Come Join the Ranks
Sheet Music Sample:
(Click on the image for a larger version)
Lyrics:
1. Come join the ranks of Christ our Lord and serve with all your might
We have a need of valiant hearts to turn dark souls to light
Your knowledge must be vast and firm your witness strong and bold
To go wherever you are sent as shepherds of God's fold
2. To join the ranks of Christ our Lord the standard has been raised
No longer unprepared are we to serve in these last days
Our prophet's counsel we will heed and start while in our youth
To gain the qualities set forth to bring the world its truth
3. Come join the ranks of Christ our Lord let's grab our sickles sow
And reap ourselves eternal life that God will us bestow
The day of harvest is at hand let's work courageously
To save the world from Satan's power the truth shall make us free Story:
"Come Join the Ranks" (Spring 2002)
I was made aware of a choral composition competition at Jackman Music Co., the leading publisher of LDS sheet music in the world. The competition's theme was missionary work/raising the bar, and was required to be in SAB format. "Come Join" was my submission. Well, it obviously didn't win because Jackman didn't publish it, but Jerry Jackman, president of JMC, did give me some professionally positive feedback. I would say this work "conforms" a little more than normal, if you catch what I mean. But the awesome piano accompaniment keeps it exciting. The hymn version was developed shortly after the SAB arrangement but not 'laid down' until 2004.