The authors of the new hymn “Joyful Bonds,” released in the latest edition of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Hymns for Home and Church, offer personal testimonies of the joy of being united to the Lord as covenant sons and daughters.
Several years ago, Anna M. Molgado was experiencing serious health problems. Then, she and her husband faced financial hardship as their small business was affected by COVID-19 closures.
Next, my husband had an accident and was unable to work for a while. It felt like things just kept getting worse.
“In fact, for many years, the only place I felt tangible peace was in the temple,” Morgard said.
She and her husband became devoted to temple worship. Even though it didn’t make financial sense, they took Fridays off from work to work as ritual servers at the Spokane Washington Temple, about a 45-minute drive from their home in Green Bluff, Washington.
“It gave us a moment of clarity and peace and reprieve,” she said. “And we come back to the reality of what we’re facing. And while it hasn’t taken away the challenges, it has given us the strength to deal with what we’re facing.”
Family history research made them feel connected to her ancestors. Accompanying them to the Lord’s house helped her realize that people on the other side of the veil were helping her in her life.
“We knew we needed God’s help, and as we were doing that work, we felt God’s help. We felt them helping the kids. We felt them helping us. We felt them opening the door,” she said.
Her ward in Green Bluff was filled with “the most humble, consecrated, and wonderful people.” Bishop, a “wonderful, humble, Christ-like man” who had one of his legs amputated during a battle with cancer, said many people at the time had family and financial problems.
One day in sacrament meeting after this bishop was released, he spoke about his love for the Lord.
Morgard said: “As he began to speak, the thought of being joyfully united with our Savior continued to resonate in my heart and mind, because he lived it so beautifully, not just through his life, but through his service to our family.”
She took out her notebook and started writing. A thought came to me through the Spirit. I have been thinking about how the Covenant Path includes baptism, repentance, receiving weekly communion, and making covenants in the house of the Lord. And how, at each stage, people choose to be joined to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the covenant, which provides the strength to endure hardship and thereby brings the “joy of the covenant.”
The first verse of the hymn is based on Alma’s invitation to those gathered at the waters of Mormon to be baptized as witnesses to their covenant with God. The chorus reflects their joyful acceptance (see Mosiah 18:8–11).
In the second verse, the song talks about receiving the sacrament each week. And verse 3 is about going to the temple to be armed with the power of God through the covenant.
Elder Patrick Chiaron of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught in his October 2024 general conference address, “Welcome to the Church of Joy,” that there should be more joy in worship, and Morgard wanted this new song to be fun to sing.
“I thought: What if the sacrament was like this joyful celebration of ‘being clean again, experiencing this sense of rebirth’?”
When lyrics pop into her head, they always come with the song, but that’s not always the case with the composer. As I put these words down on paper, I could hear the melody and chord structure in my head. Her sister-in-law, Rachel Pettit Molleman, collaborated with her on many songs over the years through her publisher, and arranged the music, incorporating what Molgard had written.
Molgard, who now lives in North Salt Lake, Utah, named the hymn “Green Bluff” after Washington’s Ward.
Ms. Morgard was humbled to learn that “Joyful Bound” had been selected for the new global hymnbook and that her testimony would be received and shared in such a unique way.
She wants people to go to the temple if they are not yet feeling that joy, asking questions in their hearts and praying to Heavenly Father to help them understand.
“I know God will do that, because He wants us to come into His home and He wants us to feel the joy of a covenant relationship with Him.”
1. Come humbly to the sea
And be born again in Christ.
Go ahead and make a promise to the Lord.
I hope you come as happy as I am.
Let us grieve with those who are in mourning.
Let’s comfort those in need.
Please stand as a living witness
In your very words and actions.
we are fun, fun and connected
By contract with my father!
enjoy the happy sounds
With a voice of praise!
we are fun, fun and connected
By a Covenant with the Savior!
Rejoice and witness this day.
We are bound to have fun and have fun!
2. Come to the Lord’s table meekly.
Every blessed Sabbath.
Renew your sacred contract
To receive the holy name of the Lord.
I promise I won’t forget
We promise to obey.
That way we can always have the Spirit of God
To spend every day with us.
we are fun, fun and connected
By contract with my father!
enjoy the happy sounds
With a voice of praise!
we are fun, fun and connected
By a covenant with the Savior!
Rejoice and witness this day.
We are bound to have fun and have fun!
3. Come to the temple with joy.
To receive God’s holy power.
Make a covenant with the Father.
Offer your will to God every hour.
Move forward with strength,
Keep the name of the Lord in your heart.
and his angels will surround you,
His glory is all around.
we are fun, fun and connected
By contract with my father!
enjoy the happy sounds
With a voice of praise!
we are fun, fun and connected
By a covenant with the Savior!
Rejoice and witness this day.
We are bound to have fun and have fun!
