I am a Child of God

When I was a little girl living in Arizona. We had a stake conference in Prescott Arizona. Which was an almost 2 hour drive from where we lived. I remember the Primary children sang "I am a Child of God". I had a long red velvet dress and back then long dark black hair. Even though I was young, I apparently was short then too, because I was in the front row. I was sitting right behind the visiting General Authority. I remember singing the song "I am a Child of God". After the song was finished and we sat in the choir seat, the visiting authority got up and spoke. I was a young new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The speaker called me up and started asking me questions. I looked at the hundreds of people and began to panic. I answered the questions, but I was crying for each answer. I recognize now that besides feeling scared, I was feeling the Spirit, but at the time I didn't understand the feeling of the Spirit for me. It was years later that my mom told me that the Speaker was Elder James E. Faust.

In our Young Married days, I had the opportunity to have Naomi Randall come and speak to the ladies of our church while we were attending Utah State University. I’ve been very blessed to have been able to connect with some Influential people in our lives. I think she was in her late 70s at the time. My good friend Bonnie came to sing and we made a chicken salad, which our son to this day hates that chicken salad ha ha (that's another story). I will share the newspaper story written in 1998:

Naomi wrote the lyrics to the song “I am a Child of God”

Recalling the experience in 1957, Sister Randall explained that she wrote the words while preparing for a Primary conference program to be held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. She was given the assignment to write a song on the program's theme: "A Child's Plea."

That night in her North Ogden, Utah, home, Sister Randall prayed that she might know the right text for the song and then went to bed. Around 2 a.m. she awoke and as she lay there "in the darkness and the quietness the words started to form in my mind."

Without hesitation she got up. "I went in the other room and wrote as fast as I could write."

The first verse came, then the second and then the third.

Sister Randall, knowing where the words came from, immediately "got down on my knees and said, `Heavenly Father, thank you very much.' "

That week she mailed the lyrics to Mildred Pettit in Pasadena, Calif., who composed the music.

"I am so grateful that the song came about," she said, humbly explaining that she still receives letters from people all over the world who have been touched by the music. "I feel like I am just an instrument. I don't take credit for [the song]."

She said everywhere she goes people comment on the song - one of the first Primary songs to be added to the Church's adult hymn book.

Even her own family members have had numerous spiritual experiences while listening to their mother's and grandmother's lyrics.

After sharing experiences, they eagerly showed reporters books containing her numerous other contributions to the Church - including dozens of children's stories, articles, poems, hidden picture activities, and the "Barnabee Bumbleberry" comic strip which ran in The Children's Friend. And then they talked about her role in instigating the CTR ring.

Sister Randall said she enjoys seeing so many young people wearing CTR rings. "It helps them remember who they are and that they should still choose the right," she said.

But she knows that her most important contribution was "I Am a Child of God."

Sister Randall said that several years after she wrote the text, President Spencer W. Kimball, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, heard the words and offered one suggestion: Change the phrase "teach me all that I must know to live with Him again," to "teach me all that I must do to live with Him again."

"Knowing is not enough," said Sister Randall, explaining the future Church president's concerns. "It is doing that prepares us to return to our Father in Heaven."

Sister Randall said years later, when she was being released from the Primary general presidency, President Kimball spoke of writing "I Am a Child of God" with her. "He said, `She wrote most of the words, but I wrote one.' "

She also enjoys hearing children sing "I Am a Child of God" in any language and is happy her words have not only communicated an important message to Church members worldwide, but also to her family and to her.

When asked by a Church News reporter what she wants others to know about her, Sister Randall did not hesitate:

"That I am a child of God," she said.

Sister Randall passed on May 17, 2001. At the age of 92. During her 27 years on the Primary general board, from 1947 to 1970, followed by serving from 1970 to 1974 as first counselor in the Primary general presidency, Sister Randall also led the Church committee that instigated the CTR (Choose The Right) ring.

What was not said in this newspaper is how the 4th verse to I am A Child of God came also. President Kimball besides requesting the the one word to be changed from Know to Do, He wanted to add the following verse:

Sister Randall was on an airplane when the lyrics to this verse came to her.

I am a Child of God. His promises are sure; Celestial glory shall be mine if I can but endure. Lead me, Guide me, Walk beside me, Help me find the way.

Unfortunately, the 4th verse is not known, mainly because the church never really worked on teaching that verse and so they have left it out of the song.

I am a child of God, and he has sent me here, has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.

I am a child of God, and so my needs are great; help me to understand his words before it grows to late.

I am a child of God, Rich blessings are in store; If I but learn to do his will I'll live with him once more.

I am a child of God, His promises are sure; Celestial glory shall be mine if I can but endure.

Lead me, Guide me, Walk beside me, help me find the way, teach me all that I must DO to live with him someday.

Remember that You and I are each individually Children of God. He loves us each! He knows our name. My Grandma always said on the end of her letters or birthday cards. "I Love You this Much"! She had a picture with arms outstretched as far as possible. God loves you this much.