Yes, I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me

A true experience as related by Clara W. McMaster, composer of "My Heavenly Father Loves Me."

Sister McMasters is the composer of such well known favorites as "Reverently, Quietly" and "Teach Me to Walk in the Light." She is a gifted composer who has the ability to teach the simplicity of some of the great concepts of the Gospel.

Having been on the Primary General Board for a number of years, Sister Clara W. McMasters was asked to write a special song for the Primary theme for the year, which was "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." She felt that this would be a challenge, but one which would allow her to share her testimony in the language of children.

For the message of this special song to be engraved on the hearts of the children, it would need to come from Heavenly Father through inspiration. Sister McMasters felt that she would be the instrument for that inspiration, and prayed long and hard to receive what she needed to compose such a song.

As the time quickly passed and her deadline drew nearer, she felt somewhat discouraged, but her faith did not waiver. One day, as she sat down at her window, she heard a bird singing outside the window. She remembered how, as a young child, she would sit at her windowsill and listen to the birds singing outside on a nearby tree. But once again, her mind returned to the task at hand, composing the song which she had been assigned. She wondered why, if Heavenly Father loved her, she had not yet received the answer to her prayers for inspiration in her task.

Her mind once again drifted back to her youth, and how she loved to stand and look at the bright colors of the blue sky and feel the dewy roses with their velvet soft petals. Then the thought came to her mind, "Don't you know how I love you? Remember how it was when you were a child." Again, she remembered her childhood and the sweet fragrance of the lilac blossoms as she would walk by the lilac tree.

Once again, the thought entered her mind: "Don't you know how much I love you? Remember how you used to hear the rooster crow each morning, and the donkeys bray and horses neigh from the barnyard. Remember the strength of the wind as it scooped you up and blew you into a corner of the house. Remember how you would let the rain fall on your face because it felt so good to you? All of these things I gave to you, and you knew when you were a child that I loved you. You've known all your life that I love you."

It was at that moment that Clara McMasters knew what she would write to express the special love she felt from her Heavenly Father. All of these special memories of her childhood went into the words and feelings of the song which has become of favorite of both children and adults alike. This special song helps us all to express the love we feel from our Heavenly Father in the beautiful world he has given us to enjoy.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

Whenever I hear the song of a bird or look at the blue, blue sky
Whenever I feel the rain on my face or the wind as it rushes by
Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by our lilac tree
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see the color of butterfly wings
He gave me my ears that I might hear the magical sound of things
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank him reverently
For all his creations of which I'm a part. Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.