The song “My Covenants,” released in the latest batch of new hymns in “Hymns for Home and Church” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was originally written in Swedish by Hanna Saffer, a songwriter and composer who was born and raised in Sweden and lives there today.
The song first came to Saffer when she was pregnant with her first child—a daughter—and sitting in a rehearsal room at the music university she was attending.
“I was just filled with the joy and gratitude of expecting my first baby, and the melody just started coming,” she said. “I just played it over and over again. It was a very special time and it felt sacred.”
When that oldest child was 8 years old and preparing to be baptized in 2019, the song came back to Saffer and she was able to finish it. “That was so special. That’s her baby song that came to be her baptismal song.”
The same day as the baptism, her fifth baby was blessed. Saffer’s older brother was visiting for the occasion and helped her write down the sheet music for her song. She decided to submit the song to the Church for the new global hymnbook project.
Visit the Church News to learn more about Saffer’s hymn.
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