1. O my Father, thou that dwellestin the high and glorious place,When shall I regain thy presenceand again behold thy face?In thy holy habitation,did my spirit once reside?In my first primeval childhood,was I nurtured near thy side?
2. For a wise and glorious purposethou hast placed me here on earthAnd withheld the recollectionof my former friends and birth;Yet ofttimes a secret somethingwhispered, “You’re a stranger here,”And I felt that I had wanderedfrom a more exalted sphere.
3. I had learned to call thee Father,thru thy spirit from on high,But until the key of knowledgewas restored I knew not why.In the heav’ns are parents single?No, the thought makes reason stare!Truth is reason; truth eternaltells me I’ve a mother there.
4. When I leave this frail existence,when I lay this mortal by,Father, Mother, may I meet youin your royal courts on high?Then, at length, when I’ve completedall you sent me forth to do,With your mutual approbationlet me come and dwell with you.Then, at length when I’ve completedall you sent me forth to do,With your mutual approbationlet me come, let me come, let me come,let me come and dwell with you.
Words: Eliza R. Snow
Music: Stephen Foster, James McGranahan, arr. by Brent N. Jorgensen
(c) 1992 LDS. May be copied for church or home use.