This new song “My Covenants” , Hymn #1053 was written by Hanna Josephine Saffer. You can find some information on this song here.
Gospel Teaching
This song is a great companion to the “Walking Along the Covenant Path” lesson that can be found here. This lesson will cover the covenants along the Covenant Path.
This song does not spell out the covenants that can be made specifically, but it does encourage and explain the power a person can receive as they keep the covenants they have made.
Visual Aids
You can download a flip-chart for this song here.
A Few Tips For Teaching
I’m a big fan of hand movements. These are usually very simple movements that the children can associate with the words they are singing. This also gets the children up and moving. Movement helps with memorization. You can challenge the children to sing the song without the movements eventually as they get more comfortable with the words and melody.
It is very important that you practice and are confident with consistent movements so that the children can follow you and trust your words and patterns. During the week of prep, I would encourage you to sing the songs you will be teaching several times!
Here are a few ideas for this song. You can also be creative and come up with other movements that you want! This works well if the children can stand, but sitting will work too.
Verse 1 (using the flip-chart)
(Black words) I will walk the path Jesus has prepared, Use your legs and arms to make a walking motion
(Red words) Keeping His commandments true. Bring your left arm up to the square, (the children will mirror you and use their RH , explain that this is the way we sometimes make a covenant)
(Black words) I will live each day in the Savior’s way, Do the sign language for day moving slowly. RH arm horizontal out front of body, LF arm vertical and moving slowly down to rest on RH. See an example here.
(Red words) As He’s shown me how to do. Put your hands out front like a book. That is to remind them of the scriptures. That is where we learn how Jesus lived His life.
Chorus
Every day – sweep LH upward
I will keep – sweep Rh upward
My cov’nants with the Father – both hands ziz-zag down together
I will try – sweep LH upward
To live – sweep RH upward
In His way – both hands extend along a line together away from body
As I strive – sweep LH upward
to obey – sweep RH upward
He promises His Spirit will be – put both hands over your heart
with me, guiding me each – both hands parallel in front of body (palms facing each other) up and down on the beat of each word
day – hands spread out( causing the children to hold the note until you cut them off)
Verse 2
(Black words) With the Holy Ghost Swing LH upward and place it on your heart
(Black words) I begin to feel Swing RH upward and place it on your heart over other hand
(Red words) Power sent from God above Both hands make the strong muscle sign
(Black words) With this holy strength Bring LH upward with fist closed like lifting a weight
(Black words) I can grow in faith Bring RH upward with fist closed like lifting a weight
(Red words) Serving others with God’s love Spread both hands outward like giving something to everyone
You can download a copy of these movements here
Music Method
You might notice that the chorus has a repeating pattern. I love starting with the chorus when I teach a song, and this repeating pattern would be a great place to start. They could sing a series of sounds like do, do, do, on the pattern parts, then you could sing the phrases after the pattern to get them used to the descending parts. Your pianist will be a great help here just playing the melody for you. Again, I encourage you to practice and feel comfortable with the melody so that you teach it correctly and feel confident!
This song also has a Tag. A Tag is a short special ending of a song. It sometimes repeats a very important message that the composer really wants to emphasize.
Here is a YouTube video of this song to help you practice!
Happy Singing!