Music Review: I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go

In 2001, I received a call from my Colorado mission president asking me to learn to speak Spanish for the duration of my LDS mission.  As I held the phone to my ear, my first thought was of the time I had nearly failed my Spanish 101 class. But my faith and hope were strong that morning (most likely due to the fact that I had just finished an hour of scripture study).  

My mental process: My mission president receives revelation from the Lord, for me. And I know the Lord wouldn't ask me to do something I was incapable of accomplishing.  Therefore, I will whole-heartedly go and do whatever is needed of me. 

My fear was instantly quelled by a spiritual wave of faith and confidence that wiped away any reservations I had previously held.  I immediately accept my president's call, and I never looked back. Long story short, I quickly became fluent in Spanish and went on, later, to earn a bachelor's degree from BYU in Latin American Studies. Through this faith-promoting experience, not only did God bless me to learn a new language;  he also blessed me to serve as a special instrument of His love to a people whom I was oblivious to previously.

In ward choir, we are singing this beautiful arrangement of I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go.  As I try to follow the conductor and listen to the voices around me, my thoughts often get swept away by the beautiful lyrics and I'm taken back to that time in CO when I was first invited to learn Spanish. (I couldn't make it through the second verse before sweet tears filled my eyes.)

I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go : LDS Hymns

1. It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I’ll go where you want me to go.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I’ll be what you want me to be.

2. Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand’rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I’ll say what you want me to say.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I’ll be what you want me to be.

3. There’s surely somewhere a lowly place

In earth’s harvest fields so wide

Where I may labor through life’s short day

For Jesus, the Crucified.

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I’ll be what you want me to be.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I’ll be what you want me to be.