I Will Trust in Thee Forever

I Will Trust in Thee Forever is an opera that sets to music the story of the Book of Mormon from 1 Nephi 16 (just after the wedding of the daughters of Ishmael to Nephi’s family) to 2 Nephi 5 (separation of Nephi’s people from his rebellious brothers). It is a sequel to my 2021 opera, He Shall Prepare a Way, and also builds on my 2023 cantata, Tree of Life, Rod of Iron. Its message is to put your trust in Jesus Christ and rely on your covenants with Him, with the promise that He will take you places you never imagined. There are a projected 18 movements (90 minutes in length). The work is 33 percent complete and will be completed by September 1, 2025. This performance will be a concert sing-through (not memorized, just learned roles) to test run the opera. I will then revise the work in the summer of 2026 and stage the work in the 2026-2027 season.

Men
Lehi – Baritone
Ishmael – Baritone
Zoram – Tenor
Laman – Tenor
Lemuel – Baritone
Sam – Baritone
Nephi – Bass
Abner – Tenor
Caleb – Baritone

Women
Sariah – Soprano
Naomi – Mezzo
Deborah – Soprano
Dinah – Soprano
Miriam – Soprano
Jochebed – Soprano
Hannah – Lower Soprano
Adi – Soprano
Chaviva – Lower Soprano
Abigail – Soprano
Rebekah – Lower Soprano

Children
Aviva – Girl, 8-14
Ruth – Girl, 6-14
Eliana – Girl, 6-14
Dan – Boy, 8-14
Jacob – Boy, 8-16
Joseph – Boy, 6-12
Other unnamed children

Act I
1. His Mercy Endureth Forever
2. A Land of Promise
3. Whither Shall I Go
4. Broken My Heart
5. The Furnace of Affliction
6. Light in the Wilderness
7. Thou Shalt Construct a Ship
8. We Know
9. Opposition in All Things
Act II
10. By the Strength of Our Hand
11. He Suffereth It
12. The Mighty One of Jacob
13. A Land of Liberty
14. That They Might Have Joy
15. Partake of the Fruit
16. Go With Me
17, My Rock and My Everlasting God
18. I Will Trust in Thee Forever