My life’s greatest joy,
My beautiful baby boy.

Story
Justin and I tried for years with no success to have children. After four years we had given up hope and began looking into adoption. We went to our bishop to begin the application process for LDS Social Services. He told us he felt inspired that we should wait. I wasn't very pleased with this interview and felt that we had waited plenty long already. Within a month of this meeting I found out I was pregnant. When Ethan was born it was truly a miracle. The first time I looked at him I heard this song in my head. When Erik was born, we considered it no less a miracle. But it wasn’t until Erik was almost 2 years old that I was able to put words to the song and give it a voice. Erik had been sick and at 18 months weighed the same as he had at a year. After many intensive tests, the Dr. discovered a severe heart defect. His heart had swelled in his chest to almost 3 times its normal size, and there was a hole in his heart valve. We were devastated by the diagnosis. Along with our family and friends, we fasted and prayed. Erik received a priesthood blessing. When we returned to the pediatric cardiologist for the follow-up visit, there was no heart-defect, and nothing to indicate that there ever had been one. Within a few days he began gaining weight, his health was vastly improved, and he has never had problems with it since. I know that not all prayers are answered in quite this way, and I'm not sure why Erik was healed so miraculously, but that night, I sat down and wrote the rest of the song. When Isaac, our third boy was born, I would sing this song to him as I rocked him at night. I think anyone who has ever loved a child knows what a miracle each one of these precious spirits truly is. The song has worked as a love song for all 3 of my children, and I can't imagine my life without a single one of them. Now I am pregnant with our fourth child. This one's a girl, so I'm not sure I can sing to her "my beautiful baby boy," so I think another love song or lullaby is going to have to be in the works soon....

To Show God's Love

Lyrics
The Savior of the world, God’s own begotten Son
Come to earth from heaven, a perfect, sinless man.
But His life was given to fulfill the Father’s perfect plan.

He sent His son to prepare the way for men
That through Him we might return to God again
In a world of sin and sorrow, there could be no other way.
So a Savior would come
To show the world God’s love

The Spirit calls to me, a pleasant, whispered voice
I lift my eyes to heaven and feel a fire within.
His love can reach and raise me up, if I come unto Him.

I cry to Him and find peace within my soul
His light and joy fill my heart and make me whole
I will praise His name forever, give my life to follow Him.
For the Savior has come
To show the world God’s love.

I cry to Him and find peace within my soul
His light and joy fill my heart and make me whole
There will be an end to sorrow, God shall wipe away all tears
When the Savior comes again
To show the world God’s love.

Story
Alma 36:20-22, 28
And oh ,what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains, Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that other the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy. Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon His throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there.
And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever
Helaman 5:42, 46-48
And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.
And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying; Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. And now when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them.
Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

A few years ago, I was flipping through my old set of seminary scriptures. I had such an amazing Book of Mormon seminary teacher, and this particular set of scriptures was rather dog-eared and very well marked. I noticed in particular the pages of Helaman, chapter five. Not only had I outlined almost every word in highlighter, I had also drawn musical notes around the margins of the entire page. I'm not sure what music I had been hearing all those years ago, but as I re-read the familiar verses, I knew that this was a song I was meant to write. I have always loved the story of Alma and Amulek surrounded by fire, converting all the Lamanite guards in the prison as they realized to which source they needed to look to dispel the darkness. The description of the voice they heard as being "a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper," was such an acute description of how I have felt the Spirit's quiet promptings in my own life. The other words came unbidden to my mind as I realized the other scripture references which also fit so well with this moving story. This was a song that took months to get started, but once the music started coming, it never stopped. This is my favorite piano accompaniment I've ever written, and I love the message of the Lord's plan of Happiness for us, His children, to show us how much He loves each of us.

An Instrument in His Hands

Lyrics
Each day I feel His love. It's a gift I long to share.
One kindness, one small word of love, may be answer to a prayer.
I'll search for souls to serve, with the Savior as my guide.
The Spirit speaks, my heart is full, my soul is satisfied.
I am an instrument in His hands.

In His hands I am a healer.
In His hands I am a friend.
In His hands I'll be filled with charity.
Lord, here am I, send me.
I'll be an instrument in His hands.

I yield my heart to His and His will becomes my own.
His love divine adds strength to mine, that I could not have alone.
I'll seek out those in need. I will strive to do all I can.
And as I seek sweet moments come, and then I understand
I am an instrument in His hands.

In His hands I am a healer.
In His hands I am a friend.
In His hands I'll be filled with charity.
Lord, here am I, send me.
I am an instrument in thy hands.

