May Thy Daystar Rise in Me

A couple of years ago, Diane and I decided that we ought to try submitting songs to the 2007 LDS Church Music Contest, and set a goal to do so. We weren't really certain what kinds of materials they were looking for, so we picked a couple songs, one for the Relief Society and the other for the General Music Competition, and submitted them. I also decided to try my hand at writing a hymn text, something I had never done before. Well, to our delight and amazement, each of the songs and the hymn text won awards, and we were invited to attend the two concerts on Temple Square to hear our works performed. (See A Vessel of Light and He Knows His Lambs.)

The text of May Thy Daystar Rise in Me draws from several scriptures that speak of Christ as the Light of the World. The final phrase of each verse, "May thy Daystar rise in me," is taken from 2 Peter 1:19, where the daystar refers to the sun. Peter encourages us to heed the words of the prophets, until one's personal witness and received light are akin to the brightness of the dawning sun, casting away doubts, and penetrating and illuminating all. 

As we seek to reflect the glory of God in our lives--as the sun and stars and other creations do--we show our desire to have the Daystar rise in our hearts.

As we choose light to guide us through this darkened world, light that "darkness cannot comprehend," we also show our desire  to have the Daystar rise in our hearts.

As we keep our eye single to God's glory, we are promised that the light will grow, "brighter and brighter until the perfect day" (D&C 50:24). Then indeed, we will have the "more sure word of prophecy," and the Daystar will live in our hearts.