O How Great Our God
O HOW GREAT OUR GOD:
This song comes from 2 Nephi 9 when Jacob is speaking to the people of Nephi. He glorifies in God and talks about the redemption from The Fall. He also talks about the atonement and it's saving power over death and hell. Jacob states, "I speak unto you these things that ye may rejoice, and lift up your heads forever, because of the blessings which the Lord God shall bestow upon your children."
At this point in Nephite history, the people grew up under the influence and teachings of Nephi. They were all direct descendants of Nephi and his righteous brothers and they were raised with a knowledge of God. Many of them were present to see the miracles that brought them across the great waters. So they were a righteous people who loved and followed God.
Nephi himself recorded this teaching from his brother, Jacob. Jacob was explaining scripture to his people and providing them with a foundational teaching of God and his condescension toward the children of men. He talks of God's plan for His children involving the fall of Adam, the atonement of Jesus Christ, as well as death and judgement. He outlines paradise and hell and explains that Christ's atonement will free us from death and hell. In a way, Jacob is praising God for his great plan.
Jacob was born in the wilderness and would have been raised with stories of their journey to the promised land. He may have even remembered some of the miracles that occurred. Having been raised mostly in the promised land, and taking up the mantle of prophet, but free from the responsibilities of the kingdom (Nephi and his descendants were the kings), he was probably not as intense as Nephi.
I wanted his songs to sound more relaxed and peaceful. The pattern I chose for Jacob's music is Philip Philips with more energy than Lehi's songs and filled with happiness. It came out as a song of praise that describes God's plan.