Story
Alma 26:3
“This is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.”
“You can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to help bring about this great work. … You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do." -President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“The Lord has touched my spirit time and again, and more often than not, His touch has reached me through the hand of a friend. … Perhaps [we] would feel more of His love if [we] looked for His hand in the actions of those who care for [us]. … God knows the needs of His children, and He often works through us, prompting us to help one another. When we act on such promptings, we tread on holy ground, for we are allowed the opportunity to serve as an agent of God in answering a prayer” -Kathleen H. Hughes, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Again, this was another song inspired by the work of the Relief Society of the church. The visiting teaching theme for the Relief Society in 2007 was "Becoming an Instrument in the Hands of God". I was inspired each month as I read the messages from inspired leaders, reminding us of the work we can do, that maybe no other can. As we follow the impressions of the Spirit, I know we act as Instruments in the hands of God to bless and lift His children.

My Eternal Family

Lyrics
There’s a place I can go in those times I feel alone
If I think of my loving family.
Because no matter where I go, I will always be home
With my family for all eternity

Now we know that we can be sealed as a family
Through our Heavenly Father’s wondrous plan.
And I know with all my heart this much is true;
My eternal family’s you.

I was blessed in my youth as you taught me the truths
That have made me the person that I am.
You gave me strength, you gave me love. Taught me faith in God above.
And these gifts can all be mine eternally.

For I know that we can be sealed as a family
Through our Heavenly Father’s wondrous plan.
And I know with all my heart this much is true;
My eternal family’s you.

Even now that I’m grown and have children of my own.
Little ones, precious spirits full of love.
They look to me for how to grow and I’ll teach them all I know
So our family can go on eternally.

And they’ll know that we can be sealed as a family
Through our Heavenly Father’s wondrous plan.
And I know with all my heart
that I always want to be with my own family
With you.

Story
Alma 56:47-48
Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.
Mosiah 4:15
But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.
D&C 138:47-48
The Prophet Elijah was to plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to their fathers, Foreshadowing the great work to be done in the temples of the Lord in the dispensation of the fulness of times, for the redemption of the dead, and the sealing of the children to their parents.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

After Justin graduated from law school, the Lord prompted us to take a job offer in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was not very happy about this arrangement. This was the first time we would be living away from Utah, and I wanted to stay close to all of our extended family. Our second son was just six weeks old at the time of our move, and my parents, in-laws, siblings, and nieces and nephews all lived within 20 minutes of one another. We had no family in Albuquerque and didn't know a soul that lived there. Despite my initial hesitation, we received so many blessings living in Albuquerque, and made friendships there that will last a lifetime. Even with all the blessings, I still missed my family, and wrote this song as a gift to my parents. I am so grateful for the blessing of the gospel in my life, and the knowledge that whatever separates us in this life, we have been sealed in the Lord's temple and can be together as an eternal family. The lessons my parents taught will go with me throughout my life, and they are the same lessons I try to teach to my own children.

I Will Not Fail Thee

Lyrics
There are times in life when you lose your way,
When your world seems filled with doubt and dismay.
When the trials come, Look unto the Lord.
Put your trust in Him and remember His words

I will not fail thee, Nor will I forsake thee.
Reach out and I’ll be there.
I will not fail thee, Nor will I forsake thee.
I am as close as prayer.
Doubt not. Fear not. I am your Rock.
I will not fail thee.

If I ask in prayer I know I’ll receive
And the doors shall all be opened to me.
And I know if I can endure it well,
Neither earth nor hell can ever prevail.

I will not fail thee, Nor will I forsake thee.
Reach out and I’ll be there.
I will not fail thee, Nor will I forsake thee.
I am as close as prayer.
Doubt not. Fear not.
I am your Rock.
I will not fail thee.

At the end of days when He comes again,
I will kneel at His feet, My Savior, My friend.
I will find myself encircled about.
In His arms at last, He lays to rest all my doubt.

I will not fail thee, Nor will I forsake thee.
Reach out and I’ll be there.
I will not fail thee, Nor will I forsake thee.
I am as close as prayer.
Doubt not. Fear not.
I am your Rock.
I will not fail thee.

Story
D&C 6:34,36
Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Joshua 1:5
As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

My first semester of college was one of numerous challenges. My High School sweetheart had broken up with me, my best friend of 18 years had married and moved away, I had been dropped from the piano performance major because my Carpal Tunnel was affecting my performance ability, and my Mom had been diagnosed with cancer. These were just a few of the big things. It seemed like everything that could go wrong in my life, had gone wrong. I felt so devastated and alone. My Christmas present from my Mom that year was a painting by Derek Hegsted entitled, "I Will Not Fail Thee." The painting is of a young girl, kneeling at the feet of the Savior. You can't see the Savior's face, but His arms are encircling the girl as she clings to Him. The moment I saw the picture, I saw myself in the face of that young girl, and I could literally feel myself encircled about in the arms of His love. I had been tinkering for several weeks with what I thought was to have been a piano solo, but as soon as I saw the picture, I knew that this was the song I had been writing. The words and music went together perfectly and immediately. I wrote the song in it's entirety that Christmas day. To this day it is still my favorite. I have never been happy with a recording of it, because I can't seem to control my emotions when I sing this one. I still have the picture hanging on my bedroom wall, and D&C 6 is still my favorite scripture. At those times when I feel that all of earth and hell are combining against me, I remember the scripture, the picture, the song, and I know that when everything else fails, He never will.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

When He Comes

Lyrics
What do I know? What can I see? Is it real? What does it mean to me?
Can I pretend while in my youth that I know? Can I understand the truth?
That Christ the Lord will come again, that He’ll walk and live among imperfect men.
Where do I stand? Is He my King? Do I know that He died for me?

