A dear friend and neighbor passed away this morning, Rodney Turner, Emeritus Professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU. It was my great honor to set over 30 of his beautiful hymn texts to music and publish them. Such a great man! He was the daily lecturer on our trip to the Holy Land--something we will never forget. He was our beloved bishop and friend, as is his wife Bonnie. One of his last hymns was written with his own funeral in mind: When Evening Comes When evening comes we all shall rise To grander lands and brighter skies Than ever greet our mortal eyes. So none shall fear that last farewell, But look unto the wondrous dawn Of heavens bright immortal morn When we shall come forth whole, reborn-- When evening comes. When evening comes, the Lord will call In judgment both the great and small That truth might triumph over all. Celestial glory is our goal, For earthly honors and display Are counted only beggars pay That swiftly crumbles into clay-- When evening comes. When evening comes, lo there shall be A harvest for eternity Of those we love, of family. For we may claim what is our own, If we receive what Christ did gain For those proved worthy to attain: A kingdom where the Gods do reign-- When evening comes. Rodney Turner, 2008
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 22:14:29 +0000