On that day when the Savior comes will I be ready? Will I be with my King?
When He comes in all His glory will He know me?
Will I see His face and feel His grace?

We chose to come into this earth keeping in mind our eternal worth.
To follow God, to live His ways, to remember Him in these Latter-days.
We passed through the veil, this was our test: Have faith in God and know He’ll do the rest.
The light is dim, What if I fail? Is he there? Maybe time only can tell

On that day when the Savior comes will I be ready? Will I be with my King?
When He comes in all His glory will He know me?
Will I see His face and feel His grace?

So down on my knees I humbly pray that He’ll show me my Father’s way.
Will He come? Will I know which is the way that He wants me to go?
Then suddenly He is there. I can feel His spirit with me there.
A silent voice, a whispered prayer lets me know He is always there.

On that day when the Savior comes will I be ready? Will I be with my King?
When He comes in all His glory will He know me?
Will I see His face and feel His grace?

On that day when the Savior comes I will be ready! I will be with my King!
When He comes in all His glory He will know me!
I will see His face and feel His grace
When He comes!

Story
D&C 38: 7-8
But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me; But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am.
D&C 88:49-50
The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall be quickened in him and by him. Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.

This song was written at age 14, one of my first, and as such, has always had a special place in my heart. I was attending a youth conference and after a fireside, felt overcome by a feeling of peace, of comfort, and love. My initial reaction was to wonder why I was receiving such strong impressions. I was nobody. Why on earth should the Spirit speak to me? Then the questions started flooding my mind. If the Savior were to come today, would I be ready for Him? Would I recognize Him? More importantly, would He recognize me? I thought about all the times in my life when the Spirit had born silent testimony, especially when I was most in need, and suddenly, I heard the music in my head. I wrote the words down on a paper towel, they came to my mind faster than I could write. Then I went to the common room in the large cabin where we were staying and sat at the ancient, out-of-tune, upright grand piano which was tucked away in a corner. In less than an hour, I had the song completed, and written out on several paper towels.
Since then, I have been asked to perform this song many times. It seems to be everyone's favorite. I think maybe because it speaks to the doubts and fears we all feel at times, and yet reminds us of the powerful whisperings of the Spirit, and the knowledge the our Savior does know each of us, personally and intimately. I look forward to the day when the Lord's promise will be fulfilled, that "....the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am." I will do everything I can in this life to be ready when He comes.

Liberty Jail

Lyrics
Oh God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion
That covereth thy hiding place?
In this cell, in this prison, Thy face is hid from me.
Please remember Thy suff'ring Saints, Oh God!
Remember me.

Oh God, be with Joseph! Please keep my husband safe.
What horrors lie within that place?
Oh God bring Him home now. I need my husband here.
Please remember Thy promises, Oh God!
Remember me.

Peace be unto thy soul. Thine affliction shall be but a small moment.
And if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high!
A time will come, when all shall be revealed.
What pow'r can stay the heavens?
Whatever trials you must pass through,
Fear not what man can do.
For thy God doth stand by you forever, and ever.

Story
D&C 121: 1,6,7
Oh God where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? Remember thy suffering saints, O our God, and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever.
My son, peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment. And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high. Thou shalt triumph over all thy foes
D&C 122: 7-8
And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into tthe deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and al the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than He?

I started a "project" the year after we moved back to Utah. I wanted to write a musical about the life of Emma Smith. There were so many trials which she was called to bear silent witness to at Joseph's side, and I couldn't imagine the tremendous amount of faith, courage and love she must have had. On all of he countless occasions when Joseph was taken away without cause and held in prison awaiting trial for the false accusations laid against him, Emma was home alone with their five children, worrying, wondering, waiting. I like to think that when the Lord answered Joseph's prayer from Liberty Jail, He also reassured Emma with the same feelings of hope, peace and comfort. It was not easy for me to convey the anguish felt by these two faithful, amazing people, but when writing the music for the Lord's answer, it flowed through me as I remembered all the times when I have felt the same message of assurance from Him in my own life. Since I began writing the musical, there have been several books published and a new movie released about the life of Emma Smith. I am grateful that the story is being told. Since then I have not felt the same sense of urgency to continue the project. It's still rolling around in my head somewhere, and I have about half of it about halfway done. This is the only song I've managed to get to a recording studio for thus far. The others will come, someday....